John pondered whether Sonny Bill's mid-career decision meant his on-field deeds were then judged differently by some.<\/p>\n
Stan Sport is the only place to watch<\/em><\/strong> Wallabies vs Japan<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on October 23 and<\/em><\/strong> All Blacks vs USA<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on October 24 \u2013 both matches streaming ad free, live and on demand on Stan Sport. Start your seven day free trial\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>here!<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n "I sometimes wonder if him being a Muslim might be a problem for his Caucasian Kiwi critics," John wrote in Sonny Bill's new book You Can't Stop the Sun from Shining.<\/em><\/p>\n "I've watched footy all my life and, listening to the commentators, you'd think you were watching two different games when you hear what they say about him. I'd heard of how 'Super' Sid Going, playing back in the 1960s and 70s, used to say that as a M\u0101ori he had to play twice as good to get selected in the All Blacks.<\/p>\n "Maybe it's the same mindset with Sonny being Muslim: You better prove yourself to us, boy."<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> How Mundine helped SBW flee messy Bulldogs divorce<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> What Sonny Bill got wrong about rugby switch<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Sonny Bill opens up on drugs and partying in new book<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Sonny Bill wrote his book with New Zealand author Alan Duff, from Once Were Warriors<\/em> fame.<\/p>\n Duff is not a Muslim but in the book expressed his admiration for Williams swimming against the tide.<\/p>\n "To become a Muslim \u2013 or start the process of conversion, at least \u2013 only a few years after 9\/11, when most of the Western world considered Islam and terrorism to be inextricably linked, takes more than courage," Duff wrote.<\/p>\n "That decision not only put his stellar sporting reputation at risk, it exposed him to the odium of the prejudiced and the ignorant, and not a few otherwise rational people whose minds had been turned by those horrific attacks.<\/p>\n "Sonny will tell you he was no different: he once conflated Islam with terrorism, as I did myself. But through its teachings, Sonny discovered a deep inner healing and peace."<\/p>\n Williams said his religious leanings were becoming an issue as far back as 2008, when he controversially walked out on his Bulldogs NRL contract.<\/p>\n "People were starting to talk about the fact that I was keeping company with Muslims, asking why I was hanging out with 'those kind of people' \u2013 'those' as in Muslims.<\/p>\n "This just brought out the steel in me and raised my hackles."<\/p>\n Williams also shared an example of how religion had completely changed his outlook on life, while hitting turbulence while flying with his Toulon teammate Olivier Missoup.<\/p>\n "The plane was juddering and falling before climbing back up to a higher altitude and then falling again," Williams wrote.<\/p>\n "People were screaming and the boys were terrified. Something happened in that moment, and I felt this incredible calm settle over me. I wasn't scared and I just thought, 'If it is my time, then it is my time'. I started to silently thank Allah and gave thanks for my life, what is called making Dua in the Islamic faith.<\/p>\n "I looked over at Olivier as our teammates wrestled with their fear and he was like me, calmly accepting whatever happened. We looked at each other and had this mad connection as we realised we both were unafraid. I have never been scared of flying since then. I put my trust in Allah."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0clicking here!<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sonny Bill Williams' brother believes the cross-code superstar's conversion to Islam might have been a "problem" to his "Caucasian Kiwi critics" throughout a glittering career. 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