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SYDNEY - Bulldogs players have been left "filthy" by Sonny Bill Williams' shock walkout from the National Rugby League club on the eve of tonight's clash with St George Illawarra.
The Bulldogs had been set to welcome back their star back-rower from a back injury against the Dragons
at ANZ Stadium.
Instead, the match will represent the beginning of life without the New Zealand test star, who has sensationally quit the club less than a season into a five-year deal.
Williams has left Australia and is reportedly in France poised to sign a multi-million-dollar deal with newly-promoted rugby side Toulon.
Williams did not inform the club of his decision to leave Australia with the only confirmation of his exit coming when Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg phoned his manager Khoder Nasser.
Greenberg addressed the entire Bulldogs playing group yesterday and said to describe their reaction as disappointed was an understatement.
"I think the word filthy would be more their reaction," Greenberg said.
"These are blokes that have been in the trenches in a tough season and there's no doubt we've done it tough on the field.
"To have a bloke just walk out mid-season and couple of days before the game is insulting and disappointing."
Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan said he was still in shock and even admitted he was finding it hard to imagine playing alongside Williams again.
"It's been a very tough season for all of us and to leave us with seven weeks to go in the competition when we've been busting our butts at training and in games every week ... it's very hard to swallow," Ryan said.
Asked if Williams would be welcome back at the club if he decided to change his mind, Ryan said: "I can't even get my head around what's happened at the moment, let alone playing alongside him.
"I'm sure that the club will deal with all the legal stuff but, yeah, at this stage I can't see it happening."
The Bulldogs were already facing a stack of changes from last week's loss to the New Zealand Warriors, with Ben Roberts and Lee Te Maari stood down after their involvement in an altercation at a Cronulla nightclub on the weekend.
They have also lost hooker Corey Hughes to injury, prompting coach Steve Folkes to promote Aaron Groom and Nick Kouparitsas to the starting line-up.
Youngster Ben Barba will make his debut off the bench while Brad Morrin will also be added to the bench despite playing NSW Cup yesterday.
The Dragons have suffered a blow ahead of the clash with back-rower Ben Creagh ruled out for six weeks with a quad injury.
However, the injury has paved the way for Wendell Sailor to return to first-grade with a spot on the bench, with coach Nathan Brown yet to finalise his starting line-up.
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS CONTRACT TIMELINE
March 2007 - Ends protracted negotiations by signing five-year deal with Bulldogs which is due to expire after the 2012 NRL season.
April 2007 - Involved in infamous toilet cubicle tryst with ironwoman Candice Falzon which is captured by another patron at the Clovelly Hotel.
June 2007 - Caught and fined by police for urinating on a wall in side street near a Cronulla nightclub. Admits to an alcohol problem.
March 2008 - Reportedly dumps long-time manager Gavin Orr to link up with Khoder Nasser.
March 2008 - Reveals he has lost respect for former teammate Willie Mason after Mason's decision to quit the Bulldogs to join the Sydney Roosters. Williams claims Mason's talk of loyalty had been a big factor in his decision to re-sign with the club the previous year.
May 1 2008 - Says he would seriously contemplate switching to rugby union and chase dual international status if the All Blacks offered him enough money.
May 18 2008 - Reportedly seeks a release from the Bulldogs, but the NRL club says he will be expected to see out the remaining years of his contract.
June 2008 - First sign of reports linking him with a move to Toulon, where former All Black Tana Umaga is the coach.
June 2008 - Khoder Nasser meets with Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg, accompanied by not Williams, but two boxers in his stable, Anthony Mundine and Soloman Haumono. The next day Williams declares he is happy to remain at the club.
July 26 2008 - Williams reportedly flees the country headed for France to take up a two-year deal worth an estimated $3 million to switch codes and play rugby union for Toulon in the French first division.
- AAP