George Williams believes daughter’s birth proves why he was right to leave NRL
GEORGE Williams only needs to look down for confirmation he made the right choice to leave the NRL - to daughter Pearl.
A star on the other side of the world, facing becoming a parent with partner Charlotte Lewis without family support - especially because of the Covid-19 pandemic - proved too much.
However, it turned messy as club Canberra Raiders essentially turfed him out after he asked to come home.
Warrington won the race and how things turned out since the birth have proved his choice was right.
What's more, having a settled life off the field can bring more out of him on it as he hopes to show just why he was an NRL smash before a tilt at the World Cup.
He said: “Pearl’s birth clarifies my decision and that I did the right thing. I don’t have any regrets coming home.
“Seeing both mine and Charlotte’s family around the baby is something that wouldn’t have happened had we stayed in Australia.
“We’d have been calling on people we didn’t know. Even if we just want a little break, we can drop her off at a grandparent’s. It’s a small thing but massive for me and my family.
“Being a father is really good. I’m struggling with getting no sleep but I’m loving it and it’s changed me as I’ve got someone to look after now.
“It opens your eyes to what’s really important. My daughter is my focus now and it’ll drive me on in my job.
“You always play better and train better when you’re happy at home. I’m really happy at the moment and hopefully I can back it up on the pitch.”
Williams will be a big part of Warrington's hopes of ending a 67-year wait for a title under new boss Daryl Powell.
Today sees preparation begin with the new man but just as crucially a settled full back-stand off-scrum half-hooker spine.
The boss was a fairly nifty half back himself as a player and the 27-year-old number seven believes a new voice can show new things.
He added: “I’ve met him a couple of times over the off-season and I really like what he’s about.
“He gets the best out of his teams and I’m looking forward to learning things from him. A different voice can show different things, 100 per cent.
“We had a pretty honest chat and he told me where he thinks I can get better, that’s perfect for me as I want to learn every single day.
“He was a good half-back himself and you can tell that for his teams. His half-backs play a good brand of rugby.
“Club form is the mainstay for me. I’ve got to play well every week to be in contention for the World Cup and make the best of the year ahead.”
Williams is the main man behind Warrington becoming the first rugby league club to incorporate digital non-fungible tag (NFT) technology.
One of his priorities, though, is levelling with former team-mate Chris Hill after a hilarious Twitter takedown.
A loving shot with Pearl was met with a comment about his tracksuit saying, "Time’s boxercise pal?" Now he wants his own back.
He told SunSport: “Chris got me there, 1-0 to him.”
