Sonny Bill Williams Quotes

Just like in rugby, the pinnacle was playing for the All Blacks. That was always a massive thing. But you never speak it outwardly because it can sound stupid. But if you don't have massive dreams, you might as well stay in bed.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Stupid, Bed, Always, Blacks

I grew up in a commissioned house in the next suburb over, Mount Abbot. It was a two-bedroom house with me, my brother, and my two sisters. Mum and Dad slept in the lounge, and we didn't have wallpaper.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Next, Over, Mum, Mum And Dad

Being a young Kiwi lad, a young Polynesian boy, I was pretty close to my family. But when I moved to Sydney, I went from training twice a week, playing touch footy with my mates, to working full-time as a labourer and training professionally.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Week, Young, Full-Time, Sydney

After that first month in Sydney, I went home for two weeks. I didn't want to ever go back because it was so hard.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Want, Go, Weeks, Two Weeks

I think the reason I hadn't fought was just the aftermath of the Botha fight. You put so much into a fight, and people just talk about it like it was a bit of a farce or something.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Think, Reason, I Think, Farce

One thing I've learned over my career is that simplicity is the key: on the field, off as well.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Career, Over, Learned, Key

It doesn't matter what you look like. Experience is the key.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Experience, Matter, Like, Key

I'm a lot more comfortable in the ring. I'm comfortable catching punches, and defensively, I feel like I've improved a lot. I am banking on my athleticism. I've worked hard on my footwork.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Ring, Punches, Catching, Defensively

I think I'm evolving, I'm always in search of bettering myself, how I can improve as a sportsman and as a person.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Think, Always, I Think, Sportsman

To be part of something special, to be an Olympian and have the chance to win a medal - it's an amazing feeling.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Amazing, Chance, Special, Something Special

I don't have the runs on the board to trash talk anyone in the boxing sense. I've got to do it the hard way and earn that respect.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Sense, Way, Got, Runs

One of my major goals off the field is to conduct myself in a way that... parents are proud to say, 'Oh yeah, look, he wants to be like Sonny Bill Williams.'

- Sonny Bill Williams

Myself, Proud, Like, Goals

I thought that if I could play rugby on TV, I'd be able to get my mum a house. That was the driving factor.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Thought, Play, TV, Factor

I am my own man now; I can think for myself, whereas when I was 20, 21, I always wanted to please others.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Think, Always, My Own, Whereas

As soon as I signed for the French rugby union, it was just a huge relief, you know, because I was out of Sydney and out of sight doing what was best for myself.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Myself, Doing, Rugby, Relief

Every time you step out on that field, it's tough. There is no easy way to approach it and no short cuts out there.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Tough, Easy, Approach, Every Time

I definitely want to play rugby at the top level, international rugby.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Play, Top, Definitely, International

OK, I floss, I brush my teeth, and I use mouth wash. Does that mean that I love it? That means that I, you know, like to look after my teeth!

- Sonny Bill Williams

Love, Brush, Means, OK

I guess I've always had a - not really thought of myself as this big star, big identity in the game.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Game, Big, Always, Big Star

Although the rugby league fraternity probably don't like it, the rugby union fraternity probably doesn't like it, it's cool for sportsmen, for young kids coming up, to know that there's not just that one door.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Door, Like, Sportsmen, Young Kids

That's the beautiful thing about being a father for the first time; it has really made me get my concentration levels in check.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Father, Made, About, Beautiful Thing

How can I tell my daughter when she grows up to aspire to be what she wants to be if I am too scared to hop back in the ring because of what some people have said about me?

- Sonny Bill Williams

Ring, Tell, Some, Scared

I have learned from my mistakes... the business we are in is cutthroat. I have seen too many older blokes give their all for clubs, then be told they are not wanted. Even blokes still on contract are told to look elsewhere.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Mistakes, Seen, Elsewhere, I Have Learned

To win competitions you need a bit of luck and some talent. I think we have some talent on our bus.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Think, Bus, Some, Competitions

My parents were always living from pay cheque to pay cheque. They were always struggling.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Living, Always, Were, Cheque

A young fella snuck out on to the field somehow, but when he was coming up to give me a hug, he got smoked by the guard. He was lucky the guy didn't break his ribs.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Lucky, Give, Smoked, Fella

I've got to do everything extra to put myself in the best shape to get in the World Cup squad.

- Sonny Bill Williams

World Cup, Myself, Shape, Extra

Every rugby player in Australia and New Zealand or wherever they are from wants to play in the World Cup, and I am no different.

- Sonny Bill Williams

World Cup, Play, New, Wherever

To be an Olympian - not many people can say that. But first of all, I've got to make the team, and I know a lot of hard work is going to go into it, so hopefully it pays off.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Work, Going, Olympian, First Of All

When I first went to rugby, I wanted it all; I just wanted it all, and you know, I thought it was just going to happen just like that, but I've come to learn that good things take time.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Thought, Happen, Going, Good Things

I want to push myself.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Myself, Want, Push

My mindset at this stage, especially after having a daughter... it's just changed my whole outlook.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Mindset, Having, Whole, Outlook

If you go about trying to please everyone, there's going to be endless struggles.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Trying, Everyone, Going, Struggles

If a lawyer, if a teacher, if a bus driver, if they're on $40,000 and they get offered a lot more to go somewhere else, what do you think they're going to do?

- Sonny Bill Williams

Think, Bus, Going, Lawyer

I guess you could say I have grown up, matured. I have seen a lot, and I guess that probably sums it up.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Could, Lot, Guess, Matured

I would say I have become a lot smarter in the way I understand things.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Understand, Lot, Would, Smarter

Beforehand you think, 'Oh, changing nappies - I'm going to be up; I need to get sleep for training.' But when it happens, when you're there, as soon as you hear a wiggle or a cough or something, you're up straight away. It doesn't bother you.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Training, Changing, Away, Cough

Going back in time, the best sportsmen ever have been Olympians.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Been, Sportsmen, Ever, Olympians

Seeing my daughter for the first time after I came back from the tour was just a life-changing experience... it still blows my mind.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Mind, Back, Still, Blows

If I could go back and change how I left the NRL, I would. My name will forever be tarnished but I wasn't the man I am now.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Change, Will, Could, If I Could

The biggest thing for me is earning the respect of my fellow players and coaches. I think that is why I was a little bit emotional. You don't get a haka done to you from the brothers for no reason if they don't respect you.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Reason, I Think, Brothers, Coaches

I'll be seeking professional help with regards to alcohol and, until myself and the club feel this is under control, I'll be off the drink.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Myself, Alcohol, Feel, Regards

My old man never used to cook, so we lived on takeaway. The others were always jealous.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Cook, Old, Always, Old Man

The pleasing thing is being able to be in an environment where, even though I'm a rookie, everyone wants to help you out.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Everyone, Being, Though, Pleasing

I had to work on the fundamentals of the game because in league, the position I played, it was just bash and crash.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Work, Game, Fundamentals, Bash

I just don't want to fail, to be honest.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Honest, Want, Fail, To Be Honest

I rock up to training, and Folkesy, Steve Folkes - someone that, to be honest, has never paid any interest in my personal life - he comes up to me and starts saying, 'You're not turning Muslim are you?'

- Sonny Bill Williams

Life, Training, Muslim, To Be Honest

If we're going to be getting treated like that, why can't we treat the clubs like that? I just want to see the game and the players looked after the way they should be because the crowds don't turn up to watch David Gallop play... they turn up to watch the players play.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Game, Treat, Play, Gallop

I don't need a pool room with medals and everything hanging up.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Pool, Need, Medals, Hanging

The thing I enjoy is that I have come to league as a union player, and I have to adapt to different situations I am facing.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Enjoy, Adapt, League, Situations

People have goodness in their hearts.

- Sonny Bill Williams

People, Goodness, Hearts

For myself, it's trying to do my best in whatever I am doing. At this time, it is boxing; then when I get home, I want to be the best father, the best husband, the best man I can be.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Myself, Doing, Want, Best Man

As a league player, for myself, you strive to win a comp. I'm lucky enough to have achieved that... but most sportspeople would love to go to the Olympics, and I haven't achieved that.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Love, Lucky, League, Player

I've got confidence that I'll be able to pick it up eventually, but that's the reason I'm a full-time Sevens player this year: because I knew coming into it that it would be really tough, and I've got to give it my all.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Reason, Year, Full-Time, Player

As a rugby player, you strive to be an All Black, win a World Cup, and win a Super Rugby title.

- Sonny Bill Williams

World Cup, Strive, Super, Player

It was a fairly normal happy upbringing. Not a lot of money, but a lot of love.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Love, Normal, Lot, Upbringing

Now I am just focusing on my daughter, my wife, religion, and training.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Wife, I Am, Now, Focusing

In rugby union, I was out wide kicking stones with the pretty boys.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Pretty, Kicking, Wide, Stones

We're so lucky where we live, but we're so out of touch. Everyone's mindset is made to feel that refugees are a problem, but it's more than that. They're human beings, too. They were forced from their homes.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Lucky, Refugees, Forced, Beings

I've become a true Muslim. It's giving me happiness. It's made me become content as a man and helped me to grow. I've just got faith in it, and it has definitely helped me become the man I am today.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Grow, Made, Muslim, Helped

There was no way I was going to end up in the scrum when I came to rugby - you know, waste my pretty looks.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Waste, Pretty, Going, I Came

You always feel for your fellow players when they are going through tough times, losing and things like that.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Through, Always, Going, Fellow

You can't have eyes on the wall, or the angels won't come in. That's what we believe.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Believe, Angels, Come, Wall

I don't want to let my family down; I don't want to let myself down. That's probably the biggest thing I fear.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Myself, Down, Want, Biggest Thing

You always have your knockers. There's always something wrong. But I'm happy. I think that I'm improving as a fighter; that's all I can ask for.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Think, Always, I Think, Improving

I really wanted to come into the Olympics.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Come, Wanted, Really, Olympics

What's the worst that can happen? I get knocked out. At least I tried.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Happen, Tried, Get, I Tried

I have just fallen back in love with rugby league again.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Love, Rugby, League, Fallen

By the end of my first year at the Dogs, we'd won the competition, and I'd played some pretty good footy.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Year, Some, Pretty, Pretty Good

I grew up as a Polynesian kid in the Polynesian community, and I was this skinny white kid.

- Sonny Bill Williams

White, Kid, Up, Skinny

I'm not going to sit here and be stupid. If someone comes and offers me double what I'm on, of course I'm going to sit down and seriously look at it.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Stupid, Here, Offers, Seriously

Boxing's not in my blood... it just grew on me.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Me, Blood, Just, Boxing

I do speak my mind a lot more than when I was younger. I guess that's just my Polynesian background. That's how we are: just sit back and try and fit in, try and make everyone else happy.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Happy, Back, Lot, Background

It's not an easy gig, being in the NRL sometimes: you always feel for the boys because you have that mutual respect knowing what they go through.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Through, Always, Gig, Mutual Respect

I've had an amazing ride. I've been blessed beyond things that I could never have imagined.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Amazing, Never, Been, Imagined

I've definitely got to look after myself first and foremost.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Myself, Definitely, After, Foremost

The NRL is not an easy gig, but they have some good talent, some good youngsters coming through.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Through, Some, Gig, Youngsters

It's been a long while, but, thank God, now I've been able to get my mum a house.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Been, Mum, While, Thank God

I like the challenge, week in, week out, of trying to play good, consistent footy.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Play, Week, Like, Consistent

I was never going to be a rocket scientist. But I found the field that I was blessed to be able to do, and I just put my whole effort into that.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Blessed, Rocket, Going, Scientist

I wouldn't say I am a businessman.

- Sonny Bill Williams

I Am, Say, Am, Businessman

It's pretty tough to play some good footy when your team is always losing.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Play, Some, Always, Losing

My biggest challenge for myself is to be the best father I can be and be the best husband I can be.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Father, Myself, Biggest, Husband

Sometimes they are big hurdles, but good players can overcome them. I am trying to do my best.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Big, Sometimes, Players, Overcome

I didn't feel that I really fit in anywhere. So when I was young I always had to prove myself through my sporting ability.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Through, Prove, Always, Fit

I love winning, and I love the challenge.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Love, Challenge, I Love, Winning

I just used to bank on my athleticism.

- Sonny Bill Williams

Used, Just, Bank

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