SONNY Bill Williams is a champion boxer, league and union player - perhaps he should try his hand at gymnastics.
The Roosters premiership winner on Tuesday night backflipped and told New Zealand Rugby League authorities that he would like to play in next month’s Rugby League World Cup after earlier in the day ruling himself out for “other commitments’’.
The news is a huge boost for the six-week tournament, held in the UK, and will see the Kiwis’ odds of defending the title shorten dramatically.
It also gives Williams the chance, should his Kiwis win, to hold both rugby codes’ World Cup at the same time, after his role in the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup win in 2011.
On Tuesday morning, Kiwis coach Steve Kearney announced that Williams was unavailable due to “other commitments.’’
But by 6 o’clock Tuesday night, Williams had suddenly reversed his decision, leaving the New Zealand camp stunned.
Sonny Bill Williams in action for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL Grand Final.
New Zealand must now submit a formal application to the World Cup committee to alter their 24-man squad, which was announced Tuesday.
It would mean one member of the original squad would be dumped.
Williams’ manager, Khoder Nasser, was frantically calling media outlets Tuesday night to reveal Williams’ new plan.
NZRL chairman Scott Carter was bewildered and will seek more details on the Williams drama Wednesday.
Kearney wasn’t answering his phone Tuesday night.
“It will be a big, big boost for the Kiwis,’’ said New Zealand great Gary Freeman.
“It is the perfect time for Sonny to make himself available.
"I’ve got to be honest, I don’t think the Aussies want him there."
Williams had originally told friends he was weary and needed an off-season break.
He told his 300,000 Twitter followers Tuesday: “Wishing the kiwis all the best in their title defence, having my first break since 2008. Looking forward to spending time with family and friends.’’
Williams continues to delay a decision on whether to re-sign with the Sydney Roosters or return to Super Rugby.
It may be another fortnight before Williams announces his future .
Kearney spoke to Williams on Monday, and the Roosters superstar - at that stage - said he would withdraw.
“Sonny is unavailable due to other commitments. I’m sure we’d all like to know what they are, but we’ll hear about that in the next two or three weeks,” Kearney said at a press conference Tuesday morning.
“There would be no point asking me what his other commitments are because I don’t know. We’d planned not to have Sonny. That was, I guess, just the general feeling that I had throughout the year.
“He couldn’t give me a definitive answer (on his future) because he didn’t know himself.
"It was a decision that was going to be made after [the Grand Final]. Although I wasn’t confident, I was pleased with the conversation we had.”
The entire landscape then shifted dramatically.
