Canberra recruit George Williams wants to bring his attacking flair to the NRL as he plans to obliterate the reputation that English backs don’t succeed in Australia.
Raiders fans will get their first close look at their new halfback on Australian soil in this weekend’s World Cup nines, before he links up with the Raiders and begins training in December.
A two-time Super League champion with Wigan, Williams will join the English revolution of Josh Hodgson, Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman and Ryan Sutton in Canberra.
But while they thrived in the forwards in the Green Machine’s charge to this year’s grand final, several other English backs have struggled after moving to the NRL from the Super League.
Chris Thornan is the last half to have arrived from England before he played just eight games at Parramatta in 2004, while Sam Tomkins spent two tough years at the Warriors.
Joe Burgess, Zak Hardaker, Dan Sarginson and Greg Eden are others players in recent years to have arrived before disappointing stints in NRL clubs’ backlines.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I think every player is different,” Williams said.
“There are reasons why people think they underperformed. If you watch Sam (Tomkin)’s first season I thought he was pretty good when he was injury free.
“I think he gets a scapegoat put on his head.
“The biggest pressure I have is from myself. I expect to be good. I think that comes with being in a big league like the NRL.”
Part of that challenge for halves and outside backs is no doubt the difference in the two competitions.
Williams feels like he knows the NRL well.
He has had aspirations of testing himself in Australia since he was a youngster and paid close attention to Canberra after Bateman and Sutton both left Wigan to head there.
He’s watched the likes of halves partner Jack Wighton closely in his best year, and can’t wait to play behind rampaging prop Josh Papalii.
The move of England national halfback Williams is calculated too.
He spoke closely with Wigan coach Adrian Lam about the timing of his shift, with the Englishman about to turn 25 and close to the prime of his career.
Williams set up 21 tries and scored 15 of his own in 32 games last year in the free-flowing Super League for Wigan, but knows the NRL’s more disciplined style makes for a different beast.
“The completions seem higher here,” Williams said.
“Super League they try and throw the ball a little more. I would like to still bring that to the NRL.
“I want to play my own game and play what you see.
“I’m sure Ricky (Stuart) will have a plan of what he wants me to do. I have to follow his game plan too.
“There is a fine line but hopefully it works.”