'Global superstar' Sonny Bill would lift Super League

Great Britain assistant coach Ian Watson said the expected signing of Sonny Bill Williams by Toronto Wolfpack would benefit the entire Super League.

Watson, who guided the Salford Red Devils to the grand final of the recently completed competition, said everyone would win if a deal is sealed with the dual-code international.

Williams, a two-time NRL premiership winner, is expected to be unveiled by the Wolfpack on a two-year deal reported to be worth as much as $10 million in the coming days.

Watson said bringing a player of Williams's profile to the Wolfpack would be a massive coup for the game.

"If we are talking about expansion and growing the game, I think Sonny Bill coming back into the game does just that," Watson told NRL.com.

"He's a global superstar at the moment with the All Blacks. Everyone knows his name, he does boxing, modelling, he does everything, so it's a massive name to come into our sport.

"He's well known in the UK and everyone knows what he can do on the rugby league field and they have watched him playing for the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup.

"It's something I think the Super League is going to embrace and look forward to."

Despite being in the second tier in 2019, Toronto had a squad which boasted former NRL players including Josh McCrone, Bodene Thompson and Ricky Leutele.

Off the back of signing Williams, Watson said Toronto would have even more pulling power on the player market.

"100 per cent I think you'll get a lot more players wanting to go to Toronto now," Watson told NRL.com.

"Players who maybe didn't see Toronto as an attractive destination for the next stage of their career may now be thinking 'well Sonny Bill is there' and want to be a part of it.

"I'm good mates with [Toronto player] Gareth O'Brien and I don't think he ever thought he'd get the chance to play with Sonny Bill Williams.

"Opposition players will be excited to go up against him too and they'll be excited to try and put a few shots on him as well.

"He's a phenomenal athlete so physically it won't be a problem. But coming back into the game and getting that repetition of efforts that you get with rugby league, it might take him a few games to get back into the swing of it."

It's something I think the Super League is going to embrace and look forward to

Lions assistant coach Ian Watson

Meanwhile, Kiwis coach Michael Maguire wouldn't rule out the prospect of Williams returning to the famous black jersey, but suggested it was unlikely given the current depth of the squad.

Williams has 12 Test caps for the Kiwis and last played league for New Zealand at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

"I think you're always open to the opportunity, but I am very pleased with the players I have got at this present moment," Maguire said.

"To be able to be a part of the squad, it's about all the things we talk about like values and standards, so if anyone wants to live inside that then they can have an opportunity."