SBW will retire a dual-code champ: Henry
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Former All Blacks coach Graham Henry is confident Sonny Bill Williams is only leaving rugby for a short time and believes the dual international will retire alongside Brad Thorn as an all-time great in both union and league.
Williams was part of Henry’s World Cup-winning New Zealand outfit last year, but as he prepares for Saturday night’s Bledisloe Cup opener against Australia in Sydney, the coaching guru says Williams has now hit his stride in the 15-man game.
After a spell in Japanese rugby, Williams intends to return to the NRL in 2013 on a rumoured one-year deal with the Sydney Roosters. After that, Henry expects the 27-year-old will be on his way back to rugby in New Zealand.
The code-hopping ways of Williams have attracted criticism in some quarters, but Henry vouched for the intentions of one of the most unique talents he’s ever coached.
“He’s leaving rugby for a short period of time I would imagine to fulfil an obligation … he’s got personal standards, so you’ve just got to appreciate what he’s doing there,” said Henry, who has recently released his detailed biography – Graham Henry Final Word.
“He’s a very fine player now and he’s becoming world class.
“He’s had more time in the game, he’s got comfortable with the game and what the game is about.”
Brad Thorn is arguably the greatest dual international of them all.
In league he won premierships with Brisbane, State of Origins with Queensland and played for Australia.
In rugby he’s a Super Rugby champion for the Crusaders, Bledisloe Cup winner for New Zealand and finished his international career a World Cup winner.
Henry believes Williams can enter that same class.
“I think he has that potential,” said Henry.
“I think rugby is a more difficult game to play than league – it’s more multi-dimensional … the league transition will be easy for him, much easier than the rugby transition. I think he’ll be a very effective player in both codes.
“There’s not too many backs that have got his physique … and have his sort of athleticism and skill.
“He’s brought a different dimension to the game.”
Henry was highly critical of fallen Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper in his biography.
Cooper had a disastrous World Cup last year and Henry believes the barrage of criticism he copped from the New Zealand public was in many ways self-inflicted, following a couple of “cheap shots” on All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.
Berrick Barnes has since taken his No.10 jersey but Henry predicts it will only be a matter of time until Cooper forces his way back into the Australian side.
“He’s a talent, he’s a very talented rugby player,” said Henry.
“OK, he had his challenges in the Rugby World Cup … but I’ve got a lot of respect for his ability to play the game and it’ll just be a matter of time until he’s back in that team and being a major influence.”
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (8) | Page 1 of Comments
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August 17th 2012 @ 9:33am
Adam said | August 17th 2012 @ 9:33am | Report comment
I cant say I agree with this article. Brad Thorne has achieved just about everything in both codes but is not considered an all time great in neither code.
To be considered an all time great of any rugby code you need to leave a legacie of long period in the one sport eg Ritchie McCaw, Sean Fitzpatrick or in League Andrew Johns or Wally Lewis.
Not taking anything away from SBW he is a great athlete and deserves the acolades but he will not be remembered as one of the greats of either rugby code.
August 17th 2012 @ 10:18am
Ryan said | August 17th 2012 @ 10:18am | Report comment
I do have to agree with Adam. There is more to being an all time great than just winning titles. Wally Lewis never won an NRL premiership but noone would argue his status of being an all time great. So too many great All Blacks have not won a world cup but they are still considered as greats.
August 17th 2012 @ 10:53am
apelu said | August 17th 2012 @ 10:53am | Report comment
Adam, that is your opinion. Have some respect for Henry’s opinion. You have no monopoly on knwowledge about greatness, and clearly you have different criteria from that of Henry and others. So state your opinion, but do not disrespect others by saying you disagree with them. That’s the civilised way of relating to others, especially those you do not know.
I am quite sure Samoans everywhere will see SWB as a great rugby player, just as they see Bryan Williams and Michael Jones as great rugby players, because these players were great and the same blood flow through their veins. their view may be biased, but that is their view.
August 17th 2012 @ 10:40am
Nigel said | August 17th 2012 @ 10:40am | Report comment
I think rugby is a more difficult game to play than league – it’s more multi-dimensional … the league transition will be easy for him, much easier than the rugby transition. I think he’ll be a very effective player in both codes.
I dont want to start a code war but only someone who has never played league would say this. Yes in union you have got more variation with the rucks, mauls and lineouts etc but I dont think you realise that there is a lot more involved in league that it is given credit for.
Nowadays there are proffesional wresting coaches helping NRL teams because of the importance of the dominant tackle which goes a long way towards winning a game. Also the ball playing skills even by fowards has now reached a new level. Look at the dogs for example. All their forwards run brilliant lines, decoy runs as well as ball play. Skills that I think are often underestimated by union fans.
Anyway as I said I am not trying to start a codewar as I love both sports with a passion but if you think RL is one dimensional I suggest you play it first and you might be surprised.
August 17th 2012 @ 10:43am
Jock M said | August 17th 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Talking Rugby and League and dual code in the same sentence is an oxymoron.
The two codes are one in the same now- in League they stand up to play the ball and with Rugby they go to ground and push it back with their hands.
In both codes the forward fan out at the breakdown and make a defensive wall.
In both codes the backs pass off the wrong foot.
The magic of a Rugby backline has vanished.
August 17th 2012 @ 11:23am
League fan said | August 17th 2012 @ 11:23am | Report comment
SBW has got a long way to go before he can be considered a RL great. Yes he had a couple of good years and won a premiership but we all know what happened when the going got tough and the Dogs struggled. He did a runner without saying anything. That is how he will be remembered in league.
We all know he is coming back to league and he does have the chance to redeem himself but you can not put him in the same sentence as Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer, Mal Meninga. These guy won multiple premierships, Played many state of origin games and played over 30 tests for Australia.
I hope when SBW returns to league he has the same impact as he did before he left but he has got a long way to go before he can be considered a RL great.
August 17th 2012 @ 11:41am
kevin mac said | August 17th 2012 @ 11:41am | Report comment
Quite frankly, i don’t think SBW really cares about all this “greatness” and “legend” talk. If he did, he would not have spent the last 5 years shifting from team to team & sport to sport. Others may care…but he clearly doesn’t. Every man to their own.
August 17th 2012 @ 12:16pm
League fan said | August 17th 2012 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
You are right Kevin mac I dont think SBW is bothered about this greatness talk. He is just happy to test himself in different sports and you can see he is enjoying himself. After all your career is very short make the most of it.
It does get a bit tiresome listening to the media talk him up as though he has got some magic powers. I just didnt think a respected knowledgable person like Graham Henry would fall for the greatness rubbish.