Sonny Bill Williams has taken the first step in his apparent NRL exit by side-stepping the Rugby League World Cup.
Williams’ decision to skip the tournament for his “first break since 2008” was expected, with the dual international believed to be on the verge of returning to rugby union with the Chiefs in 2014.
Having returned to the NRL to play a vital role in Sydney Roosters’ first premiership since 2002, Williams said he would take the next few weeks to make a call on his future, which may also include more boxing bouts.
His absence from the Rugby League World Cup is as big a blow to the tournament as it is to the Kiwis – for whom he has not played since the Centenary Test of 2008 – just weeks before he walked out on Canterbury and the code to pursue a rugby union career.
Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney said the back-rower was unavailable “due to other commitments”.
“What they are, at this stage we would all like to know,” Kearney said.
Williams gave little insight on Twitter on Tuesday.
“Wishing the kiwis in their title defence, having my first break since 2008. Looking forward to spending time with fam n friends,” Williams wrote on Twitter.
Kiwi Test winger Jason Nightingale dismissed claims Williams had left the World Cup squad in the lurch by declaring his unavailability.
“No, it’s not like there was a vacant spot left for him,” Nightingale told AAP.
“So it won’t change anything.
“It would have been awesome to have him.
“He didn’t make his intentions clear but he never gave us the indication that he was going to play in the World Cup so it’s a bit of a shame but there’s plenty of depth in New Zealand rugby league at the moment and the back-row especially is not a position we’re light on in.”
While money will no doubt play a role in Williams’ decision, the lure of playing for the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup and representing his country at the 2016 Olympics in sevens rugby are believed to be key factors in his decision making.
Calls for the NRL to bend salary cap rules to help keep him in the code are also unlikely to eventuate, with Queensland Origin coach Mal Meninga claiming the league had made Williams aware he was wanted by the code.
“I think they have done enough,” Meninga said of the NRL.
“Sonny Bill understands how much the game wants him to stay.
“At the end of the day it is his personal decision.”
The delay in Williams’ decision is also set to put the Roosters’ premiership defence behind the eight-ball, with options thin as far as replacing the rather large portion of the salary cap that he occupied.