Sonny Bill Williams can expect a call from the embattled NZ Warriors following news his Toronto Wolfpack have quit the 2020 Super League competition.
While the former All Black still has a year to run on his mega NZ$10 million deal, the club is allowing their star recruit the opportunity to sign a short term deal with an NRL club.
Williams is one of seven Australasian players granted permission to seek NRL deals, including former Warriors back-rower Bodene Thompson.
NRL.com report several NRL clubs have already reached out to Williams manager Khoder Nasser, with the Warriors expected to join the chorus of suitors for arguably the highest-profile rugby/rugby league player on the planet.
"We're in a position where obviously we're going to require players and if Sonny Bill Williams becomes available, of course, we're going to look at how it could happen," chief executive Cameron George told NRL.com.
"We'll reach out for sure to try and understand the situation, we're already looking for loan players, so imagine if it came off.
"The stars would have to be aligned, and I don't know if and when Sonny could even get to Australia. But we'd be mad not to ask the question."
With four senior players departing Australia following Saturday nights' clash with the Roosters, the Warriors are in a desperate situation as the seek some quality short-term replacements.
The sticking point to any Wolfpack contracted player is the time left in the season. With a two-week quarantine a must, before a player could join up with his new squad, it could be as few as a six-game stint by the time contracts are signed.
NRL.com reports Williams is currently residing in Manchester with his wife Alaba and four children, weighing up his option, which includes returning to Auckland and sitting out the rest of the year, travel to Australia, quarantine and then link up with an NRL club, or remain in Europe.
Teams must move on a deal urgently, with August 3 set as the mid-season transfer deadline.
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