Sonny Bill walkout leaves Rugby League in shock.

I had intended my next update would be summarising the aftermath of the Super League franchise announcement. However, that went ‘women’s breasts-up’ when I heard this on the build up to the Canberra V Gold Coast game via Fox Sports.

It has been confirmed in Australia that Sonny Bill Williams has walked out on the Canterbury Bulldogs, with reports suggesting that he is after a move to french rugby union Top 14 side, RC Toulonnais. The team, who have just been promoted to the French top flight after last season, are said to have, or about to offer up to three million Australian dollars to the Canterbury and New Zealand star. However, Todd Greenburg (Canterbury CEO) has said in a statement on the club’s website that they will file an injunction preventing SBW in playing for any other club if he does not wish to play for Canterbury anymore.

This comes weeks after Mark Gasnier left St George Illawarra for Stade Francais, another Top 14 side. With fears that too many of the NRL’s stars are leaving the competition for foreign soil, either Super League or rugby union, this announcement is only following the trend that has been plaguing the Australian game for the past two years, and no doubt reaching a new peak. But with one of the NRL’s exciting, dynamic and naturally talented players shifting shop to the south of France, the big bosses at NRL HQ must now react to this terrible emigration that is motivated by money and a change in lifestyle. But with strict rules governing player sponsorship and endorsements in the NRL on top of the salary cap, it was obvious players would pick up sticks and move away from the game to a competition where money is either no object, or is easier to earn and more is available.

Like I say, David Gallop and Colin Love now have to face the music and do something about this worrying trend before the NRL loses all of its top stars, and loses its appeal to the Australian public. Will they reduce salary cap and sponsorship regulations in favour of keeping its top players, or will they stick to their guns in favour of a more competitive competition but with fewer recognisable names? The NRL is in crisis, how will they react?