The Sonny side of life
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS met the media on a soggy playing fi eld at St Helens yesterday and spoke about his World Cup selection and fi nding happiness and life as a Muslim.
The controversial dual- code New Zealand international and heavyweight boxer was even asked by a young female reporter about the prospect of playing in the Super League.
“I’m getting a bit too old for that, love,” said the 28- year- old Sydney Roosters star diplomatically with a huge smile.
“I’m a pretty simple man and although this weather is pretty tempting, I see my future somewhere a bit warmer.”
Holding court after an open training session at Cowley International College, Williams posed for endless pictures with the couple of hundred fans who had gathered to see him in the fl esh.
It was not quite on the scale of the 2011 World Cup in the 15- man code, when Williams helped the All Blacks lift the trophy on home soil.
“Rugby union is a much bigger sport globally, but competitively I believe league is a lot tougher,” said Williams, who is aiming to become the fi rst player to lift the World Cup in both codes.
“In union I played in the backs with the pretty boys kicking stones out wide, I guess, and doing our hair. In league I am playing up the middle doing the hard yards. It’s a very tough sport.”
Williams turned his back on rugby league in 2008 and switched codes, before heading back to the NRL with the Roosters 12 months ago.
He helped them to victory over Manly in the NRL Grand Final earlier this month, but was originally left out of New Zealand’s 24- man squad because he was thought to be re- signing to play union with the Waikato Chiefs.
But Williams made himself available and was included at the expense of Melbourne forward Tohu Harris.
As the Kiwis bid to defend the World Cup, Williams was the subject of a recent practical joke by his team- mates, who set a metre- long snake on him as he was being massaged.
He said: “It’s just a good feeling being back.
“It’s a bit like being in the All Blacks. You have your pranksters, your serious guys, but all around you, you have a good group of guys. You become like brothers and that is the unique thing we have as Kiwis.”
Williams will remain with the Roosters for another season at least before any return to union ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
“Playing rugby union was a big learning experience, really humbling, and I became a better person for it,” he said. “Now, I am very content with the man that I see in the mirror.
“With the way I carry myself, I am a lot more confi dent than I was at 23. I cop a lot of criticism, but I have a lot of supporters as well. I just thrive off that. When I walk the streets I get a lot of love and respect. When I play well, I do it for those people and my family.
“I don’t know if it shows but I defi nitely walk around with a bit of a swagger because I am happy as a man.”
Converting to Islam in 2008 has also helped. Williams, the fi rst Muslim to play for the All Blacks, said: “I defi nitely wouldn’t be half the man I am now without my faith.
“I guess it gets brought up because it’s a different religion to all the other boys. But there are a few brothers who are into their religion and we all come together as one at the end of the day.”