England international George Williams has starred in just his third NRL match and first trip to Melbourne, helping roll the Storm to earn praise from his coach.
Williams showed shades of Ricky Stuart with a starring performance in his team’s shock 22-6 win.
In just his third NRL match and his first visit to AAMI Park, Williams set up two brilliant first-half tries as the visitors ran the Storm ragged.
As well as the assists, he finished the game with six runs for 66 metres, three tackle busts and a linebreak.
He also crunched Ryan Papenhuyzen in a huge tackle that put the Melbourne fullback on his back.
A Raiders great during his ten years at the club, Stuart was part of the team that won three premierships in 1989, 1990 and 1994 and were runners-up in 1991.
He also played in 14 State of Origin matches for NSW and nine Tests with the Kangaroos.
England international Williams is still a long way off that record but impressed his coach with his performance.
“I was very happy with George,” Stuart said.
“George and Jack’s (Wighton) combination is something that combined with Josh (Hodgson), is a big part of our team.
“They’re a big cog in our whole game plan and George, for his third game and a big break since his last two, the way he took on the game was a great example of the player he is.
“And he will only improve on that – he’s a wonderful footballer.”
Stuart said Williams’ ad-lib style meant he fit in beautifully with the way the Raiders, who are premiership favourites, wanted to play the game.
While the Raiders are now 3-0 to start the season, Stuart was unhappy with their second-half performance and said that the Storm flattered them with their own poor showing.
He said his team made some “dumb choices” in attack.
But he praised their defensive effort, limiting a rattled Melbourne to just one try.
“I was very proud of the defensive effort and keeping them to zero in the second half but they really helped us with so many errors,” Stuart said.
“We were very gritty and if we didn’t have that grit and determination tonight, our game wasn’t going to get us the win, the grit that we showed was the telling factor.”
Dirk Diggler
Roar Rookie
Hats of the Raiders they definately deserved to win and George williams looked dangerous every time he touched the ball- not quite sure about "running the Storm ragged" though as the Storm had more of the ball in the first half and had more line breaks and if it wasn't a dubious call on a Papenhuzen try it could have been 12 all at the half. The Raiders are the real deal though
McTavish
Roar Rookie
Funny a Raiders fan complaining about ruck speed and wrestle, Canberra had the 2nd slowest ruck speed in defence in the comp last year (well ahead of the Storm).
Succhi
Roar Rookie
That was a classic half back’s game. Hope he has a great year.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Williams was very impressive indeed. Crafty and sharp in attack and didn’t put a foot wrong in defence. I’m looking forward to his next game. The Storm are going to need to adjust to a style of play that runs counter to what has been a winning style for them for years. Having said that they have too much talent and way too many brains in that organisation not to be able to make that adjustment. Well done Canberra.. it looks like a good season ahead.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Klein was far too timid on Friday night - too scared to rule 6 again when it warranted it - and let the Roosters get away with blue murder coming off their try line in defence in the second half. The Eels and Raiders games were policed far differently and we got a much more free flowing game. I'm loving the Raiders spine of Hodgson, G Williams, Wighton and CNK.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
On ‘19 form the only 11,12 or 13 who went better and value more is Taumalolo..imho..he’s the complete footballer, runs the meters per game, significant offload, aggressive in the tackle, short kicking game, and leadership dressed with football smarts, cunning and the priceless reliability of turning up turned on ready to rumble every single week.
Nat
Roar Guru
In fairness, neither can do what the other does. As a closer comparison, who would you buy for $8ook JB or Fifita tomorrow?
Harry
Guest
We’ve seen before with the Storm in recent years that if a team can really get up in their faces and pressure them in defence and scramble brilliantly their attack can start looking very disorganised. This was the case even when they had Cronk. The thing is it so rarely happens that we’re not used to it. It’s not that the Storm don’t have a plan B so much as they’re just not accustomed to other teams dictating the terms.
Chris
Roar Pro
Not sure the new ruck rules were the entire reason Storm lost. Maybe more the reserve-grade level set plays that didn't threaten Canberra's defence at all, poor handling, poor 5th tackle options and clunky teamwork. The less attention your last two paragraphs get, the better. Tinfoil vitriol. As Duncan said below, learn how to win like a champ. Otherwise your Green Machine may lose the respect they got in last year's finals.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I must have been watching the game in a parallel universe.
Taree Raider
Guest
Your 100% right Geoff. Parramatta & Raiders fans have stuck by their teams through some very, very bleak seasons. However the rule changes are allowing for dynamic play to prosper. The Roosters got away with too much wrestle in their game, but that came down to Ashley Kline being a bit too conservative. It is only the first game so things will change. Storm & Roosters defence will decline. One thing has changed the fortune of the Storm. Cooper CRONK. The Chooks now have to play without him, they will also decline I hope. The Raiders haven't had a great halfback since Ricky played. Now they have a beauty. With the back up of Frawley. Wighton is improving every game. Lets strap ourselves in & enjoy the ride.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
To think theyve still got the guy awarded the best second rower in the NRL for '19 still to join this on field team is just nuts..other sides just cant match this roster. Jai Arrow got 800k from Souths and as top line as he is,he doesnt have the same level of skill or presence as JB.
Paul
Roar Guru
I thought in the early stages of the game last night, the Raiders got away with murder in the rucks compared to the Storm. I'm not saying they didn't deserve to win, but I also think they had the rub of the green at times when it mattered early in the game.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Hey Taree – yes that was a magnificent performance by the Raiders last night – and George Williams looks like a potential NRL star – the two tries he set up last night were brilliant. I love the way he plays off the cuff and just goes for it. You wonder why Uncle Wayne didn’t see this when he was in the England squad at the end of last season. The English quartet of Hodgson, Whitehead, G Williams and J Bateman have been incredibly smart buys. Lets hope the Raiders can keep them all. But the Storm were very ordinary last night. Can’t remember them being as bad as that before. They were really panicking in that second half when they were chasing points, Uncharacteristic. But the Storm have been the benchmark for years and I guess have been allowed to develop the wrestle which has been such a blight on the game. The challenge is there for Bellamy to react and change. It will be interesting to see if he can adapt. I have hated watching the way the Storm ground teams into the dirt with their grinding defensive style but the challenge was always there to find a way to beat them. For the Raiders to beat them three times in a row in Melbourne is remarkable and thrilling to watch. Teams like the Raiders loved to play uptempo attacking footy as they did in 2015 and 2016 when Blake Austin and Leipana were in full flight. But they fell away in 2017 and 2018 and had to learn to get in the grind and the wrestle if they wanted to be competitive at the pointy end of the season as in 2019. Ricky Stuart needs to be given credit for the development of this team and the way they have evolved in terms of playing style. Ricky doesn’t come across as a great communicator like a Trent Robinson but he is a very smart coach and incredibly competitive. I wouldn’t want anyone else coaching the team right now. Its amazing how a few tweaks to the rules has changed the whole way rugby league is played and it is really rewarding up tempo teams like the Eels and the Raiders and skilful players like Benji Marshall. Great for the competition. The NRL and Vlandys need to be congratulated for showing some courage and initiative.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Taree Raider, I was just about to congratulate the Raiders on a great win, then I saw your sour grapes post full of whining about Melbourne. Learn to be a graceful winner instead of a nasty, bitter one. Otherwise, you just make yourself look bad.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Congrats Taree, the Raiders were great last night . Their on line Defense was just superb. I would like to agree with the later part of your comment but the facts don't make for great reading. The Roosters conceded just one set restart on Fri night . ONE ! They were never losing this game. They were far too good but one ruck infringement ???? Nah. Last you guys were given the princely sum of two restarts . Two ruck infringements in the whole game??? Nah. The new rule is wonderful imo but Refs need to be stricter on what isn't allowed. We can get rid of the wrestle but it's going to take some guts and surviving some criticism.
Blackberry Smoke
Guest
I wouldn’t be writing off Craig Bellamy just yet .
Taree Raider
Guest
What a performance that was. I'm so impressed with the effort of the whole Raiders team. 1-17, there were no weaknesses, it was wonderful to watch. Ricky I was wrong, you do in fact have some idea as a coach. It's just taken a long time to become obvious to me. Has any team beat the Storm 3 times in a row in Melbourne? Craig Bellamy in his press conference said he was disappointed in his team, he would be. Disappointed that they couldn't continually slow the ruck down, disappointed that Cameron couldn't manipulate the Referee, disappointed that he can no longer have Inglis, Slater, Cronk & Smith all playing over the salary cap. Well Craig, get used to being disappointed. The game has finally caught up with you & your tactics. The Storm under your watch have always pushed through the boundaries in every direction to their advantage & the detriment of Rugby League. Melbourne's success has been built on a culture of questionable behaviour. Finally the game has evolved so that the wrestle is reduced, slowing the game down to allow a structured defence is gone. Here's hoping there are many more disappointments to come for the Storm. All dynasties come to an end.