Roosters focus on security for SBW - Sydney Morning Herald

Passion: Bulldogs fans remember. Photo: Anthony Johnson

Sydney Roosters boss Brian Canavan says there will be serious consideration about the security needed in two weeks' time for Sonny Bill Williams' long-awaited showdown with Canterbury.

He also revealed the club hadn't ruled out using Williams in the pre-match promotion, despite the Kiwi superstar being branded an outcast by the Bulldogs' army when he left Canterbury for French rugby in 2008.

''We haven't really discussed it in detail, yet,'' said Canavan. ''We'll be mindful there'll be a big crowd, we'll be mindful there'll be a lot of passion in there because both supporter groups are very passionate - and there's a great rivalry between the two clubs from a spectator point of view.

''We're predicting a big crowd so there'll be the appropriate number of security people on call. We're hopeful to get in excess of 35,000 supporters.

''The weather is still warm, it's a Friday night.''

Canterbury fans vowed never to forgive the one-time favourite son who became an All Black and held a version of the New Zealand heavyweight boxing title. Indeed, Canavan was made aware that the wounds from Williams' walk out hadn't healed during the opening round of the NRL season.

A group of Canterbury supporters went to the Roosters-South Sydney match dressed in their battle colours and a sign that declared, ''We haven't forgotten''.

The group of supporters sat behind the goal posts to jeer Williams when he made his debut in the red, white and blue before police made them take down their banner.

''How he left us,'' said Ali, the group's leader when asked to explain his sign. ''We haven't forgotten how we made such a big deal of him, paid him a fortune, but he left us. It's bad. Especially how he joined our worst rivals. He disappointed us.''

Canavan said while he was confident the Friday night match on April 12 would be incident-free, the security would be discussed between the Roosters, the SCG Trust and Canterbury.

''We'll obviously take necessary precautions, but that is always done in conjunction with the SCG Trust and our opposing club,'' he said.

Canavan, who was appointed chief executive of the Roosters last year, was also at the club's helm in 2004 when Roosters and Bulldogs fans clashed in a series of brawls inside the stadium.

Canavan said the relationship between the two clubs and the supporters was good, adding: ''The Canterbury club - and ourselves - have come a long way since then.

''And there's also been a big difference in how Canterbury crowds present themselves now [compared] to a decade ago.''