Quotes from 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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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?'

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

I really wanted to come into the Olympics.