An Open Letter to fellow Roosters 'fans'

[Guest]

On 17 August 2005 he was charged with drink driving; the Bulldogs fined him $5,000 over the incident and he appeared in Waverley Local Court on 7 September. He was convicted of drink driving, with a blood alcohol level of .075.

In 2007, Williams was caught in a compromising position with Australian model and ironwoman Candice Falzon. A photo taken on a mobile phone of the incident was published on the Daily Telegraph website. He later apologised to his then girlfriend over the incident and said he was "ashamed and embarrassed".

On 17 June 2007, Williams was caught by police urinating on a wall in an alleyway near a nightclub in Cronulla in Sydney and was given an infringement notice and fined $650. He subsequently admitted he had an alcohol problem and said he would seek professional help. Almost a month later, Williams smashed a paparazzi photographer's camera after being photographed leaving a Kings Cross nightclub – with damages being as high as between $10,000 and $15,000.

It is funny how people on here will bag tabloids but use them to suit ridiculous agendas.

Defend Carney for drink-driving but condemn SBW for doing it years ago.

The Falzon incident is a complete nothing - who the fuuck wouldn't?

Urinating on a wall... shock horror.

You are clutching at straws, give it up.

[Headless Chook]

And there in lies one of the big problems. In his 5 years before, he was only a 2/3rds of a season player. Are we now employing part timers?

Well, we did have Anasta playing for us.....I would definitely consider him a part timer. SBW is more like a permanent casual than a part timer!

[Guest]

It is funny how people on here will bag tabloids but use them to suit ridiculous agendas.

Defend Carney for drink-driving but condemn SBW for doing it years ago.

The Falzon incident is a complete nothing - who the fuuck wouldn't?

Urinating on a wall... shock horror.

You are clutching at straws, give it up.

Who defended Carney? Not I sunshine. Where did you pull that one from.

Good to see you missing the point in the post.

[Guest]

Well, we did have Anasta playing for us.....I would definitely consider him a part timer. SBW is more like a permanent casual than a part timer!

lol... true!

[Spirit of 66]

It's done now. He has signed.

We've lost Braith Anasta as a marquee signing and replaced him with Sonny. I am sure that there are people disappointed with this decision (and will go on and on and on and on about it for the next few months), but it is a reality now.

I respect your grief, but it's time to move on.

Go Easts.

[Burnt Rooster]

SBW is a good signing, but he's not a miracle man, in the 5 years he has been away from the game, it has changed greatly, to the game he left. He has been playing Union, which is a stop / start affair, at the best of times, it's going to take him a few games, to get up to speed on the virtual non stop action of League these days, thats going to be his biggest hurdle to overcome, but he'll do that, just dont expect it in the first month of his new league career.
I remember when we signed Arie, that caused a furore as well, he was undoutably talented, but came with baggage, such as a dicky ankle , that never seemed to come good, a lazy trainer, a huge liking for unsuitable tucker, and a love of a beer, but sign him we did, and the rest as they say in classics is history.

Welcome to the club SBW, we all wish you a happy and injury free run, and all look forward to seeing you play for our great club.

[Guest]

I think filphy agrees with everthing too! Or he hasnt woken from his slumber in europe yet. if thats the case, cant wait for his 10pm barrage!

So you dont sleep there in Aus? Wow, things have changed there over the past 2 years! Where are you btw? I thought you couldnt wait to stay up all night for my 'barrage'? Funny that!

Maybe your mum sent you to bed early or something?

[milanja]

So you dont sleep there in Aus? Wow, things have changed there over the past 2 years! Where are you btw? I thought you couldnt wait to stay up all night for my 'barrage'? Funny that!

Maybe your mum sent you to bed early or something?

calm down ralphy, it just that when the media conference was done it would of been like 4am over there. cos u are such a big advocate against his signing i was waiting for your response. im in your old hunting ground the A.C.T. so things are slow here and i did jyst wake up.

[Guest]

I wish SBW could run over the top of Ralph.Sick of the hating.Get on board Ralph it is going to be great.

[Guest]

It's a great signing for the game and for the roosters, we have not signed a marquee player since Freddy. SBW will bring bigger sponsors to the roosters and i'm positive membership will increase as well!!

[Hawkeye]

5- Are you serious? You obviously didnt do your homework. Read on...

On 17 August 2005 he was charged with drink driving; the Bulldogs fined him $5,000 over the incident and he appeared in Waverley Local Court on 7 September. He was convicted of drink driving, with a blood alcohol level of .075.

In 2007, Williams was caught in a compromising position with Australian model and ironwoman Candice Falzon. A photo taken on a mobile phone of the incident was published on the Daily Telegraph website. He later apologised to his then girlfriend over the incident and said he was "ashamed and embarrassed".

On 17 June 2007, Williams was caught by police urinating on a wall in an alleyway near a nightclub in Cronulla in Sydney and was given an infringement notice and fined $650. He subsequently admitted he had an alcohol problem and said he would seek professional help. Almost a month later, Williams smashed a paparazzi photographer's camera after being photographed leaving a Kings Cross nightclub – with damages being as high as between $10,000 and $15,000.

Thats almost more crap than one Toddy Carney and with such a press manget, the headlines are going be coming very fast.

I think the reference to SBW not being a drinking/party boy is moreso directed at the period after these incidents you've mentioned. Didn't he convert to Islam in 2009 ......guess his lifestyle and partyboy/drinking ways are somewhat more subdued these days.

[mightyrooster]

top your f*cking moaning and have a look at the FACTS.

1.) SBW walked out on one of our arch enemies 5 years ago... I have NO sympathy for them. In 5 years I would like to imagine he is less impressionable these days
2.) He is a true marquee player - the club will profit on and off the field
3.) He wouldn't be coming if he didn't want to
4.) One year deal is NOT bad business by the club because:

a.) If it doesn't work out we cut our losses easily
b.) If it does work out you would imagine he will be keen to stay
c.) We can effectively legally cheat the cap by allowing him to earn supplementary income from boxing/yawnion in between contracts
d.) He takes most of the risk on, he is one injury away from losing a lot of $$$

5.) He doesn't drink or party - he won't create headlines for poor behaviour (something the club can't afford)
6.) The players are all keen as mustard to have him around, they don't seem to care about his special conditions. They are the ones affected by it.
7.) He is the most damaging and naturally talented forward most of us have/ever will see.
8.) We won't lose him to Origin.

Quit your f*cking moaning and commend the club on a good bit of business.

The only thing I have reservations on is point 4. I just get the impression from the press conference that he really is seeing this as just a one year deal. I got the feeling that if it wasn't for a handshake deal 3 years ago he would still be in yawnion. I think playing again for the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup is his goal and he will go straight back to Rugby in 2014 to achieve that. I hope I'm wrong though.

As for him walking out on the dogs and the game 5 years ago. I didn't like the way he did it but I can understand why. That club screwed him over. I am sick to death of idiots like Paul Kent, Mike Gibson and co (check the Back Page out from last night on Foxtel) going on about what a disgrace he was. How about a bit of balance and telling all what a disgrace the Bullcheats were in screwing him the way they did. It's a full on case of Tall Poppy syndrome.

I welcome $BW but have strong reservations about him staying any longer than 1 year. We are also going to have to put up with the constant News ltd / Telecrap media campaign against him. Is the fact that he apologised to a Fairfax journalist the reason all News Ltd outlets refuse to acknowledge that apology? The campaign has already started and he hasn't even played a game yet. The tactic of asking Hazem El Mazri his opinion was a deliberate one on New's part to draw out the emotion as much as possible. Good guy, family guy, deeply religious. His opinion will carry a lot more weight than say Andrew Ryan or Matt Utai.

So in summary I'm for $BW but with reservations.

[Guest]

Lol. I love your comeback at that ridiculous comment.

Yeah, like he won't be able to play anymore he is only one of the most gifted athletes in the world. I cannot believe some of the doomsayers on here.

Cynics derive a a lot more pleasure by criticising people, they rarely have praise for anyone, It's just in the nature of the beast.

[stsae]

There was similar angst from some sections of fans when we signed Artie, Freddy and Carntey. Even when we signed pRicky as coach. I always remember the pasting pRicky copped for signing Mullos. Then by the end of the season the same posters were praising the move. Then the next season they were blaming a GF loss on not re-signing Mullos. I remember.

Does anyone else see what $BW did as very minor compared to Folau and kHunt???

I mean $BW walked out on his club cos he felt he was being underpaid and left with very little room to negotiate a new deal, as at the time he did sign the 5 year contract he was told by the club they needed to pay him less cos of the other highly paid players at the club, who then were either sacked or left. He went on to play another code in different countries and to box.

Folau and kHunt went to another code primarily to steal league fans in traditional RL areas away to that code. They knew they were being used as a promotional vehicle and were prepared to damage the code they made their name in.

$BW didn't IMO leave RL with the intention of damaging our game. He left cos he felt he was being used unfairly by The Boggs. The other two knew what they were being signed for, to open new markets for a rival code in traditional RL areas.

$BW is portrayed my the media as a traitor to RL. I have never seen the other two bagged in a similar way. In fact they receive very little negative press about their role in betraying the code they made their names in. Folau is like some shitty prodigal son.

[mightyrooster]

There was similar angst from some sections of fans when we signed Artie, Freddy and Carntey. Even when we signed pRicky as coach. I always remember the pasting pRicky copped for signing Mullos. Then by the end of the season the same posters were praising the move. Then the next season they were blaming a GF loss on not re-signing Mullos. I remember.

Does anyone else see what $BW did as very minor compared to Folau and kHunt???

I mean $BW walked out on his club cos he felt he was being underpaid and left with very little room to negotiate a new deal, as at the time he did sign the 5 year contract he was told by the club they needed to pay him less cos of the other highly paid players at the club, who then were either sacked or left. He went on to play another code in different countries and to box.

Folau and kHunt went to another code primarily to steal league fans in traditional RL areas away to that code. They knew they were being used as a promotional vehicle and were prepared to damage the code they made their name in.

$BW didn't IMO leave RL with the intention of damaging our game. He left cos he felt he was being used unfairly by The Boggs. The other two knew what they were being signed for, to open new markets for a rival code in traditional RL areas.

$BW is portrayed my the media as a traitor to RL. I have never seen the other two bagged in a similar way. In fact they receive very little negative press about their role in betraying the code they made their names in. Folau is like some shitty prodigal son.

Too right! Well said. The media (telecrap in particular) are falling over themselves to welcome 'our' Izzy back! Sickening case of double standards. Yes Folau didn't break a contract but he took the cash (a lot of it) from another code with the express purpose of promoting their game in rugby league's heartland. He certainly didn't go because he was a great AFL player.