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BRILLIANT, emotional, controversial. You either love or loathe Jamie Soward.
Today, Soward gives a rare insight into his private life during this exclusive interview.
He discusses being called a "coward" by fans, saying: "When I get called names like 'coward' it doesn't sit well. I have to tackles guys like Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess. These guys are 115kg, 120kg. I am 90kg. I am giving away 30kg every week.
"It is easy for those that haven't played the game to sit there and say, 'Jamie Soward didn't have a go.' Well, Jamie Soward has a go by putting on the jumper and walking out there. In my books, he has already had a go."
Bulldog: Jamie, some people don't like your on-field emotions.
Soward: I'll let it all hang out. I am an emotional person. I know I can't play 10-out-of-10 every week. Not many players do, but I will be there trying my guts out and come off the field with nothing in the tank. I know then I respected those people that have paid money to come out and watch me play.
Bulldog: Despite the criticism, Jamie, no one could ever accuse you of not wearing your heart on your sleeve.
Soward: Basically, I don't care what those people think. I seem to get hammered every now and then in the press. Every week I go out there and try and tackle these guys who are getting bigger and bigger for me, who is a little fellow. I have to do stuff other people wouldn't do. I don't say that to sound like I am having a go at people. It takes a lot of courage just to play the game. When I get called names like 'coward' and stuff like that, it doesn't sit well. I have to tackle guys like Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess. These guys are 115kg, 120kg. I am 90kg. I am giving away 30kg every week.
Bulldog: I guess there is nothing cowardly about taking on a bloke 30kg heavier than you?
Soward: That's right.
Bulldog: Does the criticism hurt you?
Soward: It does when not many people hear my side of the story. I am an emotional person, I think we understand that. Sometimes in life we have to learn from what we do. I'm not perfect. I have said and done things I'm not proud of but I have learnt from that. I have always made sure I have apologised if I was to say something wrong in the media. I was open to having a chat with you because people don't get my side of the story.
Bulldog: Do people know the real Jamie Soward?
Soward: No, and I don't really care if they don't. My family, friends and teammates know the real Jamie Soward. That is why you will never hear them come out (and be critical) because they know what I am like behind the scenes. It doesn't worry me.
Bulldog: Jamie, do you think people focus more on your emotions than your football ability?
Soward: You're right. If you listen to everything that has gone on you'd think I have never played a game in my life. Premierships, Origins, 150-odd games, big games, semi-finals. I must be doing something right to keep getting picked and playing those games. I have been coached by the greatest coach in history (Wayne Bennett). He saw something in me and is a pretty good judge.
Bulldog: You have a love-hate relationship with the media.
Soward: I am interested in getting into the media when I finish. I love all sports and have an opinion on most things that come up. In saying that, when I get criticised I don't get a chance to reply. You guys (media) probably find me a bit prickly and hard to deal with. I probably have my defences up because I was targeted early in my career. If you poke it long enough it's going to bite back. The couple of times I have bitten back and not handled it the best way, I have been hammered.
Bulldog: The NRL is so sanitised these days, I actually find it refreshing for a player to show his character and personality.
Soward: It's a tough one. We have this massive TV deal and everyone is crying out for players to do more media. But when you speak your mind, you get hammered for it. That turns me off the media. It is easy for those that haven't played the game to sit there and say, "Jamie Soward didn't have a go." Well, Jamie Soward has a go by putting on the jumper and walking out there. In my books, he has already had a go. He might have played the worst but he has already had a go.
Bulldog: You have a game this Monday night against Manly, on and off the field.
Soward: We also have an off-field promotion we are trying to bring in like baseball. If I or another player kicks a ball into the crowd from a penalty, then they get to keep the ball. It's something out of the box. We need to try to grow into a world game, not just NSW and Queensland.
JAMIE Soward has spoken of his disappointment at being left out of speculation surrounding the NSW five-eighth position. He also reveals why he quit Saints for a four-year stint at Penrith.
Bulldog: Are you disappointed your name hasn't come up in regards to Origin, given you were the NSW five-eighth just two years ago.
Soward: Yes, I'm not going to lie to you. But I'm not going to lose sleep over it. That's footy, mate. It can turn around real quick. Sometimes it's easy when you are the flavour of the month and your team is playing well. It is easy to push your selection claims when you are in the paper after a couple of good wins. If I play well enough they will pick me. If they don't pick me, I won't lose any sleep over it.
Bulldog: No matter what happens, they can't take away your NSW jumpers.
Soward: Yeah, that's right. A lot of people out there aren't Jamie Soward fans but I have played for NSW, won a premiership and World Club Challenge. I would have settled for that a long time ago. I have done some things in the game that I am very proud of and I think I have represented myself pretty well.
Bulldog: Was it tough to leave the Dragons?
Soward: Yes and no. At the end of the day, everyone realises you don't get a long time in rugby league to make the most of every opportunity you get so, for me, it was tough to leave my mates and the fans but to get four years with a young, up-and-coming roster out at Penrith is exciting.
Bulldog: How did Ivan Cleary and Phil Gould lure you out west?
Soward: I have known Gus for a long time now, we worked together at the Roosters and there has always been a mutual respect there. I have also worked with Ivan, they are two great people. Once this year is settled, and hopefully we get into the top eight and finish the year on the right note, then I will look forward to getting out there and working with those two.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...t-call-me-coward/story-e6frexpr-1226631822462
Today, Soward gives a rare insight into his private life during this exclusive interview.
He discusses being called a "coward" by fans, saying: "When I get called names like 'coward' it doesn't sit well. I have to tackles guys like Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess. These guys are 115kg, 120kg. I am 90kg. I am giving away 30kg every week.
"It is easy for those that haven't played the game to sit there and say, 'Jamie Soward didn't have a go.' Well, Jamie Soward has a go by putting on the jumper and walking out there. In my books, he has already had a go."
Bulldog: Jamie, some people don't like your on-field emotions.
Soward: I'll let it all hang out. I am an emotional person. I know I can't play 10-out-of-10 every week. Not many players do, but I will be there trying my guts out and come off the field with nothing in the tank. I know then I respected those people that have paid money to come out and watch me play.
Bulldog: Despite the criticism, Jamie, no one could ever accuse you of not wearing your heart on your sleeve.
Soward: Basically, I don't care what those people think. I seem to get hammered every now and then in the press. Every week I go out there and try and tackle these guys who are getting bigger and bigger for me, who is a little fellow. I have to do stuff other people wouldn't do. I don't say that to sound like I am having a go at people. It takes a lot of courage just to play the game. When I get called names like 'coward' and stuff like that, it doesn't sit well. I have to tackle guys like Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess. These guys are 115kg, 120kg. I am 90kg. I am giving away 30kg every week.
Bulldog: I guess there is nothing cowardly about taking on a bloke 30kg heavier than you?
Soward: That's right.
Bulldog: Does the criticism hurt you?
Soward: It does when not many people hear my side of the story. I am an emotional person, I think we understand that. Sometimes in life we have to learn from what we do. I'm not perfect. I have said and done things I'm not proud of but I have learnt from that. I have always made sure I have apologised if I was to say something wrong in the media. I was open to having a chat with you because people don't get my side of the story.
Bulldog: Do people know the real Jamie Soward?
Soward: No, and I don't really care if they don't. My family, friends and teammates know the real Jamie Soward. That is why you will never hear them come out (and be critical) because they know what I am like behind the scenes. It doesn't worry me.
Bulldog: Jamie, do you think people focus more on your emotions than your football ability?
Soward: You're right. If you listen to everything that has gone on you'd think I have never played a game in my life. Premierships, Origins, 150-odd games, big games, semi-finals. I must be doing something right to keep getting picked and playing those games. I have been coached by the greatest coach in history (Wayne Bennett). He saw something in me and is a pretty good judge.
Bulldog: You have a love-hate relationship with the media.
Soward: I am interested in getting into the media when I finish. I love all sports and have an opinion on most things that come up. In saying that, when I get criticised I don't get a chance to reply. You guys (media) probably find me a bit prickly and hard to deal with. I probably have my defences up because I was targeted early in my career. If you poke it long enough it's going to bite back. The couple of times I have bitten back and not handled it the best way, I have been hammered.
Bulldog: The NRL is so sanitised these days, I actually find it refreshing for a player to show his character and personality.
Soward: It's a tough one. We have this massive TV deal and everyone is crying out for players to do more media. But when you speak your mind, you get hammered for it. That turns me off the media. It is easy for those that haven't played the game to sit there and say, "Jamie Soward didn't have a go." Well, Jamie Soward has a go by putting on the jumper and walking out there. In my books, he has already had a go. He might have played the worst but he has already had a go.
Bulldog: You have a game this Monday night against Manly, on and off the field.
Soward: We also have an off-field promotion we are trying to bring in like baseball. If I or another player kicks a ball into the crowd from a penalty, then they get to keep the ball. It's something out of the box. We need to try to grow into a world game, not just NSW and Queensland.
JAMIE Soward has spoken of his disappointment at being left out of speculation surrounding the NSW five-eighth position. He also reveals why he quit Saints for a four-year stint at Penrith.
Bulldog: Are you disappointed your name hasn't come up in regards to Origin, given you were the NSW five-eighth just two years ago.
Soward: Yes, I'm not going to lie to you. But I'm not going to lose sleep over it. That's footy, mate. It can turn around real quick. Sometimes it's easy when you are the flavour of the month and your team is playing well. It is easy to push your selection claims when you are in the paper after a couple of good wins. If I play well enough they will pick me. If they don't pick me, I won't lose any sleep over it.
Bulldog: No matter what happens, they can't take away your NSW jumpers.
Soward: Yeah, that's right. A lot of people out there aren't Jamie Soward fans but I have played for NSW, won a premiership and World Club Challenge. I would have settled for that a long time ago. I have done some things in the game that I am very proud of and I think I have represented myself pretty well.
Bulldog: Was it tough to leave the Dragons?
Soward: Yes and no. At the end of the day, everyone realises you don't get a long time in rugby league to make the most of every opportunity you get so, for me, it was tough to leave my mates and the fans but to get four years with a young, up-and-coming roster out at Penrith is exciting.
Bulldog: How did Ivan Cleary and Phil Gould lure you out west?
Soward: I have known Gus for a long time now, we worked together at the Roosters and there has always been a mutual respect there. I have also worked with Ivan, they are two great people. Once this year is settled, and hopefully we get into the top eight and finish the year on the right note, then I will look forward to getting out there and working with those two.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...t-call-me-coward/story-e6frexpr-1226631822462
