Rugby: Oh no, the Sonny Bill Williams rumours are back and worse than ever before

Mark down February 25 as the date that one of sport's most mind-numbing and consistently inaccurate rumour mills started up for 2018.

That's right, apparently Sonny Bill Williams is returning to the NRL! It's a report we've heard time and time again without substance, but there's a catch this time.

According to Jimmy Smith - a former Roosters player – Williams will be playing for the Roosters in 2018.

The "Big Sports Breakfast" report – if you can call it that – says that a deal has been done for Williams to return the Roosters in 2018 "as soon as his commitments with Super Rugby side Auckland were over".

Assuming they're talking about the Blues, that means that Williams would have to be released from his New Zealand Rugby contract, which runs through to 2019, or given a sabbatical.

That's not the most implausible idea though - here's the kicker.

According to Smith, New Zealand Rugby have told Williams that, "He is not in their plans for the 2019 World Cup."

Ah, yes. New Zealand Rugby are ready to completely rule out one of their key players over a year out from the World Cup. Of course!

They must be ready to cut ties on a player who started 13 games for the All Blacks last year, and has been the obvious first-choice second-five ever since he returned from his Achilles injury.

How could we miss the obvious signs?

See you next month for the next wearisome instalment of this never-ending drama.