The Diary: Parker and SBW friends again

Sonny Bill Williams and Joseph Parker patched up their friendship after the Counties Manukau game in Pukekohe on Wednesday, when Williams turned out for the Steelers. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Sonny Bill Williams and Joseph Parker have put aside their long-simmering feud

They are known as two of the most gentlemanly men in sports, but heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker, 22, and multi-talented athlete Sonny Bill Williams, 29, put their long-simmering feud to one side after the Counties Manukau game on Wednesday and patched up their bromance. The bad blood is gone.

The former friends fell out last year after Williams turned down a million-dollar offer from Parker's reps to put his New Zealand heavyweight boxing belt on the line and take Parker on in the ring.

Boxing trash talk ensued between both camps, and Parker reckoned Williams didn't take boxing seriously enough.

Cue the defriending.

SBW stopped following Parker on Twitter.

"We were good friends, really good friends," Parker told The Diary.

"We helped each other out in preparation for our fights. He would help me with my sparring, and vice versa. We would send each other good luck messages before our fights. Our families knew each other, we were tight.

"But when Duco [Parker's management] called him out, I think Sonny felt disrespected. And when I said I didn't think you could be a part-time boxer, he was upset. He dropped me on social media."

Time heals, as they say, and SBW put out the white flag.

Parker: "I sent a text to his cousin Tim Nanai-Williams, who's in the Chiefs, and he told me to come to the game on Wednesday. 'Sonny wants to see you,' he said."

"So we caught up in the changing room after his game on Wednesday, and it was sweet. It was like old mates again. He said, 'Keep in touch and give my love to your dad.'

"Sonny is one of the best athletes and he does well in whatever he puts his mind to. If he goes back into the ring, I wish him all the best."

Will Parker go a few rounds with him? "Nah, I don't think that will ever happen."

For now, Parker is gearing up for the highly anticipated bout on October 16 against Sherman "The Tank" Williams at Trusts Arena.

While "The Tank" has gone to ground, only seen at his hotel, The Quest in Parnell, and Boxing Alley, Parker, camped at the Pullman Hotel, is relaxed and planning his social diary. "I've been invited to meet Justin Timberlake next week and I'm going to his concert."

5 celebrity tweets you missed this week

1. "I thought the #moon was sposed to be red? Clear as."
Tau Henare misses the moon turning rouge. Has to wait for 2018.

2. "Relaxing in a nice, hot bath drinking cold water from the bath tap (because it's there so why not). Mmmmm Life's gooooood ... It really is."
Cory Jane returns from a tough tour to South Africa and drinks in the simple life. Literally.

3. "I have never thrown away so many God damn carrots in my mother flipping life."
Dai Henwood refuses to get the viral stomach bug.

4. "Last day of the season at Cardrona - better late than never."Mike McRoberts skips out on newsreading for school holidays skiing in Queenstown.

5. "One positive of having no power at my Auckland pad is I'm all tucked up & it's only 8pm. #goodnight."
Remuera resident Dan Carter gets a nana night during the blackout.

Secrets shared

Legendary Ponsonby bolthole S.P.Q.R is launching a cookbook (S.P.Q.R, Penguin, RRP $60) with a five-course degustation lunch on October 29.

The eatery, which has been going strong since 1992, shares more than 85 dishes from the restaurant menu with the home cook.

Proprietor Chris Rupe hopes the cookbook will be as well received as the iconic restaurant has been in the Ponsonby community.

"The local community have supported us from day one," Rupe commented.

"We're like a family here and several of us have been working at S.P.Q.R for 15 years or more."