Controversial rugby league figure Tony Williams has found a new club after being sacked for supporting convicted star, Jarryd Hayne.
Williams, who has won the NRL Premiership, represented New South Wales at State of Origin level and earned caps for Tonga and Australia, will revive his rugby league career with bush footy club Picton Magpies for the 2022 season.
The tough, uncompromising forward – aptly nicknamed ‘T-Rex’ – had been sacked by a US rugby league team New York Freedom for comments he made in support of his former teammate Jarryd Hayne following the latter’s prison sentence for rape.
Williams claimed Hayne was innocent after he was sentenced to a minimum of three years and eight months in prison last year, with the former targeting the victim on Instagram where he brought into question her version of events.
New York Freedom quickly responded, barely hours later, issuing a statement that revealed Williams’ contract had been torn up.
“We cannot control what others do, but we can control how we respond,” the club said. “In light of the comments made by Tony Williams, his contract with New York Freedom has been terminated.”
Williams played 170 NRL games for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Manly Sea Eagles, Cronulla Sharks and Parramatta Eels in a ten-year career that established the forward as one of the most fearsome in the game.
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