League: Sonny Bill happy to tempt fate back in 13

Sonny Bill Williams in offload mode. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

He says "just call me Sonny" but his mum still insists everyone call him Sonny Bill. He's awaiting delivery of a shiny A$110,000 ($126,500) BMW X5, free of charge, of course, to replace his BMW X3.

He still can't quite believe he owns a flash house in Sydney, complete with a swimming pool. And he admits the people he envies most are his mates back in Auckland, who have what he calls "a normal life".

His sanctuary will be a roaring Aussie Stadium tonight as one of league's superstars prepares to write another chapter in a career that would already fill an impressive biography.

At last, Williams will be handed his favourite No 13 jersey for the Bulldogs' semifinal against the Broncos. Melbourne or St George Illawarra beckon in next weekend's grand final. He's had to wait an eternity to start in lucky No 13 in 2006, being shuffled around by coach Steve Folkes from the centres to the bench where he's had the most despised label of 'impact player".

"I'm keen as to get out there and show what we've got," Williams said this week, with a hint of the hungry dog about to be let off its leash.

Not that Williams can let it all hang out on the field these days. A horror injury toll that reads more like a 35-year-old veteran than someone just a month past his 21st birthday has seen changes made to his approach, just to keep him on the field.

An ankle injury and crushed knee cartilage meant just five NRL matches last year when the world was his oyster after the Bulldogs' 2004 premiership victory.

Then as he prepared for another comeback this year after a knee injury, stress fractures in his feet and a dose of the mumps, he sat down with Folkes and discussed tempering his natural instincts to break tackles and offload at all costs, risking injury as his legs twisted and the defenders piled in.

"He'll have to work it out himself. You can tell him and advise him but when you're on the field you go back to your natural instincts," Folkes warned. "His natural instinct is to stay on his feet and offload the ball and that will take a while to change."

Williams agreed, albeit reluctantly.

"I need to pick my times and not look for the offload all the time. If it's only a half gap not to stand up and struggle as much if there's nothing on."

He's got through the season so far, touch wood, been his usual imposing presence and set up endless tries with his Inspector Gadget arms and miracle offloads.

To keep him injury-free, Williams is spared some contact training sessions at Folkes' request. Earlier this year Folkes rejected suggestions the Bulldogs would block their most valuable asset from playing for the Kiwis in next month's Tri-Nations, but added they wanted assurances he would be looked after at training.

Such is the value of a man who league experts say could potentially be the sport's first million dollar-per-year player - if salary cap restrictions allowed.

The man himself shrugs his shoulders and admits he's still a big kid with his gifted BMW, living the dream. "When I'm driving home in my Beamer, I just feel like a little Kiwi boy going, 'How good is this?'," he told Arena magazine this week.

"It's a bit overwhelming but when you're getting it for free - sweet."

The latest spread would have delighted his female fans as he posed for Arena in a wet T-shirt, but then shattered them as he spoke of his partner Jenna, a bar manager and former schoolmate who has now joined him in Sydney.

He counts teammate Willie Mason as one of his best friends and confidantes, a huge influence in his life, and says he's at his most comfortable when he's in camp with the Kiwis: "like being at home with all the boys".

Kiwis fans will hope he's fit and firing when the black jersey beckons next month, safe in the knowledge he's not forgotten where he came from.

"I want to move back to New Zealand or live a quiet life," he told Arena of life after footy. At the moment, it's as far away as he can get.

- NZPA