His every move on and off the field has captured the rugby league public's imagination, but Dragons players have denied they will focus their efforts on shackling Roosters star Sonny Bill Williams in Thursday's Anzac Day encounter.
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Having missed New Zealand's Test against Australia with a knee complaint, Williams is battling to prove his fitness after the injury flared up during the Roosters' 38-point drubbing of the Bulldogs 11 days ago.
The 27-year-old returned to his rampaging best before the representative weekend, inspiring the Tricolours to their fourth win from their past five matches.
But St George Illawarra prop Dan Hunt warned the in-form Dragons would not be pre-occupied with Operation Stop Sonny Bill, claiming the Roosters had several attacking weapons to halt their five-game Anzac Day skid.
"Rugby league's not a one-man sport - it's a team sport," Hunt said.
"Whether Sonny Bill's doing what he does or someone else is doing something else, you can't just concentrate on one player.
"They've got 17 good players so we have to be on our toes the whole 80 minutes.
"Everyone's talking about the Roosters, but we're not really thinking about them. We're just worrying about what we can do and we can control - and that's getting out there, starting fast, setting the tone and playing some good footy."
St George Illawarra back-rower Bronson Harrison, whose great uncle served in Vietnam, joined the chorus in playing down the "Sonny Bill effect".
The New Zealand-born Harrison, capped 13 times for his country but never alongside Williams, said the build-up to his first Anzac Day clash had really hit home during a team meeting.
"We've sat down and had a talk about the importance of it and how we want to do the right thing and put on a good performance for the Anzacs that made the sacrifices for Australia and New Zealand," he said.
"The boys have stated this is the favourite game inside of the premiership rounds. I'm looking forward to contributing and making sure I put in a good effort.
"I suppose we wouldn't really want to concentrate too much on them ... we want to put a lot of focus on us."
The Roosters will also boast a plethora of talent foreign to the Anzac Day experience, with Williams's fellow recruits Michael Jennings and James Maloney, plus coach Trent Robinson, unaffected by the Roosters' dismal recent record in the clash.
The Dragons have won the past five Anzac Day clashes, but Hunt said that would not scar the new breed of Roosters outlining their premiership credentials.
"I don't think that will come into play at all," he said.
"Whether they've got their star-studded side or not, anyone that plays in that game will be up for it.
"I don't think it really matters who's playing, it's just a matter of who's ready to rip in on the day."
