Jon Wilkin calls for important mindset change in Super League

Yesterday it was announced that George Williams had signed an extended deal to stay at Warrington Wolves.

The halfback had been linked with a move to the NRL but instead is a Wire player till the end of 2026.

Speaking after this, Sky Sports’ Jon Wilkin called for a mindset change in the way we view players going over to the NRL.

“Historically, we have celebrated the fact that our players have gone over to play in Australia and I think that is an incredible thing to do because every player that goes over to Australia weakens our competition,” he said.

“So the fact that Warrington have been able to retain George Williams is an immense boost to the competition, he has been exceptional and no doubt there has been a lot of NRL clubs interested in him.

“It is has been a period of time where we have seen an exodus that way, to retain someone and attract him back to Super League is great.

“He brings an unwavering confidence to the side, a strength to his actions. If he throws a huge dirty cut out pass to a winger, he will just do it and he will have no fear of the consequences and he could get it wrong but he would try it again.

“It is that unwavering confidence that the best sports people have that gets people into the stadium. George Williams has rediscovered that instinctive play since the World Cup.

“For me he has been the best player in the competition by far.”