Friendly faces help Williams feel right at home
RHYS Williams may be new to Salford Red Devils, but there are plenty of familiar faces around the place.
The Welsh international scored his first try for the Super League club in last week’s 52-4 victory at home to Swinton Lions in the club’s first pre-season friendly.
Winger Williams had a brief loan spell at Salford in 2013, during which he played four games. Spells at Swinton – again on loan – and Central Queensland Capras followed before a four-year stint at London Broncos, during which he played 152 games, scoring 100 tries.
But as Ian Watson began his rebuilding job following the departures at the end of last season, Williams has returned, signing along with fellow Broncos Luke Yates and Elliot Kear in October.
“When we all got over the line and signed together it was a bit of a funny one because you probably don’t get so many from the same team going to a different club,” said Williams.
“I’ve played with Kear for ten years now and I made my debut for Wales with Gil (Dudson). “So, coming to the club having known a few people made that transition a lot easier.” And the 30-year-old was warmly welcomed by a former team-mate – Red Devils head coach Watson, who he played alongside for Wales. Watson and Williams share the record for the most senior appearances for the Welsh national team.
“When I made my debut with Gil, Watto was the half-back,” he said.
“I just want to work for good, hard-working people, and Watto is certainly that,” he said.
“He wants to win, he’s a good person and a good coach.
“It’s easy to work for someone who holds those attributes.”
Salford start their Betfred Super League campaign at champions St Helens on January 31 in a repeat of last season’s Grand Final at Old Trafford.
And Williams can’t wait now for the season to start.
He said: “We’ve been working very hard. I think the first few games are a little bit scratchy with new combinations. No matter how hard you train, when you come to a game it’s a slightly different tempo. I think we’ll just build over the next few weeks.
“Things are in the right place to kick on, and I think we’ll certainly do that next week”.