George Williams on NRL's return, lockdown... and keeping his Wigan accent!

George Williams played two NRL matches before the season was halted

While he impressed in two matches for Canberra Raiders, it has been a rocky few months off the field.

But with NRL players returning to their clubs this week for training – ahead of a restart of May 28 – the former Wigan No.6 is pleased to get back into a regular routine.

The 25-year-old said: “I’ll be glad to get back to normal because it’s been a bit strange, really.

“When I first got here there were the bushfires, so I’d not been here two days and we moved to a camp on the

Sunshine Coast.

“Then when we got back to Canberra, I was living with Ryan Sutton for a few weeks – he helped me get settled in before I got my own apartment.

“My missus arrived in March but within a week or two, everything happened with the coronavirus crisis.

“I don’t think anyone has had so much time off like this before. It’s different to an off-season, then you can do things and go away, but this has been different and strange for

everyone.”

While the NRL campaign was halted, Williams followed a fitness programme at home and he says the lockdown measures in Australia are not as strict as in the UK.

Players were yesterday briefed on the biosecurity protocols as they prepare to restart on May 28, with games behind closed doors.

And Williams is hoping to pick up where he left off, after impressing in his first two Canberra games.

“There was a fair bit of attention before my debut but I put pressure on myself to perform,” said Williams, who won Grand Finals with his hometown club in 2016 and ‘18, sandwiching a World Club Challenge victory.

“I was pretty nervous before my first game, I didn’t want to disappoint myself.

“I thought I’d scored, I went for glory when I probably should have passed!

“But it was pretty pleasing to get the win. It makes it easier to settle in when you’ve got quality players around you.”

Williams first played with Sutton aged 13 at Ince Rose Bridge and admits it feels surreal they are now team-mates on the other side of the world.

With ex-Warrior John Bateman also at the Raiders, he has quickly found a home from home.

He joked: “Sutty and Batty have both got Australian girlfriends and I keep hammering them because they keep saying Aussie words.

“Honestly, you want to hear them. They say it’ll happen to me but no way, I’m keeping my Wigan accent!”

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