'He's got an aura about him': Around 100million set to watch SBW's first NRL game in almost 6 years
Internally, Saturday night has nothing to do with Sonny Bill Williams for the Sydney Roosters. But externally? Coach Trent Robinson knows the eyes of the rugby league world will be on not just his team, but the man wearing their No17 jersey against Canberra.
He welcomes the attention surrounding the former All Blacks midfielder because this is 2020 and Robinson was one of the men at the forefront of restarting the game amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
He knows every extra set of eyeballs on the NRL is a good thing, with some even predicting 100million to watch the game. The Roosters coach confirmed on Friday that Williams would play his first NRL game in almost six years on Saturday night at GIO Stadium.
“He’s got an aura about him. He has earned that through achieving in many different places and challenging himself,” Robinson said. “He’s an extreme athlete who ended up pushing his limits, not just physically but mentally. People respect that.
“It’s a real feather in the cap of the game as well that we have got him here and people will be watching around the world. That external focus is really important, we know that this year. It’s very important we get eyeballs on our game.”
"It creates a great environment."
Head Coach Trent Robinson spoke to the media, touching on subjects including Josh Morris reaching 300 games, the return of Sonny Bill Williams, and the Squad's desire for continued improvement? #EastsToWin https://t.co/FaCX1IflXi— Sydney Roosters ? (@sydneyroosters) September 4, 2020
Robinson and the Roosters have grown used to sideshows. There was Williams’ first return in 2013, the futures of Mitchell Pearce and Latrell Mitchell and the arrival of Cooper Cronk. And who would forget the never-ending story of Cronk’s shoulder in 2018, the will he, won’t he saga that lasted until an hour before kick-off in the grand final. Roosters insiders insist the spotlight was far more intense that week than during the current one around Williams.
And still, they handled it with ease. It’s why Robinson hasn’t had to address his players on the hype around Saturday’s game. “I knew what having him [Williams] back would do,” Robinson said.
“Externally, that is the biggest talking point. Internally it’s how do we want to play? We want to get better every game. And that includes this weekend. We want to nail the way we play on Saturday night and we want to honour Josh Morris playing 300 games.”
Fan-favourite Morris will become just the second outside back in the game’s history to reach 300 games. Luke Keary will return, Mitchell Aubusson and Angus Crichton remain some chance and a top-four spot is on the line for both clubs.
Yet all the questions and focus will remain around a man set to play limited minutes off the bench. “He’s ready to play,” Robinson said of Williams. “Not having played since March it’s been a span of time for him. It’s important to get back out there to get the match fitness. You can run around, sit on a bike, do as much as you like. But match fitness is important.”
Strategically, Robinson isn’t concerned either, with Williams having taken notes in a month’s worth of video sessions. “There is more depth to our system now (than in 2014),” Robinson said. “He is a learned guy. He studies hard. He would do as much video as anyone I have seen.”
As much as the All Blacks selectors have tried to downplay the glaring hints that suggest the #NorthvsSouth clash is nothing more than a trial, the inter-island spirit of the occasion hasn’t been lost on two stars. https://t.co/acg0ybsdvw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 4, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
75 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments