When it comes to hype around rugby league players over the past 106 years, it’s hard to argue that Sonny Bill Williams’ career hasn’t created the most.
The modern-day athlete and code-crossing superstar has gained more popularity in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia than any other athlete.
His headline moments have produced a spectrum of emotions for his millions of fans. But when Williams is gone, how will we remember him? How will rugby league fans remember him?
He came onto the scene as the gifted Bulldogs junior from New Zealand who astounded us with his big hits and ferocious style. We relished his shoulder charges, ability, good looks, charm and strength. It caught the attention of all sports fans across Australia.
He would go on and win a premiership off the bench for Canterbury, and was lauded by commentators as the best thing to happen to the game in many years and a sure superstar for the next decade.
But it was not to be.
We all know how he left the Dogs, went to French rugby and eventually flew back to New Zealand for a few years in Super Rugby. He succeed in union as many league players have before him. He won, along with many trophies, a new-legion of fans in En-Zed.
Nowadays, in his rare media appearances, Sonny Bill seems to display a ‘humility’ and ‘graciousness’ for his position in life and standing in the southern hemisphere sporting landscape. But he seems to make some rather bizarre decisions that give his profile and standing with the fans no lift.
For instance, why did he leave it until the eleventh hour to commit to the New Zealand Rugby League World Cup campaign last year? He reasoned that he hadn’t had a proper holiday in years and was going to skip the World Cup for a break, only to realise at the last minute he didn’t what to look back on his career and have any regrets.
It was his ‘brothers’ of kiwi compatriots that convinced him to jump on-board. His decisions led to Tohu Harris missing out after originally being selected.
This brings us to the Anzac Test match coming up this Friday and Sonny’s skip once again. Adter the World Cup, there was the scandal of the Kiwi team apparently mixing sleeping medication with energy drinks. This created a rift between Williams and the NZRL after he, and roommate Kieran Foran, were named in media as two who had ‘dabbled’ in such actions.
An official report cleared them, but the damage had already been done to his sensitive public relations.
For all that SBW has done in the game of rugby league, there seems to be more negative memories than those of achievement and good-will.
He always appears bigger than the game itself.
Wouldn’t one last run in the historic Anzac clash, wearing the black and white jumper with its proud fern above his heart, be a better way to be remembered than scooting off for an attempted honey-moon overseas?
Even better, wouldn’t a man of the match, team-leading and country-inspiring win over the dominating Australia give the fans a memory for years to come?
I would argue that his attempt to keep a low profile and stay out of the media have done the opposite and ensured his negative publicity have the light shun brighter upon.
He made mistakes as we all do. The league fraternity is one forgiving bunch, but we don’t cop blokes who think they are god’s greatest gift.
If you really were committed to New Zealand, you would be out there this Friday night representing your country and tearing the Australian forward pack apart.
You’ve missed the best opportunity you’ve had since your return to rugby league to let the memories of your past disappear from our minds.
You played an extraordinary role in the Roosters premiership last year, which many will fail to see the true scale of because you were playing for the Roosters.
Nothing is greater and more applauded in world sport than achieving success while representing your country.
You could have left us talking in our homes, pubs or at the ground about the great kiwi victory of 2014.
But it was not to be.
Wiljoy
Roar Rookie
SBW is a very good players and that's it,he is nowhere near the top one and a lot of people (including himself) think he is No1 but I and millions of others think (know) that he is overrated and like his countryman Marshall should come down a few rungs of the ladder to a more acceptable level.....if I had to choose between him & Sam Burgess to be in MY team I wouldn't need to think twice....BURGESS
Wiljoy
Roar Rookie
I would much rather have Sam Burgess in my team than SBW....he vanishes quite often in every game I have seen him play but Burgess is into everything all 80 minutes....(I don't like Burgess as a man because of his Squirrel tackles (Nutcracker suites)
Wiljoy
Roar Rookie
Cadfael you are 100%right in your assessment of SBW.a very good player but nowhere near the top of the "pecking order"
TJ
Guest
This article is spot on. I lost a lot of respect for SBW when he decided to miss the Anzac test. Great article
Rod Bulldog
Guest
I WOULDNT TRUST A WORD HE SAYS, WOULD WALKOUT TO PLAY SOCCER IF THE MONEY WAS RIGHT. Rod Bulldog
KB
Guest
Bozo, JR and Darren are not on the same planet as SBW. How old are you son? did you see JR play? Bozo? in terms of defensive skills JR is accredited, but the truth of it is he had a number 6 outside of him who had twice the tackle stats...it made Raper look a lot better than he was. When you play in a team of champions, its easier to look a lot better than you actually are. JR was a great cover defender in the classic Lock forward sense..no ball player. Bozo's defensive skills were minimal, Lockyer was actually rated the worst defensive player in the NRL at one stage in the early 2000's. Lets get it right people...it's a game of O AND D..is it not?
KB
Guest
Perhaps your disenchantment stems from the image of SBW running over the top of DCE in the GF?
KB
Guest
Sonny's time management skills on the paddock totally outweigh in value to a team any other NRL player in the game today, including G.Inglis. The only other players similar in INSPIRATIONAL value to Sonny's skills are B.Fittler and A.Johns. Back from a five year break, he immortalised himself in 2013 with his leadership skills, on and off the paddock.
The eye
Guest
If you asked a sample, that included fans who had seen Johnny Raper play..the Thor of the immortals..who was the better forward,I would be very very surprised if Sonny got more than 1/4 of the votes.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
jack 25 mins a game???? Jack just to put things into perspective. If Brad was available today on the market he would attract between 500k to 600k which only a very few fowards get. SBW would get double that. He plays 80 mins and has every skill in the book.
john
Guest
Couldnt agree more.
john
Guest
You say hes not great at both codes? But which ever team he plays with wins premierships with league and union And came back to league and got player of the year coming back from union. Hes put more bums on seats and made it bigger in europe for league cause of his name and who he is
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
"Just because he is great at the game does not make him a great of the game." I think that is a fair comment.
jack c
Guest
give me brad clyde a player who competed hard for 80 minutes . sonny has some brilliance but you only get about 25 minutes a game
Glenn Innes
Guest
Morgan I will give you the answer to that question...he is yet to string together two good seasons in the NRL so the question remains is he tough enough to do it? His debut season for Canterbury was sensational his second year average and the third year prior to leaving for France dreadful.last year was amazing but lets see if he is mentally and physically tough enough to back up for a second year in the toughest gig in team sport. Of course in any sport the period over which a player dominates is important...the longer you play the greater number of players you come up against so the more players you have to dominate it simple maths. He can't be compared to blokes like Fulton,Raper.Lockyer etc because they dominated the code for nearly a decade not two seasons.They also never had the luxury of "rest years"over in Rugby Union they backed up every season.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
He won't be a great unless he has a bronze statue of him standing in a village somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Clearly Sonny-Bill is bigger than New Zealand and Australia and in a tall-poppy culture, that, dear sirs, is a no-no. Once again, good on him.
john badseed
Guest
Might sneak into the top 50 second rowers. Take away the shoulder charge and forward passes and he's battling. Put him in Canberra and he's Josh Papalli.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
lol
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
One could also say that his experiences are his legacy - to whoever is willing to listen.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Whatever the dream he has that motivates him, it does not seem to be provincial in the slightest. And that is what earns him my respect.