Sonny Bill Williams’ aura the same as Mal Meninga’s, says Boyd Cordner

Roosters captain Boyd Cordner has described Sonny Bill Williams’ power to inspire as equal to that of Mal Meninga.

Sonny Bill Williams arrives in Sydney with his family on Thursday night. Picture: James Gourley

From a career that spans Test, State of Origin and premiership victories, Boyd Cordner has shared dressing rooms with rugby league’s greatest players and coaches.

Yet for Cordner, this is where Sonny Bill Williams holds the floor. Cordner described Williams’ power to inspire and sheer dressing-room presence as the equal of Immortal Mal Meninga and three-time premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson.

“It’s real,’’ Cordner said of Williams’ aura. “It’s only a few certain players and people that have that — and Sonny has it.

“I think it’s a pretty special thing to have and it just goes to show how well respected he is among the sporting world.

“Robbo (Robinson) definitely has that. And a guy we all know by the name of Mal Meninga has it also. They’re guys (Williams, Robinson and Meninga) that just have that, without even trying.

“It’s hard to explain but it’s just a respect that they demand without even trying to.’’

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On the comeback trail from two concussions that have sidelined him for a fortnight, Cordner has taken every precaution to return to full health as he prepares to return, possibly as early as next weekend against St George Illawarra.

“The health is good, I’m just being cautious with it,’’ Cordner said. “I’ll be doing everything I can to play against the Dragons, if not I’ll be back for the Storm (the following week).’’

But with down time at home to recover, the NSW Origin and Roosters captain, like the rest of the rugby league world, has been unable to avoid being swept up in the return of Williams to the NRL — and, most importantly, the Roosters.

“I was over the moon when Robbo (Robinson) first told me that it was a chance of happening,’’ Cordner said. “I was really excited to get someone like that back. What he brings to a change room, by him just walking into it and not even really doing anything on the field or anything physically, his presence at the club will be terrific.

“I know the impact he had when he first came to the club in 2013 and the influence he had off the field with the playing group, that’s what you notice the most.

“The way he is so professional.

“He’s obviously got that aura about him and I suppose with guys like myself, who grew up watching Sonny Bill play, he inspired our generation to raise the bar — and he’s been a superstar ever since. But the thing with him is, he’s never let that get to his head or his values and what he is about as a person.

“That’s why he gets so much respect from his fellow playing group and coaching staff and the sporting world.’’

Ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a knee reconstruction, Roosters lock Victor Radley and rookie hooker Sam Verrills will be two of the leading beneficiaries of Williams returning to the club, according to Cordner.

“Obviously, Rads (Radley) is going to want to earn Sonny’s respect by the way he goes about his business,’’ Cordner said.

“I think this is the first serious injury Rads has been through.

“He’s always been one of those kids that have been athletic and who can turn up to training and win fitness tests without stretching himself. It might just hit home to Rads that you have to look after your body and there’s no one better who prepares you for that than Sonny.

“And knowing how much Rads respects Sonny along with all of us, we’d be silly not to milk as much of that knowledge and experience out of him. The first thing you want to do is earn his respect and the way you do that is to work hard and play hard.

“Because he (Williams) sets his bar high himself. That will be the main thing for those younger boys because they obviously watched him and, for a lot of them, he is their hero.”

The Daily Telegraph