NRL 2020: Sonny Bill Williams lands in Sydney ahead of Sydney Roosters return

Sonny Bill Williams has touched down in Sydney with his wife and four kids ahead of his NRL return with the Sydney Roosters.

Williams landed in Australia on Thursday night and was taken straight from Sydney Airport to a three-bedroom apartment where he will quarantine with his family for 14 days.

Williams, who turns 35 next month, will spend his birthday in quarantine and will be able to train with the Roosters from August 13. 

He is set to be available for the Roosters' final four games of the regular season - the first against the Canberra Raiders on September 5 - before playing in the finals. 

Williams had also been linked with a move to the NZ Warriors, but said his future is in Australia and a close relationship with personal at the Roosters also played a factor. 

"I moved to Australia when I was 14 and my wife is Australian," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"I've got four kids under five. The plan was to always set up shop in Sydney once I'm finished, not in New Zealand.

"[Roosters coach] Trent [Robinson] was the first to ring me. He had injury problems with a few of the boys," Williams said.

"And apart from Trent and Nick, I think most people know I'm still close to the boys.

"The Roosters are close to my heart. If I wasn't playing I wouldn't be playing at all."

The NRL has been criticised for allowing the Roosters to sign Williams despite still having his two-year $10m deal with the Toronto Wolfpack.

But chief executive Andrew Abdo says other NRL clubs are allowed to sign Wolfpack players, opening the door for Ricky Leutele to join the Warriors.

Sonny Bill Williams takes a photo with a fan at Sydney Airport.
Sonny Bill Williams takes a photo with a fan at Sydney Airport. Photo credit: Getty

"The rules state you cannot be contracted in two competitions at the same time," Abdo told the Sydney Morning Herald. 

"However, it is clear that Sonny Bill’s team the Toronto Wolfpack will not be playing for the remainder of the 2020 Super League season and Sonny Bill has nowhere to play for the rest of the year.

"If other NRL clubs want to sign players from the Toronto Wolfpack we will apply the same discretion. 

"We are working with a number of clubs on their options in this regard. The commission is very dynamic in its thinking.

"They will be flexible to ensure rules don’t prevent what is in the best interests of the game. We are a sport, but also a business. Sonny Bill would create enormous interest during the back end of the season and that’s a great outcome for our whole competition."

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