Why Roosters Fans Are So Excited For This Weekend's NRL Clash With The Canberra Raiders

He's back.

He's finally back.

No, we're not talking about the return of Luke Keary from injury - even though that is a massive boost for the Sydney Roosters.

We're talking about the biblical second coming of Sonny Bill Williams to the NRL and the three-peat-chasing Chooks.

Sydney Roosters

The cross-code megastar has officially been named in Trent Robinson's Roosters side to face the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium on Saturday night.

Williams hasn't stepped foot on a rugby league field in 2167 days, but he's set to make his long-awaited comeback in arguably one of the biggest games of the campaign - a repeat of last season's Grand Final against a team hot on the Roosters' tail on the NRL ladder.

And while he's only been named on the interchange bench, the bulldozing second-rower's return undoubtedly gives the walking wounded Roosters a healthy boost.

The Chooks were quick to snap up Williams' highly sought-after signature following his ugly break-up with the Toronto Wolfpack - and after weeks of waiting, they finally get to unleash their not-so-secret weapon.

Sydney Roosters

During his time away from the NRL, SBW won two back-to-back rugby World Cups with New Zealand in a decade of dominance for the All Blacks.

And while he wasn't carving through defences on the rugby field, Williams was going toe-to-toe with some of boxing's very best as he went on to clinch the WBA International Heavyweight Championship in 2013.

But the 35-year-old sporting great is no stranger to NRL tragics.

SBW actually started his career playing with the Canterbury Bulldogs where he ended up winning a Premiership in 2004 alongside fellow legends Hazem El Masri, Willie Mason, Michael Crocker, Reni Maitua and Johnathan Thurston.

And almost 10 years later in 2013, SBW returned to the NRL to famously guide a star-studded Tri-Colours team to an NRL Premiership.

Now SBW is back to help steer the Roosters in the right direction ahead of the highly-anticipated finals.

Sydney Roosters

Topics: Rugby Australia, Sonny Bill Williams, Canberra Raiders, Rugby League, nrl, Australia, Sydney Roosters

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry