Rugby league World Cup preview: Sonny Bill Williams aims to be world ...

Sonny Bill Williams reckons retaining the rugby league World Cup with ­New Zealand will rate as his greatest triumph.

That’s a bold statement from a former All Black who won union’s equivalent two years ago and is an unbeaten, world-ranked professional heavyweight boxer.

Should he complete the double in the event’s final at Old Trafford in November, then ‘SBW’ can lay claim to the tag as the world’s greatest rugby player.

On Sunday against Samoa – his father’s homeland – he will pull on a Kiwi RL jersey for the first time in five years.

His long-awaited return to the 13-a-side international code is guaranteed to add thousands to the attendance at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium.

On Wednesday, around 300 curious locals attended the holders’ training session at Cowley International College in St Helens.

Afterwards, Williams, 28, was full of good grace and humour.

“I’m playing half-back,” he replied when asked where coach Stephen Kearney will deploy him against the Samoans.

‘SBW’ is as versatile as any player in the 14-nation tournament.

But the back-row destroyer knows to keep his reputation intact, there’s plenty of hard graft in front of him over the next five weeks.

“Union is a bigger sport globally,” said Williams, having played club rugby in New Zealand (with Waikato Chiefs), France (with Toulon) and Japan (with Panasonic) – where he was nicknamed ‘Sushi Bill.’

“Competitively though, I believe rugby league is a lot tougher. In union, I played in the backs, with the boys doing our hair. In league, I am in the middle doing the hard yards.”

But Williams is a winner.

In his first year back in league, he’s helped Sydney Roosters to the NRL title and himself to man of the match honours.

Ready to rumble: Fourteen nations will compete for World Cup glory

 

The season before, 2012, he was a member of the Super Rugby title-winning Chiefs.

It’s a far cry from a period when boozy incidents saw him dubbed ‘the most hated man in Australia.’

Converting to Islam in 2008 was a turning point.

“I wouldn’t be half the man I am now without my faith,” he said. “I cop a lot of criticism but have a lot of supporters as well. I walk around with a swagger because I am happy as a man.

“One big thing I learned from the way I left rugby league in the first place, is that life is not all about sport.

“You finish sport at 32 or 33, and still have your life to live. Now I am content with the man I see in the mirror.”

Team by team guide

Australia

Captain: Cameron Smith

Prospects: Favourites – but they were in 2008 and lost final to New Zealand.

Danger man: Billy Slater

Cook Islands

Captain: Zeb Taia

Prospects: Winning their first ever World Cup game is Pacific nation’s main goal.

Danger man: Keith Lulia.

England

Captain: Kevin Sinfield

Prospects: Third-favourites… at least they were before before THAT warm-up loss to Italy and, this week, Hockgate.

Danger man: Sam Tomkins.

Autumn of Sam? Will Tomkins make England world champions?

France

Captain: Olivier Elima

Prospects: Wooden spoonists in 2008, they should do better this time – but not by much.

Danger man: Eloi Pelissier.

Fiji

Captain: Petero Civoniceva

Prospects: They were semi-finalists five years ago, but don’t bet on a repeat.

Danger man: Wes Naiqama.

Ireland

Captain: Liam Finn

Prospects: Hard to see a repeat of quarter-finals in 2000 and 2008.

Danger man: Pat Richards.

Italy

Captain: Anthony Minichiello

Prospects: Better after upsetting England 15-14 last Saturday. Won Euro qualification to book their World Cup debut.

Danger man: Anthony Minichiello.

New Zealand

Captain: Simon Mannering

Prospects: High-if they overcome semi-final hoodoo in UK hosted major events.

Danger man: Sonny Bill Williams.

Papua New Guinea

Captain: Neville Costigan

Prospects: Last eight is best they can hope for.

Danger man: Paul Aiton.

Samoa

Captain: Harrison Hansen

Prospects: Hammered by England Knights last Saturday, so no real hope.

Danger man: Anthony Milford.

Scotland

Captain: Danny Brough

Prospects: Quarter-finals will be a remarkable achievement for Bravehearts.

Danger man: Danny Brough.

Tonga

Captain: Brent Kite

Prospects: Packed with NRL experience and expected to reach knockout stages.

Danger man: Daniel Tupou.

USA

Captain: Joseph Paulo

Prospects: Despite shock warm-up win in France, the Tomahawks won’t do many scalpings.

Danger man: Apple Pope

Wales

Captain: Craig Kopczak

Prospects: Semi-finalists twice in the past, but getting out of the group will be a bonus this time.

Danger man: Elliot Kear.

Odds

1/3 Australia; 4/1 NZ; 6/1 England; 100/1 Tonga; 150/1 Fiji; 150/1 Samoa; 200/1 France; 300/1 Cook Islands; 300/1 Papua New Guinea; 500/1 Ireland; 500/1 Italy; 500/1 Scotland; 500/1 Wales; 1000/1 USA.

 

Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10326987/Rugby-rebels-reject-calls-for-fresh-talks-over-breakaway.html

Rugby league World Cup preview: Sonny Bill Williams aims to be world ...