When Sonny Bill Williams flew out of Australia in secrecy to take up a deal with French rugby side Toulon, there was no more hated individual in sport.
He was branded a traitor and topped polls for the most unpopular person in the country. He was banned from the NRL and had to pay $750,000 to the Bulldogs to get out of his contract. Since then he has won two World Cups with the All Blacks, won a national boxing title, married, became a father and won an NRL title with the Roosters.
More than that, the sporting world has seen the person that SBW is. There have been small things that he has done in the public eye; his offer on Twitter to give World Cup tickets to refugees and, of course, the way he leapt to a young fan's aid when he was tackled by a security guard and proceeded to give him his medal was seen by the world.
In the background to all of that SBW had made a decision to go to visit children in refugee camps in Lebanon. He was first shown vision of what children in those areas were enduring before the World Cup when he was given a virtual tour of the camp.
The All Blacks have links with charities including UNICEF and SBW told them he wanted to go to Lebanon as soon as he could. That was after the World Cup.
The logistics and security preparations for this visit have been considerable, especially in light of recent events – the bombing in Beirut threw an issue at those planning the trip – but SBW has not hesitated. According to UNICEF, great efforts have been made to ensure the trip runs smoothly and the UN security team and the UNICEF Lebanon staff have left no detail unchecked when it comes to safety.
The Williams trip is sure to generate significant media interest, but that was never the objective for the dual international. He is doing this to make a small difference in the life of some kids and to understand in some way the hardship they are experiencing.
Say and think what you like about Williams , but he is a good-hearted man who has grown in his standing in world sport.
His time at the Roosters brought the club a premiership and changed the culture. That's why they'd like him to return.
Williams is going to the Rio Olympics with the New Zealand sevens side. After that he is a free agent, something the Bondi club is very aware of. His dinner last week with Trent Robinson and Nick Politis is an indication of the interest that the Roosters still have in him.
On cloud Nine
It's not the popular thing to say, but it turns out that recently departed NRL CEO Dave Smith may have in fact done a great job with the rights.
He did a record free-to-air deal with the Nine Network in full knowledge that that would put him even further in the sights of News Corp. Their executive team were left red-faced when Rupert Murdoch lobbed into town to the news that Nine had sealed the rights.
The result was some serious Smith bashing and a refusal to deal with him. Smith left – or was made to leave – before the deal was complete, but his decision to do things his own way brought the game a great deal.
He knew his head would be lopped off for daring to buck convention, but he wasn't in the job to make friends. He departed without tears being shed, but he left the game in greater financial form than when he joined in 2013.
The last laugh: former NRL CEO Dave Smith. Photo: Nick Moir
It's ironic the man Smith did the deal with at Nine – David Gyngell – is also no longer around to take some credit. He left Nine off his own bat after, with the help of lawyer Amanda Laing, the Nine deal was done.
After selling back games to Fox Sports Nine ended up forking out $625 million for its share of the new deal, which ensures the public will see three of the best four games live on free-to-air and as the finals come around Nine will show the last five Saturday night games of the season live as well.
There was also another smart part of the deal for the network: Fox Sports will have to take eight minutes of commercials which generate revenue for Nine. So while the free-to-air viewers may be down on other years the all-important advertising dollars will be bigger than ever. Fox also have the option of taking Nine's coverage.
As the deal has panned out News and Telstra have in effect subsidised the Nine deal – which works out at $125 million for three-and-a-quarter rounds of football, which compares with the Seven deal for AFL, which gives them three-and-a-half rounds of football for $160 million.
Tiger tales
There have been denials from the Wests Tigers that they were again interested in keeping Robbie Farah, but this column is aware of discussions by the club that even considered a "fitting farewell" for Farah.
And by that we don't mean telling him he will play reserve grade or have to fight Matt Ballin for a place in the side. It's hard not to think that if the club had any real interest in keeping Farah they would start by apologising publicly to him.
They could explain why they wanted to roll him and the difficulties they will have going forward with the salary cap and keeping players and then just get on with making the next 12 months work. CEO Justin Pascoe can't be expected to wear the blame for the situation, but those who empowered Jason Taylor to pull the trigger on the Farah deal have questions to answer.
There were stories spun that Farah wasn't liked by the players and that he'd be easy to replace – but both of those things were wrong.
Testing times
The focus on Phillip Hughes over the past week has been enormous.
The attention has not been as great when it comes to Sean Abbott, who would have really done it tough over the past few days.
NSW cricket has given him huge support, although there is one official who has his heart in the right place but may be taking it too far. He isn't happy that there is a plaque for Hughes that Blues players have to pass as they walk on to the ground.
Not forgotten: Sean Abbott has received strong support from NSW cricket.
The line of thinking is that when he was struck down he was playing for South Australia not the Blues, even though he was a former NSW player.
The reason for the objection is that Abbott has to walk past the plaque every time he takes the field. It's hard to know what Abbott feels when he has to take that walk and it's nice that some are looking out for him, but Hughes was a very popular figure among the Blues. And you need to take into account that the Australian team also use that dressing room.
Hughes was a huge part of the national team. The media took extra care in their coverage of Hughes last week. There was even an official request to television stations from Virginia and Greg Hughes, Phillip's parents. They expressly asked that vision of him being taken from the SCG on the medicab wasn't shown.
They find it extremely distressing, particularly a frame where his arm falls from his chest while he is lying on the stretcher. In fairness to most of the networks, that vision has not been used since he passed away.
Bird in the hand
The interest in Jack Bird is justified; he is an absolute talent. Don't think for one minute that the Sharks haven't gone all out to keep him. From what this column has been told, he is looking at a $2 million offer over four years – awesome money for a rising star of the game.
It's said to be a better deal than the one the Dragons have presented. Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is hopeful of keeping him. Expect further talks with Bird early this week.
Moses cuts figure
Moses Mbye is looking at a juicy deal with the Bulldogs, but there is an interesting element to what his agent is looking for. Most players of his extensive ability work in an immediate State of Origin bonus if they play. Mbye wants a six-figure amount added on to the following year of his contract instead which would continue to be added each season that he played Origin.
The steel Shark
There is no doubting the toughness of Paul Gallen. He somehow ended up with a piece of metal in his eye after a training session but dashed off to get medical assistance and still turned up at the opening of Rebel's new Bondi store.
Monday moans
To say Manly are upset at the NRL about the 2016 draw is an understatement. They feel they have been dudded in the extreme by having 39 per cent of matches scheduled for the graveyard slot on Monday nights.
Mondays have been a black hole for clubs and next year will see the end of the timeslot. Even with a $40,000 handout from the NRL for home Mondays, clubs don't embrace them.
Monday night misery : the Sea Eagles are not happy with 2016 draw. Photo: Mark Kolbe
Yet the Sea Eagles have copped three in a row from rounds 15 to 17 including trips to the Gold Coast and then Townsville on consecutive Mondays before returning to Brookvale Oval for another Monday night game. Early in the competition – rounds two and three – they have back-to-back Mondays against Wests Tigers (away), followed by the Sharks at Brookvale.
Big drawing games against Souths and Parramatta have been scheduled for the new Thursday night timeslot. The club's preference for Sunday afternoon games has fallen on deaf ears at Rugby League Central with one game scheduled in the first 20 rounds. Manly is recognised as a family club, but of the club's home games revealed in the opening 20 rounds only two are attractive to families in terms of start time.
Loyal fans who have purchased memberships for reserved seats are claiming they won't be able to attend many matches because of the high number of midweek night matches. Manly are one of the majority of clubs wanting a bigger slice of the NRL financial pie and the club's fury over the draw will surely treble their quest for more money in Wednesday's showdown with under-fire commission chairman John Grant.
Dragons circle Roberts
James Roberts' phone has been running hot since his contract wrangle was unveiled.
It is this column's understanding that some of the NRL's biggest coaching hitters, headed by Wayne Bennett, have been in touch.
In demand: City Origin rugby league player James Roberts from the Gold Coast Titans Photo: Brendan Esposito
Also keen for a chat was Paul McGregor, whose Dragons are fighting for Peta Hiku with several clubs, including Parramatta. Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett has been on the phone, but fitting him in after snaring Dylan Walker will be tough.
Roberts has settled right down after going to the Titans and that will be a massive factor when he makes the decision whether to leave. The Titans are still investigating through their lawyers whether the contract is actually void.
■ Danny Weidler is a Nine reporter.
