Sonny Bill Williams
I've had an amazing ride. I've been blessed beyond things that I could never have imagined.Collection: Amazing
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.Collection: Happiness
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.Collection: Cool
I am my own man now; I can think for myself, whereas when I was 20, 21, I always wanted to please others.
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?
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.
If you go about trying to please everyone, there's going to be endless struggles.
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.
I think I'm evolving, I'm always in search of bettering myself, how I can improve as a sportsman and as a person.
I don't need a pool room with medals and everything hanging up.
You can't have eyes on the wall, or the angels won't come in. That's what we believe.
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.
It's been a long while, but, thank God, now I've been able to get my mum a house.
One thing I've learned over my career is that simplicity is the key: on the field, off as well.
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!
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.
I just don't want to fail, to be honest.
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.
I guess I've always had a - not really thought of myself as this big star, big identity in the game.
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.
I definitely want to play rugby at the top level, international rugby.
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.
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.
My parents were always living from pay cheque to pay cheque. They were always struggling.
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.
By the end of my first year at the Dogs, we'd won the competition, and I'd played some pretty good footy.
I love winning, and I love the challenge.
I really wanted to come into the Olympics.
To be part of something special, to be an Olympian and have the chance to win a medal - it's an amazing feeling.
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.
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.
Sometimes they are big hurdles, but good players can overcome them. I am trying to do my best.
I like the challenge, week in, week out, of trying to play good, consistent footy.
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.
People have goodness in their hearts.
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?'
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.
I have just fallen back in love with rugby league again.
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.
All I want is respect.
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.
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?
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.
The pleasing thing is being able to be in an environment where, even though I'm a rookie, everyone wants to help you out.
My biggest challenge for myself is to be the best father I can be and be the best husband I can be.
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.
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.
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.
That's the beautiful thing about being a father for the first time; it has really made me get my concentration levels in check.
Now I am just focusing on my daughter, my wife, religion, and training.