George Williams reveals all on his ‘ugly’ Canberra exit and why he joined Warrington

When George Williams was said to be available for a move during the 2021 season, people were taken aback.

The talented halfback had excelled during his first year at the Canberra Raiders in the NRL, but soon found himself on the receiving end of some intense media speculation.

Williams, on the Through The Wire podcast, acknowledged his difficulties being in Australia at the time that the COVID-19 pandemic hit and voiced his concerns to the Canberra club – only to be shunned after positive initial talks.

“The first 12 months I loved it and then COVID came and I couldn’t come home at the end of the year,” Williams said.

“It ended a bit ugly, I spoke to the club and told them I was struggling and that I hadn’t been home for 14 months.

“They were brilliant and said we will look for a replacement and you can go at the end of the year.

“But, it flipped on its head and within a few weeks it was in the media that I was looking for a move to another NRL club.

“Me and the club said we didn’t want it to reach the media and they said it wasn’t them that leaked it.

“I rang up and said I needed a day at home and within a couple of hours they rang me back and said you can leave now.

“Within four hours they said they had released me from my contract via twitter – I hadn’t even seen the contract release, but we sorted it in the end.”

Williams has revealed just how good it felt to be back playing in Super League following a move back to Warrington – despite his former club Wigan being interested.

“I was just happy to get back playing but I was lacking fitness as I had been in Australia for six or seven weeks with no club and wanted to get home.

“I was pleased to get back into a job and Warrington was obviously a massive move for me.

“I was just happy to find my feet; I had a few nice touches but I wasn’t where I wanted to be.

“It was a strange one last year, middle of the year you don’t expect to be packing bags with a pregnant girlfriend to find a new house so it was a challenging few months but I’m happy now, it’s all worked out.”

Despite the sour end in which his NRL career ended, Williams wouldn’t change a thing.

“It ended badly but it was the best thing I ever did for myself and my career.

“Just going from Wigan, all I ever knew was Wigan and that was my life, that was my routine and I didn’t know any different.

“Meeting new people, seeing new cultures and going to different places, it was the best thing I ever did.”