TURN IT UP WILLIAMS
Wigan ace talks back
GEORGE WILLIAMS is coming out shouting after suffering the silent treatment at Wigan.
England coach Wayne Bennett warned the Warriors stand-off that he needed to speak out if he hoped to really crack it as an international half-back.
And Wigan refused to let anyone else near him talk during training to force him to speak up.
Neither Bennett’s or Wigan’s tactics sat easily, but the shy 22-year-old star insists he’s now happier to let rip from the lip.
He said: “I used to think that if I spoke it would be ignored. It was a confidence thing and a respect thing – I wanted to earn my team-mates’ respect.
“Hopefully I have been doing that with my performances. But if Wayne had met me when I was first the No.6 he would have been shocked because I didn’t really speak. He’s been quite funny with ® it and joked about it, but I know where I need to progress.
“Luckily my talent got me to where I was. Shaun Wane knows it’s not natural for me to speak and I keep myself to myself. But it’s something I’ll keep working at.”
Williams, who lives a minute away from the DW Stadium, admits he is living the dream with his home-town club and England.
Grounded
He won the Grand Final with the Warriors last October and was man of the match when Wigan were crowned World Club champions last month.
Williams, who has won five England caps over the last two seasons, is also targeting World Cup glory Down Under later this year. He added: “I am not a bigheaded person, so I will stay grounded and just keep trying to get better.”
Warriors hunt a third Super League win on the trot at home to Leigh on Friday. RANGI CHASE is in hot water with Castleford and has been dropped for tomorrow’s game against Leeds.
The Tigers are refusing to reveal what the former Man of Steel has done but the exEngland star has a history of controversy.
Chase was axed by England boss Steve McNamara on the eve of the 2013 World Cup semifinal and he walked out on Leigh last year.