SONNY Bill Williams has revealed why he stayed in rugby league - a burning desire for the Sydney Roosters to go back-to-back in 2014.

In an expansive interview on Sunday before leaving for rugby league’s World Cup in England, Williams also claimed he would quit boxing and return to New Zealand rugby union after 2014 at Bondi.

Williams revealed his three-year plan includes representing the All Blacks at next year’s World Cup and playing rugby union at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

He also spoke of the decision which left Melbourne’s Tohu Harris dumped from the Kiwi squad.

THE FUTURE

Asked did he want to play in rugby union’s 2015 World Cup and then the Olympics, Williams said: ‘’In a perfect world, if it all went to plan and fell into place, that’s how I would like to do it.

‘’I have made my intentions clear that I want to go back to New Zealand rugby union and try and put my foot in the door for a franchise in New Zealand, hopefully the Chiefs. I understand by staying in league one more year that may not be an option.

‘’It is good to have made my intentions clear about what I want to do for the next three years. I have put it all out there. I’m just as over hearing about what I am going to do this year or that year.

‘’I’m 28 now and the next three years have been sorted. I’m not too sure how the body will feel after that.

‘’Even though the past couple of days have been pretty tough, I am happy to have my future sorted.’’

media_camera Sonny Bill Williams in action for the All Blacks.

THE MEETING

Williams held a secret meeting last Thursday with Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, assistant coach Wayne Smith and NZRU general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen.

It was assumed he was heading back to rugby union.

Asked what happened at the meeting, Williams said: ‘’It was making my intentions clear that I want to go back (in 2015).

‘’The deal hasn’’t been done yet but it was just clearing up a few things and I guess being up-front and honest with them...how I have always been.’’

THE ROOSTERS

Williams had an amazing first-year back in the NRL, pushing the Roosters to a premiership.

‘’The year at the Roosters couldn’t have gone any better,’’ he said. ‘’The passion and drive that I have to go hopefully back-to-back was there (when deciding on 2014).

‘’I just had to do whatever was right in my heart and gut.’’

CRITICISM

Rightly or wrongly, Williams is among the most criticised athletes in Australia.

‘’I know people would take it the wrong way (staying in NRL) but I can’t worry about that. I’ve got a lot of support as well,’’ he said.

‘’There will always be that part (criticism) whatever I do, wherever I go.

‘’There is always going to be sour grapes in certain parts of the media. But I can’t control that.

‘’All I can control is how I operate as a person and how I operate as a man.’’

media_camera Sonny Bill Williams with coach Stephen Kearney during training.

TOHU HARRIS

After initially saying he was unavailable for the World Cup, Williams backflipped and Harris was punted.

‘’Definitely it an unfortunate situation coming into the Kiwis with the Tohu situation. I am very remorseful,’’ Williams said.

‘’But I didn’t want to look back in ten years and have a regret. I just laid it all out there.

‘’I’ve got their (team-mates) backing. That was one of things that happened after it (Harris drama) came about. I said to the coach (Steve Kearney), I am willing to drop out because I felt that bad. He said I had the backing of the senior players. Now I have to go with the coach’s decision.

‘’The way I can repay that is playing good footy and doing what I do, that’s out on the field.’’

BOXING

With a hectic three-years ahead, Williams has all but ended his boxing career.

‘’There’ll be no more boxing for the next few years,’’ he said. ‘’That’s because there will be no time.

‘’I’ve got to concentrate on things I need to concentrate on. League next year is my sole focus, and this World Cup, moving forward with the brothers in this team.

‘’I know the pressue is firmly on myself, that’s the way I like it, it seems to bring out the best in me.’’

WORLD CUP

Williams revealed how he suddenly became available for the rugby league tournament.

‘’To be honest I hadn’t made my mind up until 24 hours after I spoke to ‘Mooks’ (Kearney),’’ he said. ‘’That was the hardest thing. When I spoke to him, I hadn’t had much sleep after the (Roosters) celebrations, I didn’t have time to think about it.

‘’The body was a bit sore and I didn’t really know what I was going to do. There was a chance I was going to go back to rugby. At that time, if I went back to rugby, I didn’t feel it was right for me to put my name forward for the World Cup.

‘’Twenty-four later I decided I was going to stay. As a league player, the pinnacle is playing your country, playing for New Zealand. I still haven’t beaten Austtralia. I’ve got a draw, but not a victory. England as well. To play in a World Cup is going to be special.’’

THE DESIRE

What drives Sonny Bill Williams?

‘’I guess just pride, pride is the biggest thing,’’ Williams said. ‘’It is tough, especially when there are a few people that want you.

‘’You just try and do the right thing. Try and go with my heart all the time.

‘’What I have figured out in the last week is that you can’t please everyone. Even though you want to, you can’t please everyone.’’

THE COACH

Kearney claims Williams will be treated like any other player in the squad.

‘’Everyone has to do their job - Sonny is no different,’’ Kearney said.

‘’I’ve got no doubt he will be of assistance to us in some way. If he gets his job done, which I’m anticipating he will, he will be of assistance.

‘’There has been a lot said over the past week and circumstances could have been better handled.

‘’There will always be people who agree with the decision (to include Williams) and others who disagree. I have made the decision and we are going to put that behind us now.’’

Originally published as SBW wants back-to-back NRL titles