Sonny Bill Williams

Posting in his official Twitter account, Williams is confident that Fiji can secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

Williams tweeted “Well done my Fijian brothers..don’t be surprised to see these guys in the quarter finals!”

Also posting about Fiji’s historic win, Former Flying Fijians Nemani Nadolo posted “That wasn’t even fiji best team. I’m calling it now. Fiji and one other “Tier 1” Country in pool C is going through to the QF…”

Hodges again called out Gallen after winning a unanimous points decision against influencer Jordan Simi at the Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday night. The decision - all three judges scored it 40-36 in favour of the former footballer - was met with boos from the crowd, prompting the former Maroons centre to ask, “who won the Origin?”

In his post-bout speech, he said of a potential fight with Gallen: “He’s got a big head, I’ll knock his head off.”

The dual code rugby star demolished AFL great Hall overnight in Australia, dominating from the opening seconds.

Williams jolted the Sydney Swans premiership winner in the first half minute with some crisp accurate shots.

Hall was down after just 47 seconds, though referee Les Fear said he didn't see a punch.

It looked like Hall had been hit with a left hook and he appeared unsteady after standing up.

Within 40 seconds, the 45-year-old returned to the canvas after taking a couple of big shots,

Hall aggressively pushed his head into Williams' face as the tension threatened to spill over ahead of tonight's heavyweight fight.

Hall is returning to the ring for the first time since he fought to a draw with former NRL star Paul Gallen in their 'Code War' bout in 2019.

Sonny Bill says the training camp in Ireland with the Tyson Fury camp had been eye-opening and he was in peak condition and ready to keep his 9-0 unbeaten record intact.

Photo 9 News

Williams is now 36, and about to embark on the final chapter of his sporting career as he “scratches the itch” to give boxing a proper crack.

But Williams is more than a sportsman these days. After hanging up the boots he moved into the commentary box with broadcaster Stan in Australia, and away from the industry entirely he has used his platform to advocate on behalf of asylum seekers.

Williams and Hall confirmed the fight on Thursday, pitting the 36-year-old former All Blacks and Roosters star against the 44-year-old Sydney Swans icon.

Hall went down in AFL infamy for knocking out a rival player with a sickening punch in 2008, and fought out a draw with league star-turned-boxer Paul Gallen in 2019.

Williams said his return to the ring was to scratch his last sporting itch, and will soon depart north to work with Parker and Fury as he tries to finish his sporting career with a successful chapter in the fight game.

The two retired NRL premiership stars have been on a collision course to square off in the ring ever since Gallen made his debut with the gloves in 2012, and football fans begged for the bout to happen.

Williams has since been accused of dodging Gallen, and last year the latter conceded the cross-code event that was little chance of happening.

Williams had his first fight in 2009 and has only had eight in total, although has won every one of those.

In June he had his first fight in six years, defeating Waikato Falefehi by unanimous decision.

Cooper completed a fairytale return to test rugby over the weekend as he played a starring role in defeating the world champions by landing the match-winning penalty in injury time to clinch a 28-26 victory on the Gold Coast.

Not only did the successful penalty attempt hand the Wallabies their first victory in the Rugby Championship this year, but it vindicated Cooper’s return to the Australian national set-up after a four-year absence from the green and gold jersey.

Eight years ago, New Zealand offered to resettle 150 refugees a year from Australia's offshore detention system.

Williams is urging Morrison to finally accept the offer.

"I think 250 people or close to, have been left in Papua New Guinea and in Nauru that can be brought to have a better life.

"They've been stuck for the last eight years. We can't even do it for two weeks in quarantine, imagine doing it for eight years."

He told Morning Report that New Zealand needed to understand the meaning of refugees.

Speaking on Fox Sports at the weekend, Matthew Johns said the brothers wanted to help Toa Samoa emulate the success of Tonga in the international game and had spoken with Sonny Bill Williams about a possible coaching trio.

The incumbent Toa Samoa coach Matt Parish has been in charge since 2013 and has coached the team at the last two Rugby League World Cups.

Rugby League Samoa President Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a issued a statement yesterday insisting Parish would continue his tenure with Samoa.