Why Adrian Lam hopes George Williams stays at Wigan Warriors

Future Wigan coach Adrian Lam hopes George Williams stays at the club - so he can take his game to 'the next level'.
George WilliamsGeorge Williams
George Williams

Former halfback Lam believes Williams would benefit from his coaching more than any other player.

The 23-year-old told the NRL’s website he would like to cut short his Warriors deal to fulfil his ambition of playing Down Under.

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Club owner Ian Lenagan has made it clear he does not want to lose the England halfback, who has two years - plus an option - of his marquee deal still to run.

And Lam certainly wants to work with Williams, who made his comeback from a knee injury in Friday’s 24-22 win against Castleford.

“My arrival will probably suit him better than any other player,” said the ex-No.7, who will succeed Shaun Wane as interim coach before Shaun Edwards takes over in 2020.

“I think I can get him to the next level with his temperament, his game-management and also his ability - at the moment I think he prefers to run than to pass - but I think I can make him more of a complete player.

“He’s the person who may benefit most (from my arrival).

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“I don’t want to lock him into the Wigan left side, if you allow him to move around, the team becomes more balanced.”

Lam was Australia’s assistant coach during the World Cup and studied Williams’ game during the tournament, when he was limited to bit-part role for England under national coach Wayne Bennett.

“I know him well because I’ve done a whole lot of video on him,” said Lam.

“And we were sort of grateful that (Bennett) didn’t start him in the majority of the games in the World Cup because we thought he was the more dangerous out of everyone there.”

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Lam flew home to Australia on Saturday night after taking in the reserves match at Orrell.

They drew 24-24 with Halifax in a match which saw Dom Manfredi make his long awaited comeback.

The 2016 Super League Dream Team winger has not made a senior appearance in two years because of a serious knee injury.

He scored two tries on his return and said: “After such a long time out it was good to get out there.

“It was good for the confidence and I got a lot out of it.”Earlier in the day, Harry Smith scored two tries as Darrell Goulding’s Under-19s beat their Bradford counterparts by 38-20.