David Leggat: Star quality stirs up the punters

COMMENT

Some players have it and some don't.

Star quality, that is.

After the thrilling 16-16 draw between the Kiwis and the Kangaroos in the gloom, wind and rain at North Harbour Stadium, the big lines were saved for teenage wonderkid Sonny Bill Williams.

The Kiwi lock did some sensational things during his debut as a test starter and he has a glittering career ahead of him.

But there were others in the Kiwi side who were just as effective in the overall performance, one laced with blood, guts and grit and skill in awkward conditions, which got them their opening point in the Tri-Nations tournament.

Take Tony Puletua and David Kidwell among the pack.

Puletua hardly trained all week and is now heading for Sydney instead of London for treatment at the insistence of his club, the Penrith Panthers. Clearly determined, along with fellow departing Panther Joe Galuvao, to make the most of his time in a Kiwi jumper, Puletua was a formidable figure. Kidwell was an outstanding presence in the defensive setup.

Debutant hooker Louis Anderson bagged a clever try in a tidy first-up effort and wing Matt Utai barged and charged about impressively in what will be his only Tri-Nations involvement.

So why is it that it's Williams who grabs the headlines while others are left to luxuriate in the heartfelt slaps on the back from team-mates and the quiet knowledge of a job well done?

Call it star quality, call it the X factor, call it what you will. Williams has it.

Of modern era All Blacks, Christian Cullen had it, so did Jeff Wilson and Michael Jones and, especially, Jonah. So do Arsenal's gifted French striker Thierry Henry, and Manchester United teenage sensation Wayne Rooney.

Put simply, it's the ability to pull the punters to the edge of - if not out of - their seats.

It happened at the weekend. When Williams had the ball you felt an extra chunk of tension in the crowd.

If you looked around, you would have seen spectators visibly shift forward in their seats.

It was as if they wanted him to do something, were willing him to split the game open. Part of that is because they know he can. They know something special is maybe just a moment away.

Now if he reads this, Williams will no doubt wrinkle his nose. He gives a clear vibe that he's just part of a team, part of the bigger picture. He appears to have modesty in spades.

He admitted after the test that he's always edgy before a game. And certainly those who did not see the game would be wrong to assume he was brilliant for all of the around 70 minutes he was on the field against the Kangaroos.

He seemed off his game for parts of the first half, in between dishing out some hefty jolts and the odd three-card dart, spin and offload trick.

But it was Williams who produced a dazzling back-of-the-hand flip to Nigel Vagana which, had the experienced centre held it, would have put the Kiwis in front, perhaps for good.

Then he surged 45m to help set up Thomas Leuluai's first unsuccessful dropped goal attempt five minutes from the end.

Kangaroo coach Wayne Bennett, not usually given to lavish praise, was like a clown doing the honours at a lolly scramble when asked his view of Williams after the test.

"He's a wonderful player," said the Brisbane Broncos boss. "Very good. He's always going to worry you. He's got it all."

Williams was just pleased to "help the boys. A lot of people had written us off. We had to show commitment and pride, so full credit to the boys".

Here's a thought for the New Zealand Rugby League. When the time comes for its next promotion of the game in this country, look no further than the fresh-faced Bulldog.

No wonder the NRL champions want to sign the Kiwi Kid Who Could Be King for life.