Opinion: Blues challenge to drive Sonny Bill Williams

Sonny Bill Williams (Getty Images)
Sonny Bill Williams (Getty Images)

By Jim Kayes

Sonny Bill Williams thrives on challenges. It's why he moved from league to rugby and why he's had a crack at boxing and now sevens. It's probably also partly why he's joining the Blues.  

Shifting to a franchise that hasn't tasted success since 2003 is something other rugby players have been avoiding in their droves.  Most of them have been first fives. The Blues have chased everyone who's walked past a No. 10 jersey – from Dan Carter to Juan Martin Hernandez to Jonny Wilkinson. More recently they've dangled the hook in front of Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.  

Yes, the Blues have cast the net wide, but sadly for them, they've been tossed back. Coach Tana Umaga would be excused for hoping that Williams can add shifting to first five as another of his freakish accomplishments.

More sensibly, Umaga will want Williams to bring his on-field abilities to his under achieving outfit but, perhaps more importantly, also instil some of his renown professional habits to his younger, less experienced teammates.

Williams shift to the Blues (and his re-signing with New Zealand Rugby) comes with a serious three-year commitment – and perhaps a bit of concern. The last long term deal he signed was with the Bulldogs – the Australian league club he walked out on mid-term to play rugby alongside Umaga at French club Toulon.

It has to be hoped that his friendship with Umaga will ensure that doesn't happen this time. If the Blues and the All Blacks can get three years of typically high quality rugby out of Williams it will only be to the benefit of both.

And if Williams did the impossible and solved the Blues’ long term headache at first five it would be an unexpected bonus. But not even SBW’s that good.

Newshub.