George Williams - our best half back since Ricky

Hong Kong Raider · Post by **Hong Kong Raider** » August 16, 2020, 9:02 am

I love the way this guy plays. I think he's our best half back since the days of Ricky himself. I like how he played both sides of the ruck last night, I even recall him passing to Jack in a left sided raid. We should let him run our attack now and take charge. Our attack looks better with his involvement, and less predictable and pedestrian. He reminds me a bit of Andy Gregory who was a dominant English half in the late 80s but with pace and w/o the sledging.

Short kicking game - tick. Running game - kick. Step - tick. Backing up - tick. Long pass - tick. Pace - tick. Defence - tick. Toughness - kick.

Could work on long kicking game and organisation of the team more.

And he seems like a humble and hard working guy with his head screwed on.

Although I love Hodgson as well, I think with G Williams + an inform Bateman + a fast learning Starling is superior to Hodgson + Sezer. Our window is still open this year if we get it right and play smart.

Northern Raider · Post by **Northern Raider** » August 16, 2020, 9:20 am

Not the highest of bars set here.

Wiki Special · Post by **Wiki Special** » August 16, 2020, 9:21 am

I agree, he is certainly our best halfback since Ricky.

I loved how George was playing both sides of the field last night too. He is a star and deserves the keys for the rest of the season, in my opinion. He and Bateman will tear teams up on the right for the rest of the year.

BJ · Post by BJ » August 16, 2020, 10:13 am

How can any fair minded Raiders fan rate George Williams above Terry Martin in the halves?

Botman · Post by **Botman** » August 16, 2020, 10:20 am

Very very low bar
The previous champ is probably Todd carney, and I might argue he’s still the champ if you go strictly on the paddock, if you count off it he’s not in contention.

Regardless barring some off field issue, George will have that crown by this time next year. He’s the real deal

Canberra Milk · Post by **Canberra Milk** » August 16, 2020, 10:41 am

Better than Brad Drew, Marc Herbert, Josh McCrone... are you sure???

BadnMean · Post by **BadnMean** » August 16, 2020, 11:03 am

Hmmm do we count McLinden as a #7? He certainly was there a bit but not sure if you'd regard him a #6. Otherwise, he's ahead at the moment.

Carney probably too.

Not that George can't be better than both (Carney will be tough but a deep finals run would just about seal it) but they both played some games as good as G Willy- but probably not as consistently. And they did it for seasons. A bit early yet.

bonehead · Post by **bonehead** » August 16, 2020, 11:39 am

I love George, he's as good as any half in the comp bar probably Cleary

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Azza · Post by **Azza** » August 16, 2020, 12:53 pm

Herbert McCrone was an awesome prospect.

RedRaider · Post by **RedRaider** » August 16, 2020, 1:41 pm

Andrew McFadden, Brett Finch, Brad Drew, Mark McLinden, Todd Carney - turn of the century half backs for the Raiders. I think Carney may have made the Oz side after he left us, but George Williams would be our first Regular International half since Sticky. Once at the level of a consistently picked International then class shows out. Even though it is early days, he would be easily our best half since Sticky imo.

Seiffert82 · Post by **Seiffert82** » August 16, 2020, 2:02 pm

Not sure where he sits on our list of greatest halves, but I do know we need to hold onto him and we need him to get his hands on the ball more often...both sides of the field.

rayden83 · Post by **rayden83** » August 16, 2020, 2:12 pm

He has plenty of room for improvement. He does the basics well enough such as running, passing and kicking, however he currently lacks the finer skills of a half back such as game management, imagination and sleight of hand. Imo he plays more like a five eighth than a half back, but overall still a massive upgrade over Sezer.

Chicka Chicka Chicka · August 16, 2020, 6:06 pm

Didn’t Adam Mogg play a game at halfback?

afgtnk · Post by **afgtnk** » August 16, 2020, 6:37 pm

As NR and Botman have said, it's a low bar. Our last decade has mainly consisted of McCrone, Williams, and Sezer - all bottom of the rung halfback at their respective times. The way George is tracking, with 50 odd games under his belt he'll easily be the best since Sticky.

His game has almost everything - even his long kicking game has come on, something he wasn't known for in the UK. Love that he can make something out of nothing and play what he sees infront of him, like with that Tapine offload that went to ground. When he gets good quality ball, you know something can happen and expect it to. That's the mark of a quality half to me.

I think the past issues with Sticky's management of halves has centred around the way he shackles creative ones. I'll be interested to see what he's learnt from this, because he's got one under him now and this season to date we're seeing a similar pattern. George needs to be given the pill as much as possible and have the freedom to play both sides. Let Jack play second receiver from time to time - the place he shines. That Rapana 're-grip' no try saw just how slick and dangerous having them play on one side could be, AND fixes our CNK woes by removing him from second receiver.

Wiki Special · Post by **Wiki Special** » August 16, 2020, 7:14 pm

Chicka Chicka Chicka wrote: ↑August 16, 2020, 6:06 pm Didn’t Adam Mogg play a game at halfback?

That rings a bell.

Brew · Post by **Brew** » August 16, 2020, 7:42 pm

Chicka Chicka Chicka wrote:Didn’t Adam Mogg play a game at halfback?

Yep, 2010 vs Souths. I remember it well as it was after my bucks.

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-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » August 16, 2020, 7:52 pm

Loving what George brings..

Does he have shark teeth mouthguard ?

gangrenous · Post by **gangrenous** » August 16, 2020, 7:53 pm

Brew wrote:I remember it well as it was after my bucks.

Not a sentence you hear a lot!

bonehead · Post by **bonehead** » August 16, 2020, 8:56 pm

-PJ- wrote:Loving what George brings..

Does he have shark teeth mouthguard ?

yes

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-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » August 17, 2020, 6:11 am

bonehead wrote: ↑August 16, 2020, 8:56 pm
-PJ- wrote:Loving what George brings..

Does he have shark teeth mouthguard ?
yes

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

Thought so..

BJ · Post by BJ » August 17, 2020, 10:33 am

It’s hard to tell with English dentistry the way it is.

Finchy · Post by **Finchy** » August 17, 2020, 1:12 pm

-PJ- wrote: ↑August 17, 2020, 6:11 am
bonehead wrote: ↑August 16, 2020, 8:56 pm
-PJ- wrote:Loving what George brings..

Does he have shark teeth mouthguard ?
yes

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
Thought so..

He looks like the Penguin from Batman.

Beejay · Post by **Beejay** » August 17, 2020, 5:04 pm

After watching about 10 Wigan games in 2019 it was clear to me he was going to make it. He had the full bag of skills to make it in the NRL, was only ever going to be mental attitude.
The unknown is how much desire a player has.
Sezer being an example of someone with the skills and physical attributes who just didn't play to his ability, for whatever reason.

Absolutely love watching him play.

-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » August 17, 2020, 5:10 pm

Finchy wrote: ↑August 17, 2020, 1:12 pm
-PJ- wrote: ↑August 17, 2020, 6:11 am
bonehead wrote: ↑August 16, 2020, 8:56 pm
-PJ- wrote:Loving what George brings..

Does he have shark teeth mouthguard ?
yes

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
Thought so..
He looks like the Penguin from Batman.

Is it the proboscis ?

gangrenous · Post by **gangrenous** » August 17, 2020, 5:31 pm

-PJ- wrote: Is it the proboscis ?

No, I’m pretty sure we pay him. Doesn’t do it for free.

The Nickman · Post by **The Nickman** » August 17, 2020, 5:55 pm

I said to a mate on Saturday during a pub-crawl that I thought we would've won the 2019 grand final if Williams had been our halfback and he was pretty surprised.

Post by **T_R** » August 17, 2020, 6:24 pm

The Nickman wrote:I said to a mate on Saturday during a pub-crawl that I thought we would've won the 2019 grand final if Williams had been our halfback and he was pretty surprised.

I'd entirely agree

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gangrenous · Post by **gangrenous** » August 17, 2020, 6:28 pm

We would have won the 2019 grand final if I was refereeing...

Seiffert82 · Post by **Seiffert82** » August 17, 2020, 6:32 pm

The Nickman wrote: ↑August 17, 2020, 5:55 pm I said to a mate on Saturday during a pub-crawl that I thought we would've won the 2019 grand final if Williams had been our halfback and he was pretty surprised.

What if Williams wasn't completely surprised? Do you think we'd still be a chance of winning?

So confusing! Since when can we go on pub crawls?

gangrenous · Post by **gangrenous** » August 17, 2020, 6:41 pm

Seiffert82 wrote: What if Williams wasn't completely surprised? Do you think we'd still be a chance of winning?

The Nickman · Post by **The Nickman** » August 17, 2020, 7:38 pm

Seiffert82 wrote:
The Nickman wrote: ↑August 17, 2020, 5:55 pm I said to a mate on Saturday during a pub-crawl that I thought we would've won the 2019 grand final if Williams had been our halfback and he was pretty surprised.
What if Williams wasn't completely surprised? Do you think we'd still be a chance of winning?

So confusing! Since when can we go on pub crawls?

Oh, it’s only an option for those of us not living in Covid infested hell holes and are still allowed to get on the beers

Neeeegz · Post by **Neeeegz** » August 17, 2020, 8:36 pm

George has become one of my favourite players, sounds humble in interviews and bloody skillful, and quick when he sees the line...
A lot to love about him

WiganRaider · Post by **WiganRaider** » August 17, 2020, 8:59 pm

Having watched Williams since he broke into the 1st team at Wigan he always had the skill and could beat a man.

My only doubt was if he had a good enough passing game which he clearly does. Williams like Bateman and Sutton have been coached for years by Sean Wane, so know how to win and are tough.

On a side note, I would love see Wane get a gig in the NRL at some point. Maybe biased being a Wiganer myself but he always gets the best out of players and has made some average ones into good ones.

benda · Post by **benda** » August 17, 2020, 11:42 pm

He is a tier 1 halfback.

Our lack of attack isnt due to his abilities.. we need to have better structures and coaching.

Imagine how good he will be after 30 NRL games!

Roger Kenworthy · Post by **Roger Kenworthy** » August 18, 2020, 6:03 am

Seiffert82 wrote: ↑August 17, 2020, 6:32 pm
The Nickman wrote: ↑August 17, 2020, 5:55 pm I said to a mate on Saturday during a pub-crawl that I thought we would've won the 2019 grand final if Williams had been our halfback and he was pretty surprised.
What if Williams wasn't completely surprised? Do you think we'd still be a chance of winning?

So confusing! Since when can we go on pub crawls?

Break down unsurprised GF George W for us Nman.