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George Williams (rugby league)

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For other people named George Williams, see George Williams (disambiguation).

George Williams
Personal information
Born (1994-10-31) 31 October 1994 (age 30)
Wigan, Greater Manchester, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight14 st 5 lb (91 kg)
Playing information
PositionScrum-half, Stand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–19 Wigan Warriors 179 60 70 1 381
2013 (loan) → South Wales Scorpions 1 0 0 0 0
2020–21 Canberra Raiders 32 10 16 2 74
2021– Warrington Wolves 71 32 0 5 125
Total 283 102 86 8 580
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–23 England 18 10 1 0 30
2019 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2][3]
As of 11 May 2023

George Williams (born 31 October 1994) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a scrum-half and stand-off for Warrington Wolves in the Super League and England at international level.

He has previously played as a stand-off for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League, and spent time on loan from Wigan at the South Wales Scorpions in Championship 1. He spent two years in the NRL playing for the Canberra Raiders, however he was released during the 2021 NRL season on compassionate grounds.

Background

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Williams was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

Club career

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Williams playing for Wigan in 2015

Wigan Warriors

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Williams was born on 31 October 1994 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, and began playing junior rugby league at local amateur teams Ince Rose Bridge and Wigan St Patricks.[2] He joined the Wigan scholarship programme and was signed to their Academy team in 2011 on a four-year contract.[4]

Williams made his senior début in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup in April 2013, scoring a try in a 60–10 victory over Championship club Leigh. He made his first Super League appearance a month later against London Broncos, scoring another try, and also played against Widnes. He returned to the Academy side later in the season, helping Wigan win the under-19 Grand Final with two tries in a 34–10 victory against Leeds.[5]

Williams became a regular in the first team during the 2014 season, and signed a new four-year contract in May 2014.[6] He made 23 appearances during the season, scoring seven tries, including his first senior hat-trick against Hull F.C. in July 2014.[7] He appeared for Wigan as a substitute in the 2014 Super League Grand Final defeat by St. Helens.

Following the departure of Blake Green, Williams became the first-choice stand-off for Wigan and was assigned the number 6 jersey before the start of the 2015 season. He played in the World Club Series against Brisbane. Williams made 33 appearances and was a near ever-present throughout the season, missing only one game early in the year against Huddersfield after suffering an injury during the warm-up.[8]

Williams was awarded the Super League Young Player of the Year award at the Man of Steel awards on 5 October 2015.[9] Williams also played in the 2015 Grand Final, but was again on the losing side as Wigan were defeated 20–22 against the Leeds at Old Trafford.[10]

In 2016, Williams again featured in the World Club Series against Brisbane, scoring one try in a heavy 12–42 defeat. Williams also won his first club honours, with Wigan defeating the Warrington club in the 2016 Grand Final at Old Trafford.[11]

On 19 February 2017, Williams was the stand-out performer in the 2017 World Club Challenge against National Rugby League Premiers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, helping Wigan to a 22–6 win.[12] In April 2017, he signed a new four-year contract with Wigan.[13]

On 26 August 2017, Williams played in his first Challenge Cup final, with Wigan losing 14–18 to Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium.[14]

He played in the 2018 Super League Grand Final victory over Warrington at Old Trafford.[15]

Canberra Raiders

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On 9 July 2019 it was announced that Williams would leave Wigan to join the Canberra Raiders for the 2020 National Rugby League season.[16]

Williams played 22 games for Canberra in the 2020 NRL season as the club fell one game short of the grand final.[17]

On 25 May 2021, Williams was released from his contract with Canberra citing homesickness as the key reason. It was initially reported that Williams had demanded an immediate release from the club until the player took to Twitter explaining his side of the story. Williams said "I asked for a release weeks ago for the end of the season... Not once did I ask for a immediate release but instead of supporting me the club kicked me out the door".[18]

On 22 June 2021, Williams fired one final parting shot at Canberra head coach Ricky Stuart saying “I'm just sad that relationship is pretty sour, I’ve not spoken to him since the release. He was brilliant and I’ll never forget that, but when things went bad he turned his back on me".[19]

Warrington Wolves

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On 8 July 2021, it was reported that he had signed for Warrington in the Super League.[20] He made his Warrington debut against Leeds on 1 August 2021, scoring a last minute drop-goal in a 27-26 victory. He was awarded Heritage Number 1174 for Warrington.[21] In round 24 of the 2021 Super League season, he kicked two drop goals including the winner in golden point extra-time as Warrington beat Salford 20-19.[22] In round 24 of the 2023 Super League season, Williams scored two tries for Warrington in their 66-12 victory over Castleford.[23] Williams played 23 games for Warrington in the 2023 Super League season and scored 11 tries as Warrington finished sixth on the table and qualified for the playoffs. Williams played in the clubs elimination playoff loss against St Helens.[24] On 8 June 2024, Williams played in Warrington's 2024 Challenge Cup final defeat against Wigan.[25] In the 2024 elimination playoff against St Helens, Williams kicked the winning drop goal in Warrington's 23-22 golden point extra-time victory. Williams played a total of 26 games for Warrington in the 2024 Super League season including their semi-final loss against Hull Kingston Rovers.[26]

International career

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Williams warming up for England in 2016

Williams made his international début for England in 2015, and represented England at the 2017 World Cup.

After an outstanding Super League 2015 season, Williams was selected in the England team for their test series against New Zealand. Williams made his début for England in a test match, before the series, against France which saw Williams score a try in England's rout of their opponents.[27]

In October 2016, Williams was selected in the England squad for the 2016 Four Nations.

In October 2017 he was selected in the England squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup,[28] making two appearances for England in the group stages.

He was selected in England's 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[29]

He was selected in the squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere.[30]

Williams warming up for England in 2022

In October he was named in the England squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[31]

In November he was named in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup Team of the Tournament.[32]

In April 2023 Williams was named as England captain for the match against France at Warrington.[33] Williams scored a hat-trick in the match as England won the game 64-0.[34]

Career statistics

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Season Team Apps Tries Goals DG Points
2013 Wigan Warriors 3 2 0 0 8
2014 23 7 11 0 50
2015 33 8 0 0 32
2016 26 12 0 0 48
2017 33 11 54 1 153
2018 27 6 5 0 34
2019 34 15 0 0 60
2020 Canberra Raiders 22 7 1 29
2021 10 3 16 1 45
Warrington Wolves 8 3 3 15
2022 23 8 32
2023 25 11 1 45
2024 18 8 1 33
Total 280 10 86 8 572

source: [35]

Honours

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Club

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Individual

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  • Super League Young Player of the Year: 2015
  • Rugby League World Cup Team of the Tournament: 2021

References

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  1. ^ "Player Summary: George Williams". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "George Williams – Player Profile". Wigan Warriors. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. ^ Rugby League Project
  4. ^ "Warriors Sign Up 13 Scholarship Players". Wigan Warriors. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Wigan win Academy Grand Final". Total Rugby League. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. ^ "George Williams: Wigan Warriors half-back signs four-year contract". BBC Sport. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Super League: Wigan Warriors 56–10 Hull FC". BBC Sport. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  8. ^ Laybourn, Ian (14 February 2015). "Tomkins looks a class act as Wigan roar back". The Independent. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Hardaker crowned 2015 Steve Prescott Man of Steel". Love Rugby League. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Leeds pip Wigan to seal treble after brilliant, breathless Grand Final". Guardian. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!". Guardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  12. ^ Bower, Aaron (19 February 2017). "Wigan turn on the style to beat Cronulla and win World Club Challenge". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  13. ^ "George Williams: Wigan Warriors half-back signs four-year deal with champions". BBC Sport. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Hull FC 18-14 Wigan recap as the Black and Whites claim back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs". Mirror. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Super League Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington – as it happened". Guardian. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Raiders sign Test half George Williams". 8 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart storms out of press conference after one question". wwos.nine.com.au.
  18. ^ "Raiders' immediate release of Williams adds new buyer in player market". www.nrl.com. 25 May 2021.
  19. ^ "'Turned his back on me': Williams reveals relationship with Ricky went 'sour' amid 'messy' exit". www.foxsports.com.au. 22 June 2021.
  20. ^ "George Williams signs for Warrington". Love Rugby League. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  21. ^ "George Williams lands last-minute drop-goal to give Warrington 27-26 win at Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport.
  22. ^ "Warrington Wolves 20-19 Salford Red Devils". BBC Sport.
  23. ^ "Super League: Warrington Wolves 66-12 Castleford Tigers - Wire demolish struggling Tigers". BBC Sport.
  24. ^ "Highs and lows from Warrington Wolves' 2023 season". www.warringtonguardian.co.uk. 3 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Wigan beat Warrington to win Challenge Cup". www.bbc.co.uk.
  26. ^ "'Soul destroying': Warrington eliminate St Helens in golden drop goal thriller". www.theguardian.com.
  27. ^ "England demolish France 84–4 in record win". Skysports.com. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  28. ^ "England rugby league World Cup squad revealed - and James Roby is back in the fold". Mirror. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  29. ^ "Sam Tomkins eager to lift inaugural World 9s title with England Down Under". Mirror. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  30. ^ "Zak Hardaker shock inclusion in 24-man Great Britain squad for tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea". Telegraph. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  31. ^ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  32. ^ Samoan domination as unlikely halfback earns No.7 jersey: WC Team of the Tournament
  33. ^ "George Williams: Warrington Wolves scrum-half named new England captain". BBC Sport. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  34. ^ "England beat France 64-0 - hat-tricks for Handley and Williams". BBC Sport. 28 April 2023.
  35. ^ "George Williams - Playing Career - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
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