ENGLAND’S UNITED FOR ONE CAUSE
‘Cliquey’ days consigned to the past says Williams
GEORGE WILLIAMS says England’s “cliquey” days are over and their “one-team” ethos could drive them to World Cup glory.
The national team are just 80 minutes away from a second successive final.
Shaun Wane’s men face Samoa in Saturday’s crunch semi-final at Emirates Stadium, with Australia or New Zealand awaiting the victors.
Warrington half-back Williams has played under Steve McNamara and Wayne Bennett for England but says life in the current regime is the best yet.
His former Wigan coach Wane, right, has organised family days on which the players’ kids attend training and they went to the National Memorial Arboretum on Monday. Williams said: “It does feel as one. It feels whole. There’s lads from different clubs and when I first got into the England system it was a bit cliquey.
“But now it’s ‘oneteam’ England. Forget your Leeds, Warrington, Wigan – we’re as one and that shows on the pitch. We’re together.
“It’s a great environment and hopefully we’ve got two more games and two more wins.”
And Williams is looking to make his mark against Samoa after missing out on the epic 2017 World Cup semi-final win when thousands of fanatical Tongan fans made an intimidating sea of red in Auckland.
He recalled: “It was unreal. I wasn’t fortunate to play but I was there and saw it all.
“I’ve played in some big games in good venues and I think that’s the best atmosphere I’ve ever seen. “We scored and they were singing hymns. It was just surreal. Hopefully, we can create something similar on Saturday but it’s white shirts and England songs.”
Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the last time a British side won the World Cup, with Great Britain prospering in France.
Having marched through this tournament so far, is it dawning on Williams that England, who narrowly lost to Australia in 2017, could soon write their own history?
He said: “Not dawning – it probably excites us more than anything, we’re really excited.
“We’ve worked all our lives to be in these types of situations and play in the biggest games and biggest venues.
“We’re prepared, we’re ready – and we believe.”
Samoa captain Junior Paulo last night won his appeal against a one-match ban so is now free to play in the semi-final.