An unapologetic Sonny Bill Williams says he hopes his trailblazing defection to French rugby union will be the catalyst for a better deal for the NRL players he left behind.
Brushing off claims he'd let his former teammates down with his cloak and dagger departure from Australia which led to him being branded a coward, Williams claimed he'd "stood up for all those other players that are sitting at home" by walking out on his five-year contract with the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs and the NRL head back to the courts on Friday where they will seek an injunction preventing Williams from playing with French club Toulon, with whom he is set to make his debut early Saturday morning Australian time in a friendly against Heyres.
"I had to have balls to do what I've done," Williams told the Nine Network's The Footy Show.
"If some good comes out of what I've done, which I think it will, you know hopefully these players do start getting treated a bit better, not just like cattle."
Williams claimed there were a number of factors - and not just money - which led to his defection, including a major bust up with Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes.
Williams rejected claims he was being greedy wanting more than the $400,000 a year he was on at the Bulldogs, but admitted disappointment that he didn't get a payrise following Willie Mason's move from the Bulldogs to the Sydney Roosters.
"I had an offer (when I re-signed with the Bulldogs in 2004) to go overseas for over a million dollars," Williams said.
"I stayed for $400,000 ... that's $1.2 million dollars I missed out on and they seem to forget that.
"All of a sudden, because I think they have a little bit of money to spend they might show me a little bit of loyalty back.
"Mason has gone, all these other players (Mark) O'Meley's gone (Braith) Anasta's gone - let's not be naive."