Sonny Bill Williams offers pay cut to lure Quade Cooper to Bondi
by: Brent Read and Dan Koch
From:The Australian
November 27, 201212:00AM
SONNY Bill Williams yesterday offered to take a pay cut to create room for Quade Cooper at the Sydney Roosters but his own return to the game is yet to be ratified as the ARL Commission continues to examine his contract.
Williams, who appeared at a media conference alongside Cooper yesterday to publicise his fight against South African Francois Botha, has accepted a deal to play next season with the Roosters. However, he needs to have the contract cleared by the commission and salary cap auditor Ian Schubert.
While both parties deny there are any problems, that it remains unregistered is cause for concern.
Regardless, Williams's offer to part with half his wages to create an opportunity for Cooper is unlikely to be accepted by the commission. As Parramatta is discovering in its attempts to sign Israel Folau, Schubert has the right to put a notional value on players.
It's unlikely Schubert would allow Williams to play for the Roosters if he cut his fee by 50 per cent, although the dual international is ready to raise the idea with Roosters chairman Nick Politis.
"I was a big fan of the way he played the game a long time before we became a team," Williams said of Cooper. "I know what he can do out on the field and I would go as far as to say publicly that I would gladly give him half of my pay packet for next season to get him across to my club."
Asked about Williams's offer, Cooper said: "It would more than do me, mate. He is one of ... the top earning rugby league players in the world, so you do the maths."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...+International
The circus rolls on.... It's looking to be a three ring circus!