NRL News raised concerns in early February about Sonny Bill Williams linking with Anthony Mundine. It seems the influence of the Mundine enigma has had a profound affect on SBW, the Bulldogs big name yesterday dumping his long term manager Gavin Orr to link with Mundine manager Khoder Nasser.
Williams was picked up by Gavin Orr as a promising 15 year old and the manager has taken him to the loft heights his now enjoys today. There is alot of ‘Jerry McGuire’ about this current backflip from SBW, the big name managers fighting over the prize player – but mixed in with all the politics is a dash of religion, two topics you’re not supposed to raise with guests let alone both at once.
SBW has apparently told team mates he is not interested in converting to islam, but after dumping long term manager Orr further surprises might be possible.
Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg last night confirmed Sonny Bill had left Gavin Orr’s Pacific Sports Management group.
He said Williams had asked the Bulldogs to liaise with Nasser, not Orr.
“We are dealing with Khoder Nasser,” Greenberg said. “I haven’t talked to Khoder yet, but I will be very keen to speak to him next week.”
Orr said he had not been informed of the split.
The move comes as Sonny Bill Williams has taken a more public stance in recent weeks, the talented NRL player speaking on the NRL Footy Show about several topics close to his heart and elaborating on things more than he has ever done before. SBW has said he is keen to take a much greater role in the spotlight and use his profile to assist others less fortunate than himself, such as the plight of younger Polynesian Rugby League players as they come through the ranks.
“I don’t know,” Orr said.
“I haven’t been told anything. I will wait until I hear from Sonny until I comment. I think he is big enough to tell me.”