Re: George Williams : Sun May 01, 2022 2:10 am  

I never rated Williams. To be blunt, in a couple of years after he hangs his boots up . Almost no one will remember him. He's certainly no Edwards or Gregory.

Re: George Williams : Sun May 01, 2022 9:58 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Maybe but the lad worries me. Class player but I’m not convinced he was ever good for squad harmony here. I’m not even sure why but it all just felt a bit weird.

I called it on here after that first Salford game and was shouted down. He wasn't commited to the club. He's an excellent player and a competitor so you will always get something from him. But we got a different version of Hastings from the one that Salford got and the one he's showing now at Wests in his preferred NRL gig.

Re: George Williams : Sun May 01, 2022 10:07 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

I called it on here after that first Salford game and was shouted down. He wasn't commited to the club. He's an excellent player and a competitor so you will always get something from him. But we got a different version of Hastings from the one that Salford got and the one he's showing now at Wests in his preferred NRL gig.

On the field he tried his nuts off and as you say that was down to the competitive nature of him and it’s tough to put my finger on what it was but I just sensed Wigan was a bit of a second choice for him. It was weird times with Covid and there not being supporters at grounds, so maybe it was just the lack of opportunities to build relations with the fans but he certainly didn’t seem all in on Wigan as a club like he was at Salford or now is at Wests.

Re: George Williams : Sun May 01, 2022 10:25 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

On the field he tried his nuts off and as you say that was down to the competitive nature of him and it’s tough to put my finger on what it was but I just sensed Wigan was a bit of a second choice for him. It was weird times with Covid and there not being supporters at grounds, so maybe it was just the lack of opportunities to build relations with the fans but he certainly didn’t seem all in on Wigan as a club like he was at Salford or now is at Wests.

This would be what would concern me for England. He's an Aussie through and through. As much as he credits his time in England for turning his career round, it was always a stepping stone to a return to the NRL. I think he was always coming back in his last season with us but his reluctance to leave Australia and his desire to get back were clear as day. He would try his best for England, no doubt, as he did for us. Whether that would be the same Hastings as the fully committed version you got at Salford and now Wests or the 'trying hard but never quite gelling' version you got with us would be the big question.

Re: George Williams : Sun May 01, 2022 10:28 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

This would be what would concern me for England. He's an Aussie through and through. As much as he credits his time in England for turning his career round, it was always a stepping stone to a return to the NRL. I think he was always coming back in his last season with us but his reluctance to leave Australia and his desire to get back were clear as day. He would try his best for England, no doubt, as he did for us. Whether that would be the same Hastings as the fully committed version you got at Salford and now Wests or the 'trying hard but never quite gelling' version you got with us would be the big question.

I don’t think we’ll have to worry anyway, there’s no way Wane will pick him or any other non British born players anyway. Even if Lomax is badly injured, Dodds is out and even if a few more followed them on to the sidelines, I think he’d cobble together something from what’s left.

Re: George Williams : Sun May 01, 2022 10:35 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I don’t think we’ll have to worry anyway, there’s no way Wane will pick him or any other non British born players anyway. Even if Lomax is badly injured, Dodds is out and even if a few more followed them on to the sidelines, I think he’d cobble together something from what’s left.

You're no doubt right. The only thing to change that with Waney is his desire to beat the Aussies. Would anything stand in his way of that? If Hastings rips it up in the NRL and becomes the stand out half, would that be enough to change his mind?

Re: George Williams : Sun May 01, 2022 10:41 am  

He is going over for the NRL Magic round and has said he’ll be keeping an eye on Hastings, so you never know but I still can’t see it. On talent alone he’s worth a place in the squad is Hastings.

Re: George Williams : Mon May 02, 2022 1:55 am  

Can I just say I don't think he has been that amazing for Wests? They are such a rabble this season, so anyone who can bring a semblance of order, and also, crucially, take some of the pressure off Brooks, is very welcome. Wests fans may be happy for now, but for how long?

Re: George Williams : Mon May 02, 2022 6:34 am  

moto748 wrote:

Can I just say I don't think he has been that amazing for Wests? They are such a rabble this season, so anyone who can bring a semblance of order, and also, crucially, take some of the pressure off Brooks, is very welcome. Wests fans may be happy for now, but for how long?

Agreed.

He just isn’t that creative, managing games and setting plays up.

He’s very involved & gives 100%, but it’s quality over quantity imo. All he did yesterday was lots of catch and pass without much creativity, creating gaps, linking up with his 1 or 6.

Re: George Williams : Mon May 02, 2022 11:45 am  

Absolutely. I thought watching him, it's the same old, same old with Hastings. Plenty of effort and involvement, but not much creativity. Or much pace, which matters in the NRL.