Sonny Bill Williams says he'll fight Paul Gallen eventually: 'The macho talk is just rubbish'

Sonny Bill Williams. Photograph by Nick Reed

Sonny Bill Williams is urging NRL rival Paul Gallen to be patient, as talk of a much anticipated fight between the two gathers momentum.

The All Blacks star will step into the ring for the first time in three years on December 1 in Sydney against a yet-to-be-announced opponent.

Gallen has expressed frustration at being overlooked as Williams' next opponent, claiming the All Blacks star is dodging him. But SBW said the latest opportunity - which will raise funds for the homeless via the Exodus Foundation in Australia and the Auckland City Mission in New Zealand - was too good to pass up.

Gallen himself has made it clear that he wants to fight Williams, calling him out on numerous occasions in the past.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herarld though, Williams said he's unfazed by the Cronulla Sharks captain's antics, telling him to be patient.

"Tell my good friend Paul, he can just relax and we will get there eventually," SBW told the Sydney Morning Herald. "He keeps calling me out by attacking me and questioning my manhood. That kind of talk, I'm past that stage in my life.

"I've been involved in sports for long enough to understand that the bravado, the macho talk is just rubbish. That's just water off a duck's back to me, so to speak. That's what I'd say about that situation brother."

Pressed on whether he intended to take on the veteran Sharks forward - who is now eyeing off a fight with John Hopoate - Williams replied: "Yeah, of course. When it comes to my good friend Paul, he probably needs to relax a bit.

"If it happens, it happens. This great opportunity came up for such a great cause. Big Paul had to take a back seat, so to speak."

Williams' opponent, in what will be a sanctioned world title fight, will be named at a news conference in Auckland on September 18. Other sports stars will participate on the undercard.