Hes a dual-international, an NRL premiership winner, fought in Heavyweight Title fights, a Rugby World Cup and has won almost everything hes ever competed in, but tonight one of Bondis newest Roosters, Sonny Bill Williams, will face one of the toughest tests any professional footballer ever has to do.
Williams, who joined the Roosters just one day shy of five months ago today, will tonight face the fans he once had chanting his name when he wore the Blue and White of Belmore.
Much has been said about the man they call SBW in his career, across all three sports hes competed in, but for all thats been written, spoken and discussed Sonny has proven himself as an athlete built for the big occasions.
And tonight is as big as they come.
Since returning to the NRL just five weeks ago Sonny has re-established himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the game. With an ability to run lines as good as any edge player in the NRL, offload in almost any situation and create like a halfback, the former All Black has added to the Roosters attack a whole new dimension.
And, as for that infamous shoulder charge that saw him become the superstar he is in the game back in his days as a Bulldog, well who needs it?
Playing on both the left and right edge so far this season, under the watchful eye of defensive coach and former opposition backrower Craig Fitzgibbon, Williams sits on 135 tackles made leaving him fourth on the list behind only Jake Friend, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa the men holding up the Roosters middle so far in 2013. Amazingly as well, the man who many suggested may struggle in defence upon his return to the 13-man game has missed less tackles than any other player in the Tricolous so far this season.
Hes fifth in Hit Ups made with 52, sixth in Metres Gained with 424 and has scored two tries and has two try assists already to his name after just five games back in the code he hasnt played since 2008.
Undoubtedly one of the best players to have played the game in the professional era and without question one of the most talked about athletes in world sport, SBW has shown himself to be as good a star as when he made the switch to rugby union five years ago.
And although he made his name in the NRL in Blue and White, it was a touch of Red that proved hes a star.
Its been five years in the making, it was five months ago that he announced hed be a Rooster and at 5pm tonight when the gates open at Moore Park, itll be the fans yet again that are chanting his name but this time, the forecast is Sonny in Bondi and not Belmore.
Bring on the footy!
Williams, who joined the Roosters just one day shy of five months ago today, will tonight face the fans he once had chanting his name when he wore the Blue and White of Belmore.
Much has been said about the man they call SBW in his career, across all three sports hes competed in, but for all thats been written, spoken and discussed Sonny has proven himself as an athlete built for the big occasions.
And tonight is as big as they come.
Since returning to the NRL just five weeks ago Sonny has re-established himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the game. With an ability to run lines as good as any edge player in the NRL, offload in almost any situation and create like a halfback, the former All Black has added to the Roosters attack a whole new dimension.
And, as for that infamous shoulder charge that saw him become the superstar he is in the game back in his days as a Bulldog, well who needs it?
Playing on both the left and right edge so far this season, under the watchful eye of defensive coach and former opposition backrower Craig Fitzgibbon, Williams sits on 135 tackles made leaving him fourth on the list behind only Jake Friend, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa the men holding up the Roosters middle so far in 2013. Amazingly as well, the man who many suggested may struggle in defence upon his return to the 13-man game has missed less tackles than any other player in the Tricolous so far this season.
Hes fifth in Hit Ups made with 52, sixth in Metres Gained with 424 and has scored two tries and has two try assists already to his name after just five games back in the code he hasnt played since 2008.
Undoubtedly one of the best players to have played the game in the professional era and without question one of the most talked about athletes in world sport, SBW has shown himself to be as good a star as when he made the switch to rugby union five years ago.
And although he made his name in the NRL in Blue and White, it was a touch of Red that proved hes a star.
Its been five years in the making, it was five months ago that he announced hed be a Rooster and at 5pm tonight when the gates open at Moore Park, itll be the fans yet again that are chanting his name but this time, the forecast is Sonny in Bondi and not Belmore.
Bring on the footy!
