Each Friday I will be taking you on a trip down memory lane to relive the careers of some of Australian rugby league’s lesser lights.
This week I’m shining the spotlight on a player who managed to play for two NRL clubs despite his career lasting only one season.
Despite being quite a smart player with ball in hand, this bloke was undoubtedly silly as all hell.
‘Possum’ debuted for the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2007 as talented five-eighth and fans took notice due to both his unfiltered play and the lack of filter he possessed.
Having played just five career games Williams took it upon himself to sledge Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta in the lead up to the traditional Dragons and Roosters ANZAC clash. Williams had claimed that Anasta was a shadow of his former self and stated he did not “rate him.”
Williams had an unhappy afternoon as Anasta received man of the match honours, setting up two tries in a Roosters victory. Anasta hammered Williams in the press at the conclusion of the match.
“For someone who has done absolutely nothing in the game, it was a pretty big call,” Anasta said. “I think his performance today probably showed what he is as a person. He’ll probably be back in reserve grade next week, where he belongs.”
Anasta’s prediction was right as Williams spent the next six weeks playing in the NSW Cup. He earnt a recall in round 13 but by round 17 he was playing for the Penrith Panthers after Dragons coach Nathan Brown lost patience with the young half.
Williams would play four matches with the Panthers but did not appear beyond round 20 of the season. He was left stranded in 2008 when the Panthers sacked him in May following an undisclosed incident.
With his NRL career effectively over Williams turned to the Shute Shield where he enjoyed some success, going on to play for the Australian Rugby Sevens squad.
While Williams current whereabouts is unknown, his Twitter (which he last updated in December 2013) suggests his next move was to pursue a career in the Octagon – a battler in every sense of the word.
Birdy
Guest
Enjoying your articles JP. I have a similar story about a bloke i played juniors with. I wont name him as a car accident ended his career before it even started. All through his youth he was big , strong , talented and everyone's pick to be going places. At the tender age of 19 he was picked in a trial game against parramatta and packing down against big Bob O'Rielly. Well it was odvious to the crowd that Bob had a very enjoyable off season and being at the latter stage of his career resented the fact that he was still required to play a trial. To add to Bob's woes he had this musclebound 19 year old determined to make his mark. If that meant running over the top and smashing an all time legend then so be it. If that meant putting in a bit more into the scrums , then so be it. Early in the second half it was odvious big Bob decided that this trial was not where he wanted to be, he was fed up , he had enough. Unfortunately for our up and coming 19 year old he ran into Bob 1 more time. Bob picked him up, shook him like a rag doll and said something to him that no one knows to this day. You could only guess that it was something like " welcome to first grade, would you like to keep playing?"
kiwiinoz
Guest
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Williams_(rugby_league)