Jona Lomu was my inspiration, says West Ham Kiwi Winston Reid

Winston Reid was just seven years old growing up in his native New Zealand when he turned on the TV to see one of the world’s great sporting icons in full flight. Jonah Lomu was taking England and Co apart at the 1995 Rugby World Cup with breathtakingly powerful performances on the field and humble gestures off it.

It provided early inspiration for Reid, now captain of his country’s football team, on how to perform and handle himself in the spotlight, even if rugby union was never his first love.

“It’s a massive loss for New Zealand to lose such a sporting hero and an ambassador for New Zealand,” said Reid, reflecting on the tragic death of Lomu last week aged just 40 after a battle with a kidney disorder. “My memories of him were as a happy guy. He was brilliant at what he did and represented the country really well. He was a big icon.

“I watched him on TV growing up, and I remember the 1995 World Cup when he was running over you guys! He will be a big loss for our country.

“I can relate to what he had been through in his life. We saw it all, with his kidneys and everything. Just the way everything went for him. He was always happy, always smiling, always looking on the upside of life. It’s really sad to see him go.

He added: “I was never big enough to play rugby. But Jonah’s a really big person for New Zealand in general. When people think about Jonah, they think about New Zealand. He was a brand that was known worldwide. It’s best to respect him.”

Reid also paid tribute to Richie McCaw, who retired as New Zealand’s rugby captain this week. “He is another person who has done ever so well for the country for a numerous amount of years, he has won back-to-back World Cups,” he said. “He is one of the best-ever captains, but I have never met him; I’m sure I will one day.”

The defender will attempt to stop Harry Kane and the latest England star Dele Alli in the match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane today. The two sides are level on points, and the 27-year-old knows that it could even be between his side and their fellow London club for fourth place and a berth in the Champions League next season.

“It does help that we have had a good start to the season,” he said. “We need to make sure it continues. We had a good start last time, then we had a horrible second part of the season.

“It’s not going to be easy [to overtake Tottenham]. It’s going to be hard work, we all know that. But we are here to work hard and try to achieve our ambitions.”

Much could depend on how West Ham cope with the loss of the outstanding Dimitri Payet, who is out for three months with an ankle injury. The club’s manager, Slaven Bilic, described the France international as “irreplaceable”.

Reid believes West Ham’s start to the season, which has seen them collect victories over Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, is thanks in part to the positive attitude of Bilic, who replaced Sam Allardyce during the summer.

“From day one, the manager and the team behind [his staff] have brought confidence into the dressing room, into the players and also on the training pitch,” he said. “Training is at a good tempo, at a high pace.

“We can all have bad games but he demands 100 per cent effort every time. He’s made it clear we are going to win and lose games. He says to us, ‘This is what I expect from you every time. Go out there and deliver it for me’.”