Collins’ family pride

Grandad an inspiration

AN emotional Lindsay Collins fought back tears as he spoke about his grandfather and the opportunity to follow in some famous footsteps.

Collins’ grandfather Lionel Williamson played 11 rugby league Tests for Australia at a time when Kangaroo tours were draining three-month excursions.

His career included two World Cup finals – he scored a brace in the 1968 decider against France and added another two years later as Australia defended their title.

His name and number feature on an honour roll in the 2022 Australian team’s room at its hotel in Manchester, providing a daily reminder to Collins of the rich pedigree that courses through his veins.

“I called him when I found out about selection,” Collins said.

“We have an honour roll hanging up and you see his name up there – (selection number) 429. It is hard to get an Australian jersey and then you have two in your family. “It is a little bit emotional.” Collins would visit Williamson during school holidays and be regaled with stories about the old days.

Those World Cup tries would often rate a mention.

“He made a lot of sacrifices and moved away from family,” Collins said. “He moved back to Cairns. My mum moved down from Cairns to Brisbane.

“With the distance, we didn’t see each other as much as you would … growing up (but) we would still be in contact and call him every week.”

When Collins and his family visited Cairns, Williamson would work them hard.

“Every day we came up he got us out on the track, running 100s and 800s and 400s,” Collins said.

“Good memories there.” Collins is trying to create good memories of his own but things haven’t always run smoothly for the Sydney Roosters and Maroons prop.

A serious knee injury cost him a large chunk of the 2021 season, then suspension late in the 2022 season threatened to rob him of a World Cup spot.

Collins, however, isn’t the type to let setbacks define him.

A few years back, only a handful of games into his first grade career, he started writing down his goals.

That year, it was to play State of Origin. He did. So he kept on making notes.

Of late, they included winning a spot in Australia’s World Cup squad. Now he is in England and on the cusp of making his debut against Scotland on Saturday.

“Every day, pages and pages of the same goals,” Collins said.

“It is basically keeping yourself accountable every day.”

Williamson has given his grandson plenty of advice over the course of his career. The most cogent had nothing to do with rugby league.

“He just said enjoy the experience,” Collins said.

“At the end of the day, footy is just footy. Life is a bit bigger.”