Tui Lolohea ready for Sonny Bill Williams – after seeing him on old club wall

TUI Lolohea is not ready to be a wallflower when he meets the man whose picture he first saw on the wall of his junior club – Sonny Bill Williams.

Salford's clash against Toronto really will have impact around the world. People will be keeping a keen eye out in England, Canada and New Zealand.

And do not be surprised if old school ties are mentioned as the pair finally go head-to-head.

Superstar Williams and Lolohea grew up about 10 minutes apart in the Avondale and Mount Albert areas of Auckland – one part OK, the other not so OK.

They both came through at the Marist Saints club, nine years apart, but even as a kid Lolohea knew Williams was a star.

But he may not be able to resist another mention of Kelston v Mount Albert.

Salford and Tonga ace Lolohea, who hails from Avondale, said: “I saw a photo of Sonny up on the wall at Marist in the club rooms. I won a championship back there, so hopefully there’s one of me too!

“When I first started there, he was talked about a little bit and his photo on the wall was the first I’d heard of him.

“But when he played for the Kiwis and I was with the Junior Kiwis, Sonny would walk around in his Mount Albert Grammar School vest in me in my Kelston vest!

“We’d have a little go at each other about it, there’s a rivalry between the two schools, especially in rugby union as both are pretty well known for it.

“It’s weird how it works. I’ve seen him in four different codes – league, union, sevens and boxing – and after growing up in the same area, I’m getting to play against him.

“In New Zealand, Sonny is an all time professional. I look up to him through what he’s done, he’s inspired a lot of people.

“And I’ve seen they’re trying to get him to play for Samoa. We’ll see what happens there as Tonga play them this year.”

Williams heads home after the match ironically closest to his new base to be at the birth of his fourth child.

But first is the next step on his return to rugby league against a club looking to use last year's Grand Final appearance as the start of something.

Sources say they are expecting a crowd pushing 5,000, about 1,800 up on the game against relegated London.

Salford are also looking to bounce back from the 48-8 thumping at champions St Helens, with Lolohea believing they can.

Firstly, though, he has to get his head around the fact he is facing a team from Canada on the other side of the world from home.

The 25-year-old added: “If someone had said I’d be where I am now five years ago, I’d have said, ‘No chance.’ I wouldn’t have pictured it – I certainly didn’t picture Sonny playing in Super League ever.

“Last week was disappointing as we didn’t step up to the challenge. There was a lot of confidence but we’ve a lot of new players. It’s going to take us a while to get going.

“People are going to write us off even more now but it’s good to keep going as underdogs.”

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