‘The answer wasn’t a no once we made contact’We are expanding our coverage of New Zealand. Please help us by supporting our independent journalism

Sonny Bill Williams has expressed an interest in joining the Super League newcomers Toronto Wolfpack, according to their head coach Brian McDermott.

The Canadian club are on the lookout for big signings following their promotion from the Championship and intend to follow up on their initial approach to Williams, a dual-code international, once his Rugby World Cup commitments with New Zealand are over.

Salford’s trio of misfits set to complete remarkable journey to Grand Final | Aaron Bower Read more

McDermott said that Toronto want to bring in a David Beckham-type player to do for the Wolfpack what the former Manchester United favourite did for LA Galaxy and that Williams fits the bill. “Sonny Bill Williams has shown interest in us and that’s what it is at the moment,” McDermott said

“He’s currently busy with the World Cup so I wouldn’t ever dare to suggest that he is more than interested in coming but the answer wasn’t a ‘no’ once we made contact so that’s something we’d like to follow up.”

Toronto, who do not take any central funding, have been bankrolled from their formation three years ago by the Australian mining magnate David Argyle and he remains committed to bringing in big-name recruits despite stepping down as chairman.

“Our club would want to have a name that’s absolutely international that everybody would recognise and help the profile of our game, very much like David Beckham did for Major League Soccer,” McDermott said. “But he would have to be a very good player as well, he’s got to be able to do the job that I want him to do. There would be no token player or just a headline-grabbing player.

“So, whoever it may be, you go mention the five highest-profile rugby players – league or union – around the world and we’d be interested and our club would get those. David Argyle will resource each one of those signings.”