Sonny Bill rediscovers league passion

[Darkone]

By Melissa Davies
Europe Correspondent

Wednesday 13 Nov 2013 6:45p.m


Sonny Bill Williams is back training with the Kiwis after a few days off to recover from the flu.

The Kiwis' quarter-final opponents will be used to the cold but some in the Kiwis camp have been under the weather.

"Just a little bit sick at the moment but full training today, and just getting old I guess. [I] just needed a couple of extra days' recovery," says Williams.

It'll take more than a few sniffles to stop Williams from putting up his hand for the game against Scotland. Being with the Kiwis has given him a new lease on life in league.

"I'm not too sure if I lost the love for the game, it's just that I was out for so long when I came back I definitely thought I was just a rugby union player playing rugby league again, but now I feel like a rugby league player," he says.

It's 23-year-old Kieran Foran who he singles out as a player
that motivates him.

"There's a lot of competitive players in this team and no one more so than Kieran Foran," he says.

"I guess he's given me that eye of the tiger when we're doing defence up against that left edge."

The Kiwis have plenty of time to analyse the Scottish together - they've been given separate hotel rooms in Leeds but many are bunking together anyway.

"It gets pretty lonely in a room by yourself now and then so [we] set up a bit of a marae and whoever is keen for a sleepover," says Williams.

"[I] can't seem to get rid of Kieran Foran these days, he's hanging around like a bad smell."

Foran looks to be a permanent fixture in the team list too with his backup cover Thomas Leuluai ruled out of playing in this tournament.

[Guest]

If his performance this season was that of a rugger player, how much more awesome will he be next year as a fully passionate leaguie?

[Guest]

High praise for Foran. Personally I love the way he plays the game. Would love him in the red, white and blue one day, but can't see it happening. Would also be a perfect type of SOO player. Pity.

[Tommy Smith]

Foran fascinates me as a player. His strength is his running game and yet he could barely break the line to save his life. His passing game is developing nicely, with his ability to pass just before the line his strength. But on the whole he's hardly JT with ball in hand. And of course defensively he's a beast.

So I suppose what I'm trying to say is that statistically, he is just an average player. And yet you watch him play and he's a genuinely fantastic player. So what is it that makes him so good?

I mean 9/10 would rate him better than Maloney and yet statistically, Maloney CRUSHES him.

More tries, try assists, line break assists, line breaks, better kicking game.

I suppose he's proof that you can't judge players on stats alone.

[Guest]

Foran fascinates me as a player. His strength is his running game and yet he could barely break the line to save his life. His passing game is developing nicely, with his ability to pass just before the line his strength. But on the whole he's hardly JT with ball in hand. And of course defensively he's a beast.

So I suppose what I'm trying to say is that statistically, he is just an average player. And yet you watch him play and he's a genuinely fantastic player. So what is it that makes him so good?

I mean 9/10 would rate him better than Maloney and yet statistically, Maloney CRUSHES him.

More tries, try assists, line break assists, line breaks, better kicking game.

I suppose he's proof that you can't judge players on stats alone.

Forans attitude is what I like. He plays hard and gives 100% every time (much like his buddy Pearce). Defensively he is the best half in the game, and as TR says, defence is half the game.

All that said, I certainly have no complaints with Maloney!!

[Matty_C]

Foran fascinates me as a player. His strength is his running game and yet he could barely break the line to save his life. His passing game is developing nicely, with his ability to pass just before the line his strength. But on the whole he's hardly JT with ball in hand. And of course defensively he's a beast.

So I suppose what I'm trying to say is that statistically, he is just an average player. And yet you watch him play and he's a genuinely fantastic player. So what is it that makes him so good?

I mean 9/10 would rate him better than Maloney and yet statistically, Maloney CRUSHES him.

More tries, try assists, line break assists, line breaks, better kicking game.

I suppose he's proof that you can't judge players on stats alone.

I think Foran is a very good five eight.
I like him defensively better than in attack, but in saying that I don't think Toovey gets the best from him in attack. I feel he could be even better in another structure.

HOWEVER....
Lets see how Jimmy goes over the rest of his contract, but I'll take Jimmy on 2013 form over any other five eights 2013 form in the competition.
Whilst I'm not saying he is better than Thurston, I'm saying week in week out I'd be more comfortable with his performance than any other five eights......and ultimately it was this form that went a long way to us winning the minor premiership and the Grand Final.

[ROC181]

Always thought Foran was a great player but am happy with what we have.

[Guest]

I think Foran is more suited to lock.