Soon-to-be NRL player George Williams has outlined how 2027 was his final chance to return down under, and it is an opportunity he couldn’t afford to pass up.
It was confirmed earlier in the month that the Warrington Wolves half-back will return to the NRL for the second time in his career, though his future club is not yet confirmed.
He has been widely linked with a switch to the Dolphins, and he could well join Kristian Woolf’s side given that former Hull KR man Brad Schneider is off-contract at the end of the year, so that would be a direct replacement.
Williams first moved to the NRL in 2020, leaving Wigan to join Canberra Raiders. Through no fault of his own, Covid-19 severely hampered his time at the Raiders, and part-way through 2021 he opted to move back to the UK.
After what will be five and a half years in Primrose and Blue, the England skipper will try his luck in the Australian competition again, in a move that he says was “now or never.”
Speaking to Serious About Rugby League last week, Williams outlined his reasons for departing the Wolves at the seasons end, and how he wants to take his NRL second chance with both hands.
He said: “It was something that arose last year, an opportunity to go back to the NRL, something that I probably had unfinished business with.
“I went over there before, I really enjoyed my time there. It was Covid, a mad time in the world, so I came back [to the UK].
“It was a family decision I made, not a career one, back then… and I always that little itch to go back and an opportunity arose, so why not?
“I’m 31 now, so it’s now or never, and something that I’m glad I’ve done, but I’ve obviously still go a massive year ahead at Warrington.”
Leeds Rhinos’ latest transfer pursuit, Hull FC new boy assessed and potential cup ‘upsets’ – Check out the latest episode of The Serious About Rugby League Show here.
George Williams sets out 2026 targets ahead of confirmed NRL departure
Questions have been aired over Williams’ attitude to the Wolves now that his future is already confirmed.
Especially considering how the Wolves’ 2025 season went, it would be easy for the playmaker to put his full focus on 12 months time, but he has assured fans that won’t be the case.
Outlining how he want to end his Warrington career, Williams explained: “A lot of people might think that it means tools down, it definitely doesn’t.
“If anything, it gives you more drive, more determination to finish on a high.”
Commenting on his 2026 ambitions, he added:Â “Everyone’s going to be saying they want to win trophies.
“I think that we’d be stupid not to say that, but I think we want to close the gap.
“Obviously, we finished 8th last year, so we were way off the top teams. It’s just about closing the gap and then see where we are come play-off time at the back end of the year.
“A lot of hard work has gone into the pre-season. I know everyone’s saying the same thing, but we’ve really bought into what we’re trying to do and I just want to make it a successful one.”
Know your Super League? Serious About Rugby League have a Fantasy Super League comp. Join it now and compete against our writers. PIN: 12433 Password: SARL2026
