If you go about trying to please everyone, there’s going to be endless struggles.
Sonny Bill Williams
As a rugby player, you strive to be an All Black, win a World Cup, and win a Super Rugby title.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
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
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
Sometimes they are big hurdles, but good players can overcome them. I am trying to do my best.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
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
One thing I’ve learned over my career is that simplicity is the key: on the field, off as well.
Sonny Bill Williams
To win competitions you need a bit of luck and some talent. I think we have some talent on our bus.
Sonny Bill Williams
I definitely want to play rugby at the top level, international rugby.
Sonny Bill Williams
It doesn’t matter what you look like. Experience is the key.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
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
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
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
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
It’s been a long while, but, thank God, now I’ve been able to get my mum a house.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
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
I don’t need a pool room with medals and everything hanging up.
Sonny Bill Williams
You can’t have eyes on the wall, or the angels won’t come in. That’s what we believe.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
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
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
I just don’t want to fail, to be honest.
Sonny Bill Williams
I just don’t want to fail, to be honest.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
I guess I’ve always had a – not really thought of myself as this big star, big identity in the game.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
My parents were always living from pay cheque to pay cheque. They were always struggling.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
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
I love winning, and I love the challenge.
Sonny Bill Williams
I really wanted to come into the Olympics.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
I’ve had an amazing ride. I’ve been blessed beyond things that I could never have imagined.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
I like the challenge, week in, week out, of trying to play good, consistent footy.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
People have goodness in their hearts.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
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
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
I have just fallen back in love with rugby league again.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
All I want is respect.
Sonny Bill Williams
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
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
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
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
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