George Williams is pleased with the way he and teammate Matt Dufty have been given the freedom to dictate play at Warrington Wolves by head coach Sam Burgess.
Warrington, who sit third in the table two points behind Wigan Warriors and first-placed Hull KR, are still in contention to finish top of the table and claim the League Leaders’ Shield which will guarantee them a home semi-final in the game. – offs.
Since Warrington were beaten 18-8 by Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup final in June, they have won six of their eight Super League games and Williams is happy with the form of the team and himself.
“I hope I’m at my best, but I think this is a team I enjoy playing for, I think everyone plays their part,” Williams said. Sky Sports’ Bench Podcast.
“Then me and Dufty, they want to try to make things look good. I think the middle plays on the platform and we are in a good field position so it’s a fun team to play at the minute.
Williams and Dufty have excelled for Warrington under Sam Burgess
“Before, I was probably locked in on the left and there was no place to defend on the right. I actually prefer to have the ball on the left but now I play both sides.
“As long as we’re winning, we know the team is playing well and we hope it continues.”
Warrington have made a big improvement on last year when they just made the play-offs but lost in the knockout stages, and Williams has learned a lot from the 2023 season.
“Looking back, but now I think I learned a lot from it,” he said.
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Williams is rooting for success for Warrington and admits he was irritated when he was repeatedly asked ‘what year is it?’
“We lost eight or nine games when we were playing at one point where we didn’t hear from me, so I learned about myself during that time about keeping the standard – still doing the right thing, still trying and leading when you don’t feel good.
“It was good for me and looking back now a lot of it is down to the environment that we have.”
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Highlights from last Sunday’s Betfred Super League match between London Broncos and Warrington Wolves
Head coach Burgess ‘just got it’
Last year, Sam Burgess was appointed as the new head coach of Warrington Wolves on a two-year contract, following the departure of Daryl Powell.
Burgess won numerous international honors for England in rugby league and union and was an NRL champion with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Prior to his role at Warrington, Burgess was only head coach of the team – the Orara Valley Axemen – and is best known for his role as assistant coach at the South Sydney Rabbitohs since retiring as a player in 2019.
Williams credits Warrington’s success this season to Burgess’ appointment and revealed the two have a close relationship.
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Williams said Wolves head coach Burgess was a ‘great’ leader and cared about his players
“Burgess has been great. It helps that he has only been out the game for four years, but he is a great leader of people so when he says it people follow,” Williams.
“The pre-game talk is good, even the meetings are good. He will give a review and then it will be a motivational speech and we are all ready for training. It is good and the players are on the side.
“I think he knows the players. He knows certain people need certain things.
“Dufty needs his tires pumped up and I’ll say it bluntly, he and Daryl Powell might not be able to do it, they’re rough when they make a mistake.
“Sam will embrace him, and as you’ve seen with the season he’s had, it’s working.
“We had a conversation that wasn’t about rugby. I’ve known him for a few years, but we talked about other things.
“I lost my grandfather last year and I was able to talk to him. The treatment was there and not just talking, he got it.
“We talked for half an hour about it and I went home very happy because I let it go a little bit and he got it.”
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