Wild Bill: Sonny Bill Williams gives referee Jared Maxwell the glare following the Roosters’ loss to Penrith last Saturday. Credit:Getty Images "I've sensed right throughout the year that Sonny Bill has had a problem with some of his teammates at different times," Gould said. "I'm not sure this side has ever recaptured the sort of diligence and discipline it had last year when it won the premiership. It's rocked along on one leg near enough at the top of the table to know they'll be in the finals ... I think that irks Sonny Bill because he prides himself on his consistency and excellence. "He's playing frustrated at the moment. He might take it out on the Cowboys." That frustration was there for all to see late in the excruciating loss to the Panthers last Saturday. Having forced a Panthers mistake, Williams detonated. "COME ON YOU F---ING MOTHER F---ERS!" he barked. It certainly appeared to be directed at his teammates. It was the only memorable sign of emotion from Sonny this year.

Williams shows Willie Mason who's boss last season. Last season, he did it weekly – as Willie Mason can attest after Sonny plonked him fair on his backside and then said, "Get up you weak [expletive]." He also had a roving commission back then, ripping through defensive lines whenever he saw fit. Standing out there on the right side of the attack, the issue this season appears to be that the Roosters' best player just doesn't touch the ball enough. Some will suggest that's the fault of the coaching staff, or halfback Mitchell Pearce. But even Sonny's closest allies have told him he's the big dog, and he needs to take control and eat whenever he wants. He did it in the final round against South Sydney. The Roosters won.

If he can do it in the final three matches, he won't just have done it all but will be remembered as the player who left the game, came back and then steered his side to consecutive premierships. And that is something we would unlikely ever see from a player again. Foran's gone to the Dogs? The talk has been everywhere this week that Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran is headed to the Bulldogs in 2016 – which is intriguing given both sides square off in Saturday night's semi-final. At the very least, the Sea Eagles will have to move heaven and earth to keep him when his deal is up next year, such is his frustration at the direction of the club.

Canterbury coach Des Hasler went close to convincing Foran to follow him to Belmore three years ago, before senior Manly players stepped in and persuaded Foran to stay. Hasler is all but certain to snap up Dragons winger Brett Morris, who would be used at fullback. The Dragons need to move players because of some major issues with their salary cap – partly because of the knock-on effect of snapping up Benji Marshall on a three-year deal earlier this year. How the Red V faithful cop the departure of Morris – and possibly NSW forward Trent Merrin – because of the signing of Marshall should be interesting. War rages on the northern beaches Last week's item about the internal war at Manly and the senior players having too much sway made the natives restless.

We were given some food for thought. The senior players might not have "built this club", but they certainly rebuilt it after the disaster of the Northern Eagles. We were also told of just how shabbily those players have been treated over the years. Meanwhile, they are still tut-tutting on the northern beaches about an explosive confrontation between back-rower Anthony Watmough and club officials. It happened at the club's presentation night in the lead-up to the qualifying final against Souths last week. Watmough is understood to be furious about the leaking of a story to Fairfax Media about his impending move to the Eels. Apparently not, Flanno

The NRL's decision to keep Sharks coach Shane Flanagan on ice just a little longer rekindled thoughts of a conversation with him in June. Flanagan, who remains suspended for failing to stop the supplements program at the Sharks in 2011, had taken umbrage at a column from this reporter, especially a remark that he was "supposedly not coaching" the club from which he had been banned. When it was suggested he had been involved in player recruitment, he emphatically protested: "Which I'm entitled to do." Apparently not. As outlined by the NRL on Wednesday, one of the conditions of his ongoing suspension is to "refrain from dealing directly or indirectly with the Sharks club, team and players".

Goodes may play on for just $100,000 a year Swans legend and Australian of the Year Adam Goodes is looking more likely by the minute to play on next season. He plays the 350th game of his career on Friday in the preliminary final against North Melbourne at ANZ Stadium. At 34, speculation continues to swirl about whether he will play on next season or retire. In an interview with Fairfax Media earlier this month he said: "The best thing about what happens next year is that it's my call. I've got no pressure from the footy club. I can play out the year and decide what I want to do." This column has been told if Goodes does play on it could be for as little as $100,000, because of salary cap constraints. Given how much Goodes can earn on the public speaking circuit, a playing contract would merely serve as spare change. He'd be playing on for love, not money, and how many players in the moonlight of their careers can do that? Thumbs up

Western Sydney Wanderers took one giant step towards a place in the Asian Champions League final with their 0-0 draw against FC Seoul in the away leg of their semi-final in Korea. Given what the side has achieved in its two years of existence, is Tony Popovic the best coach in Australian football? Discuss. Thumbs down Which bizarro world have we slipped into? Mick Ennis is "disrespectful" for messing up Cameron Smith's hair after he made an error because Smith is the Australian captain? What would have happened if Smith had done it to Ennis? Keep it real, rugby league. And stay classy. It's a big weekend for ... Daly Cherry-Evans, who is starting to show the strain on the field because of this internal feud at play at his club. All eyes will be on the Manly No.7 against the Doggies on Saturdee. It's an even bigger weekend for ...

The Swans, as they look to book a place in the AFL Big Dance when they take on North Melbourne in the preliminary final at ANZ Stadium. They are one result away from the possible showdown with Hawthorn we have been expecting all season. Exciting times. The quote "How many f---ing grand finals have you won?" So asked Broncos co-captain Justin Hodges as he walked up the tunnel following the loss to the Cowboys. An oldie but a goodie.