George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 12:46 am  

The strange case of George Williams.

I dared to post some disappointment in him mid season, and rightly or wrongly was put into a corner by every poster who replied.
Now I feel there are still unanswered questions…

His ability is not in question, but where is the world class halfback we signed and made the richest earner in SL history?

Who can honestly say Wire have…
The Williams that ripped it up at Wigan and became a GF & CC winner, more than once?
The Williams that was headlines all over Australasia, as the best half back in the world at Canberra?
The Williams that was a sensation and proud skipper for England against Tonga?

Where was just one of those 3 Williams above at St Helens in the play off? That Williams would have won that game.
I cannot fathom it, as The Williams we have now is/was leading the Man of Steel on points? How?

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 6:30 am  

I've no problem with Williams this year, if Ashton hadn't won player of the year it would have been George easily.

Has he been let down by parts of the team post collapse? Probably

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 6:47 am  

I'm quite happy too & think he needs more running firepower around him.
Expectations are, quite rightly, high but all top players have quiet games. He needs a restful off season to clear up injury niggles.

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 7:06 am  

As you’ve said many times Duckie, he needs a pack around him doing the business, which for the last 2/3rds of the season he hasn’t had.

My one criticism is he tends to run the ball too much when we are clearly underperforming, I can see it almost as a barometer of the team performance how much Williams feels he must run the ball.

Several times against Saints he had the ball in a bit of space and there just weren’t the passing options, line runners available to him. We need people in movement when we have the ball, one for Burgess and Gleeson to work on in pre season.

I wouldn’t swap him for another half in SL.

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 9:06 am  

No issues with Williams what so ever, one of our best and most consistant players all year.

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:13 am  

We seem quitr keen to give Georgie an excuse but there is undoubtedly a pattern - in a Wire shirt I've never seen him take a game of magnitude by the scruff of the nexk and dominate.

The pack this year may have underperformed bur in several games they provided a platform and Williams failed to deliver.

Lomax is delivering consistently alongside an averagr HB partner and with a beat up pack.

French isn't even a half back and is playing superbly alongside an average HB partner with a workmanlike Wigan pack.

Our culture of not holding marquee playera up to the scrutiny their wages dictate they should be placed under is part of the problem.

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 12:53 pm  

morrisseyisawire wrote:

We seem quitr keen to give Georgie an excuse but there is undoubtedly a pattern - in a Wire shirt I've never seen him take a game of magnitude by the scruff of the nexk and dominate.

The pack this year may have underperformed bur in several games they provided a platform and Williams failed to deliver.

Lomax is delivering consistently alongside an averagr HB partner and with a beat up pack.

French isn't even a half back and is playing superbly alongside an average HB partner with a workmanlike Wigan pack.

Our culture of not holding marquee playera up to the scrutiny their wages dictate they should be placed under is part of the problem.

I think you might be underplaying the strength of Saints (beat up??) & Wigan (workmanlike) packs & overplaying the consistency of both their half backs. But agree our top players should always be up to scrutiny.

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:57 pm  

Saints aren't frightened of moving players on if they don't quite fit in & buying a better piece of the jig saw. I'm sure many of our players are more than happy to see out their time with us in the comfort zone that is the Wire.

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:45 pm  

GW is by far our best player.
However, you only had to watch this mornings NRL final to see a top top half back in Nathan Cleary. I know he has better players around him but the way he got Penrith on the winners platform with that last 20 mins performance was incredible.
That what I wanted GW to do yesterday, win us the game. He’s probably carrying a injury but I bet you it won’t stop him turning out for England at end of month.

Re: George Williams (Jykell & Hyde)? : Sun Oct 01, 2023 6:02 pm  

He's a good player but obviously made his mind up when returning to the UK to chase the £££ rather than the trophies. Can't blame him for that.