After a five-year stint away playing 15-man rugby, World Cup winner and sometime heavyweight boxer Sonny Bill Williams returned to the sport where it all began for him in a blockbuster rugby league match yesterday.

The 27-year-old former All Blacks centre, who has had six professional boxing fights, helped to attract a bumper crowd of 35,952 to the Sydney Football Stadium for his Sydney Roosters debut against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the opening match of the National Rugby League season.

Williams’ try five minutes from time was only a consolation, though, as the Rabbitohs, part-owned by actor Russell Crowe, ran out convincing 28-10 winners.

“Maybe people were expecting me to work some magic, Williams said. “Theres a few things I was bit rusty on but it’s a start.2