Williams played to a decent standard in most Wigan games its just that many people only focused on bits of poor play and expected him to create a try every time he touched the ball whilst allowing Tommy to get away with doing virtually nothing in attack every week.

I think he is doing well. Every half back gets some kind of criticism organisers generally get stuck for not being creative or off the cuff enough n your maverick get blasted for poor organisation n game control.

There will be aspects of any players individual ability that are not as good as others it's how they blend into a team that is important. William's is a player I would expect to improve massively over the next few seasons . It's too early to call him a top top half back but he is certainly one of the better half backs of his generation and IF he improves then he will be one of the top half backs in the nrl and world.

Another defeat for the Raiders (Golden point) but Williams was pretty good again and got big Wraps from the commentary team

It was a great end to the game, the Raiders looked dead with 5 to go and showed great character to get back into it. Thought they lost the battle in the forwards and the Eels would have probably wrapped it up more convincingly had Moses stayed on the field.
Williams did pretty well again, his kick for the try was class, that’s his fifth kick assist of the season already.

The kick for the try at the end was pinpoint, and coming after that head clash with about 23 minutes to go, even harder to do. Cracking game, draw would have been a fair result. Pity that there were so many bad injuries at this venue over the weekend.

Thought he was fairly quiet. Got lucky on a few plays from poor decisions but took the head clash well.

Came up with a massive play when needed though and that was almost the game changer.

Don’t think we will see his best till next year but still a decent showing today.

I’m personally loving watching Sutton think he is really developing into a great player. He always frustrated me at Wigan due to his loose carry however in his last year with us he started to show up really well.

For me the natural successor to Locky for England at 13.

I just watched the game. Yes, Sutton looked strong again, another good effort. George had a lot of traffic running at him, but showed his quality with the assist. But let's be right, the Raiders were playing arguably the best side in the comp, and really, I always fancied Parra for the win, even when Canberra were ahead. Obviously losing Moses was a blow (more so going forward), but they coped well with Takairangi. They just always looked like winning the forward battle. Great Saturday night entertainment for me.

Like an old record but Josh Hodgson is a myth. His halfbacks just don’t get enough early ball to work with. The amount of attacks he killed today with him hogging the ball was just incredible.

If I’ve seen a player as overrated before I can’t think of him.

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Iv never been a huge fan but he has built up a big rep in Oz so I presumed I must be missing something. In the second half he was dropping into the halfbacks a lot of times and it just ended up with Canberra having no shape, he’s certainly a leader and willing to stand up and be counted I suppose but I don’t think he’s good enough to be holding the ball for so long and I wouldn’t have him kicking out of hand so much either.

George Williams special right there

I was just thinking the same. That is what George is very good at, his kick for their second try wasn’t bad either.

Another good performance. He’s handling the move really well and has certainly been one of Canberra’s best so far this year. Yet another poor boy, plucked from the slums and given a chance at life by those heroic Raiders.

I think he is enjoying not being the go to half at the moment.

With us I think there was a philosophy of “give it to George” and hope he comes up with something, at times.

Having Wighton along side him means he can inject himself in the game when he wants rather than having to be that focal point of attack.

Would love to see a few years down the track a situation where Harry Smith has developed as you’d hope he will and is pulling the strings and Williams comes back to Wigan to play alongside him. I never thought Williams really got chance to play in a nicely balanced partnership and you’re right that we pinned too much in him. It’s all hypothetical and relies on various things dropping in to place but I think a Williams/Smith partnership would be beautifully balanced.

Made me smile, and does remind me (although I'm sure it's done from the best of motives and not intended to be racist or patronising at all) of those tales they do like to come out with (esp Vossy) about some poor kid from "upcountry" somewhere, who walked 500 miles barefoot from the simple shack in the Outback he called his home to ask for a trial from the Broncos (or whoever)...



"It's an incredible story! And he is such a great kid too!"

oh, and

"They are all gathered around the one TV set in the village watching his big day!"

I do believe 232 of George Williams family and friends gathered round a small black and white TV at his grandmas flat in Scholes to watch his try scoring performance at the weekend.

He doesn’t make many but Phil Clarke made a good point about Williams and why lads like him and others in his situation should feel confident about going playing in the NRL. He said that Williams had been at Wigan as a junior around the time of Brett Finch and Blake Green playing for the club and Clarke’s point was if they could leave Wigan and hold down an NRL starting spot and play some good rugby, then there was no reason why Williams should think he couldn’t do the same considering that he’s as good a player as those two (I actually think he’s a better player than either tbh).

Another George Williams special in the Raiders shock win against the Roosters. He is making a name for himself down under.

And good luck to him

The Aussies aren't used to a halfback who runs at the line and side steps his way over,they also seem to think that he can't tackle either although he's shook a few up so far this season

Every comment I've heard made about Georges defence has always been positive, and quite rightly hes always been a tough and superb defender.

I've not heard one Aussie criticise him

Agree, I think the Aussies have been impressed by his defence and toughness.

It’s the main reason I thought he would go well over there and be suited more to SL than the NRL.

They moan about his side defence but not him, maybe when he gets Bateman back who’s a better defender inside him it will stop them looking week down there, saying that they are week down the other side also

And I believe that's the main reason he was picked to play SL way before Hampshire.

Delighted with his try, a good reward for another solid showing. Last couple of games in particular he has had a lot of heavy traffic directed his way in defence, and has stood up well. I don't think the Aussies are short of halves prepared to run at the line, though. Moses? Milford? Brooks? Munster?

I think what sets him apart from those guys is his ability to do it in heavy traffic without much space in which to work.

You are right though there are an embarrassment of riches in the halves playing in the NRL.