Canberra’s English import George Williams ready for step up to NRL
There will be pressure, it will be a challenge, it’s going to be tough — George Williams knows all this but Canberra’s newest English star can handle everything that’s coming his way.
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Meet the Pommy halfback about to be thrown into the Green Machine furnace.
Wigan and England Nines star George Williams spoke for the first time on Wednesday about the pressure and expectation he will play under at new club, Canberra, from next season.
Williams, 24, will fight for the coveted Raiders No.7 jumper — made famous by current coach Ricky Stuart — with incumbent Aidan Sezer, who guided Canberra into this year’s grand final.
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Asked by The Daily Telegraph whether he would play under immediate pressure, Williams said: “One hundred per cent — that’s sport. There is pressure anywhere you play. There is pressure on me at Wigan.
“I look forward to that pressure as long as I deal with it well. I try to enjoy (pressure). I have played in some pretty big games in Super League — four grand finals, Challenge Cups, World Club Challenges, Test matches.
“I’m not saying I’m the finished article because I’m not but I’d like to think I’ll be all right under the pressure. People have expectations and Canberra has signed me for a reason. It’s one of those things in sport.
“I know it is a massive challenge in front of me. It will be a step-up from Super league. No disrespect to Super League but NRL is classed as the best league in the world.
“I understand there’s going to be some tough patches but hopefully more good than bad. I’m sure over here my game will come on in different areas, being a better player overall, not just my running game. Organising wise, I could get better.
“I’m just looking forward to testing myself. A lot of people are talking about how good (Stuart) is and he proved that this year. I’d like to say I play a little but off-the-cuff. I like to play what I see and I don’t mind a little ran here and there.”
Williams arrives in Australia for the Nines carrying enormous accolades. Unbelievable, he will become the fifth English player on the Raiders roster.
“A bit or normality is always nice when you’re on the other side of the world and hopefully those boys will help me settle in,” he said.
“It was so good to see close friends of mine that I played with at Wigan come over and here and take it by storm. A lot of people doubted them on the side of the world in England.
“The other lads settled in really easily. I’m buzzing really. It’s nice that I’m going to a good team with a god environment. It will be something for me. I have been at Wigan since I was 12 years old.
“When I watched Canberra this year, they just got better and better and they finished in the grand final. It was disappointing to lose but hopefully I can bring something more.”
Williams will be a key player in England’s bid to pinch the World Nines at Parramatta this Friday and Saturday.
“It will be very exciting, to be honest. It’s something I haven’t done before, it’s new to me,” Williams said. “We are all professionals and we have come to win. We don’t know how we will go but we will give it our best,” he said.
English star and former St George Illawarra star Gareth Widdop has no doubt Williams will succeed.
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“He is a pretty relaxed sort of kid and I think he will be fine. He is out of the way a little bit down there in Canberra and has a got a lot of English mates around him to help him through it,” Widdop said.
“He is a good, player. He’s still young, this is a great opportunity to come and play in a great team at a great club. George will fit anywhere. I’m really looking forward to watching him as a mate and friend to see how he goes.
“It (English players in the NRL) has become a bit of a trend and it certainly helps English rugby league. Seeing a few English players do it gives people confidence to come out and give it a crack.”
Originally published as Canberra’s English import George Williams ready for step up to NRL
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