Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes insisted he had nothing to apologise for following Sonny Bill Williams' accusation that it was the lack of respect from his former coach which forced him to flee the NRL.

Folkes hit back following Williams' 'tell-all' interview from Toulon in France, where the former Bulldogs backrower will reportedly kick-start his new career as a rugby union centre in a pre-season friendly early on Saturday morning Australian time.

The outgoing Bulldogs coach admitted to being baffled by Williams' decision and excuses, one of which claimed Folkes had disrespected Williams' close associates Khoder Nasser and Anthony Mundine.

"I don't think I owe him an apology for that. I asked a very simple question: `Is it true you're thinking about becoming a Muslim?'" Folkes said shortly before his side jetted out of Sydney for Saturday night's clash with North Queensland in Brisbane.

"My comment about Anthony Mundine was more like fatherly advice than anything. I just said `be careful of what advice you take from Anthony Mundine'.

"I don't think I owe him an apology for that.

"We all need to bear in mind that he's trying to defend the indefensible here and he will do and say anything to deflect attention away from the fact that he made a really poor decision.

"I'm not offended, I think disappointed is probably a better word."

Folkes believed Williams was clutching at straws as he looked for a credible excuse for his walking out on the club less than one year into a five-year contract.

"What baffles me is I've only got five more weeks here," said Folkes, who in April announced he would quit the club at the end of the season.

"If I was at the root of the problem then he only had to stretch out another five weeks.

"If he came to us at the end of the year and said 'I'm really not happy, I really want to go, there's this much money on offer,' then we may well have acceded to his request."

Folkes also slammed talk from Williams that his defection would lead to financial reform for NRL players, and that he was putting his career on the line for all his former peers who he claimed were being treated like cattle.

Asked if Williams was more concerned with his own wealth than overall player welfare, Folkes said: "I think that would be closer to the mark.

"Do cattle get paid $500,000 a year? That's a ridiculous statement."

Folkes said he wouldn't rule out forgiving his former protege, who he first worked with as a budding 16-year-old.

And ahead of what could well be the final month of his coaching career - with no role for next season locked in as yet - Folkes admitted the events of the past fortnight had tarnished his reputation.

"Absolutely, absolutely. It has damaged what I consider to be a pretty reasonable reputation, I guess the proof of that will be in the near future," Folkes said.

"Forgiveness is always an option. I don't hold grudges generally.

"It will probably take me a little while to get over this but I guess forgiveness depends on what he's prepared to come forward with."

Folkes also claims Williams was heavily involved in the NRL club's decision to release Willie Mason last year.

The comments fly in the face of Williams' apparent feeling of betrayal from his former teammate.

Responding to assertions from Williams that players had been treated as commodities by the club, Folkes said Williams was heavily consulted before Mason was freed to join the Sydney Roosters.

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

"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."

Earlier this year Williams claimed he had lost respect for Mason following the move.

His stance took a twist on Thursday night when Williams claimed he felt he should have been given a payrise on his $400,000 a year contract thanks to the gap left in the club's salary cap following Mason's departure.

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?"

Williams is rumoured to have agreed to a two year deal worth $2 million with Toulon, which is the equivalent of what he would have earned over five years had he seen out his contract with the Bulldogs.

Folkes believes NRL supporters would be more understanding of the reasons behind his walking out on the club if Williams had just admitted his motives were purely financial.

"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," Folkes said.

"In years to come he'll look back at it and know he's made the wrong decision."

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