England head coach Brian McDermott has confirmed George Williams will be his captain at next month's Rugby League World Cup. Williams suffered a neck injury and required surgery in April but returned to action in August and has hit the ground running for Warrington Wolves since, hoping to lead them to the Super League Grand Final. Warrington face Hull KR in the eliminators this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, with the winner facing Wigan Warriors in the semi-finals before the Grand Final on October 3.
McDermott has been impressed with Williams' return from injury and said his "leadership has been really good". "I didn't really know George at all. In fact, I didn't know many of the squad at all, to be fair.
I've only ever shook their hands after games," he said. "I normally shook George's hand after his team beat my team when I was at Leeds. We had a horrible record against Wigan in the regular season!
"It's been really enjoyable to get to know him. He's keen as anything and while he was injured, you could tell if anyone was coming back from injury early then it would be him. "I'm pleased to see the form he's in now, the intent he's playing.
He's not feathering about on his feet and waiting for the game to come to him, he's going and getting the game. He goes and chases the game and that's George Williams all over. "When he first broke into first grade, we all said, 'who the hell's this guy?' Because he went and got the game, he chased the game, whether he's trying to beat the bloke opposite him or quite often coming back to the inside and finding a lazy defender.
Add a few years to that and he's got a bit stronger and wiser." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Williams being captain means he will almost certainly take one of the half-back spots, which raises question marks over who will partner him. Mikey Lewis, Jake Connor, Harry Smith and Hugo Savala are all in the mix but McDermott suggested only three will be on the plane to the World Cup, which takes place in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from October 15 to November 15. "Whether we take a six and a seven to back up the six and a seven that I have in mind to start, I'm still not sure," said McDermott.
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