EX-QUEENSLAND high school teacher Brian Canavan is the man tasked with solving sport's greatest mystery, how to keep Sonny Bill Williams tied to one club.
Williams, who dragged his Roosters team back into Sunday's night grand final, will only break from professional sport for two weeks before preparing for his next conquest - a return to the boxing ring during the summer.
The multiple premiership winner has been offered $1 million to fight New Zealand's heavyweight title holder, however it can be revealed a more enticing option is a rematch with Francois Botha.
His good friend and fellow dual-sport star Quade Cooper's second pro bout would be the co-main event for the Cape Town card.
The duo are set to train with each other in Brisbane in coming weeks. It is understood Williams is desperate to erase any doubt he is a better boxer than Botha, whom he defeated in a controversial ten-round affair early this year.
Sonny Bill Williams of the Roosters celebrates with fans during fan day at Allianz Stadium today. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Trying to ensure the pick of the 28-year-old's incredible career options is the Roosters is their chief operating officer Canavan.
Canavan, a former Villanova College teacher, is one of rugby league's shrewdest negotiators but even he can only laugh when asked how on earth a negotiation with Williams works.
The simple fact is the backrower's supreme abilities, as exemplified in the Roosters' second half come back against Manly in Sunday's epic grand final, are worth risking a salary cap black hole.
"If he opens the door and says "I'd like to stay" we have salary cap space already assigned," Canavan told The Courier-Mail.
"If he wants to stay we will certainly accommodate him.
"He is a unique player, with a unique situation where he can go across different sports.
"As a result you bend a few conventions in how your recruitment and retention and salary cap modelling works.
"He is an elite athlete.
"He had a few errors (in the grand final) but he was so composed.
"The whole team was like that because they had us under the pump.
"We didn't flinch, we didn't have puzzled looks on our face."
Reports Williams is about to sign a deal with Super Rugby's Chiefs and the NZRU have gained momentum since Sydney's grand final win.
Troubled centre Blake Ferguson would become the Roosters' priority if Williams does return to New Zealand.
Williams said the lure of playing with his "All Blacks brothers" again was enormous.
"It's a hard decision ahead of me because I have been keeping to myself the last month, I haven't even been watching television and (All Black) Liam Messam sent me a text today wishing me good luck and I said thanks brother," Williams said.
"My brother actually said the Kiwis got up, so I felt bad that I didn't contact them because I was so focused on this game.
"I consider some of the All Blacks brothers, but I consider the boys here brothers as well.
"It's a tough decision so I will savour the moment and be a happy man."
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