HAD Sonny Bill Williams told the Bulldogs of his desire to join rugby and become an All Black, the Bulldogs would have released him at the end of this season, a senior club source revealed last night.

Instead, Williams's secretive defection to French rugby club Toulon has been legally barred after the Bulldogs won their bid to have an injunction served on their runaway star. But it appears that the embattled NRL club would be willing to accept financial compensation from Toulon so Williams can play rugby without being in contempt of court.

All of this legal wrangling could have been avoided through communication, however, the source said.

"At no stage did Sonny ever ask us for a release," the source said. "If he had told us that his dream was to be an All Black, that he was absolutely committed to playing rugby, that he never should have signed for five years and there was no way he could stay with us, I'm certain that at the end of the season we would have sat down and worked out a deal and the finances and let him go.

"They never really asked us to change any details on his contract or told us that he wanted to go."

If Williams took the field for Toulon overnight (2.30am Sydney time) he would be regarded as being in contempt of the order imposed by Justice Robert Austin in the Supreme Court of NSW yesterday, which prevents him playing for any other club in any football code as per the conditions in his five-year Bulldogs contract, of which he had not completed the first year when he suddenly flew to France two weeks ago without notice.

The Herald understands Williams is contemplating challenging the NRL's salary cap in a bid to overturn the ban on his code-switch, arguing that the Bulldogs could have paid him more but were restricted under the NRL's $4.1million cap on player payments, which could be challenged as a restraint of trade.

Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg would not speculate on what action the club may have taken if Williams had sought a formal release, but said he was still willing to discuss any issues the player has and possibly negotiate a payout from the Toulon club - which was listed as the second defendant in the Bulldogs' legal challenge.

"Our door is open, my phone is on and I'm waiting for a phone call, as I have been for the last couple of months, to discuss any issues Sonny may have," Greenberg said. "We would be happy to have any discussions with Sonny, his management, and Toulon and work through these issues and find a resolution."

During the court hearing the Bulldogs revealed they would continue to pay Williams, despite the Kiwi international taking up a one-year deal with Toulon this week. Barrister Noel Hutley, SC, for the Bulldogs, told the court: "Should Mr Williams decide that he wishes to continue to play for my client … my client wishes Mr Williams to play in their team. He is a player of great talent.

"If Mr Williams complies with the order and expresses a willingness to play for my client I'd see no reason why he would not be selected if he is willing and able. I can't see any reason for my client to demand an answer within minutes.

"We are prepared to continue during the course of an interlocutory argument to pay Mr Williams as per his payments to date, 100 per cent of his contract."

Williams told The Footy Show he was disappointed that his $400,000-a-year contract with the Bulldogs had not been upgraded following the departure of high-profile teammate Willie Mason in the pre-season.

But Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes claimed Williams was heavily involved in the club's decision to release Mason last year to join the Sydney Roosters.

"Sonny had significant input into Mason's departure from the club," Folkes told AAP.

"Sonny knows what I mean, Mason may not, I can assure you he [Williams] was part of that process, he had input into his leaving."

Asked if he thought Williams may have pushed for Mason's departure in a bid to increase his own pay packet, Folkes said: "I hadn't considered that until I heard that last night. Who knows? I think people would have a lot more respect for him if he just came out and said 'look I'm just doing it for the money' because that's the only thing I can see. In years to come he'll look back at it and know he's made the wrong decision."