This isn’t a bitter post rewriting history because I said it when he was with when we’d go in to big finals and that is that Williams was due a final that he made his and made a huge contribution in. It never came for us and it didn’t come on Saturday either. He’s the polar opposite of somebody like Danny Maguire during his playing career, who produced moments all season but had quiet spells as well but when a final came, it was top class performance after top class performance. Williams doesn’t seem to have the character to really grip big games. In his defence Wire were poor on Saturday, so it’s not easy.

Seems like there are plenty of excuses being thrown the way of old Georgie boy. I'm not sure why he gets so much leeway?

At what point, does some of it actually fall on his shoulders or be within his remit to change/influence? He's been at Wire for three years now and hasn't done anything of note. In fact they almost got relegated in 2022.

People can point to the coach, but Wire have a good side & he's the captain and highest paid player in the league too. They have to do better as a side and he needs to be leading that.

Think people are being harsh on Williams. Had he and French swapped sides on Saturday wed have had the same result with Williams probably taking the Lance Todd. His forwards were beaten all ends up and its impossible to dominate a final in that outcome.

2 years ago when our pack wasnt dominating games Harry Smith was getting absolutely destroyed (by some of our fans not just opposition) it's a tough job playing in the halves behind a beaten pack

With Sam Burgess in charge I'm sure his recruitment will be to make his pack more of a force. They were totally bossed on Saturday which reflected on the whole team's performance as Wigan put them under pressure from five minutes into the game.

Should he recruit bigger and better players and his pack match up then George Williams will have a more open field in which to operate. SB and his coaching staff will be on it right now I'll bet. No one knows better then SB the importance of a dominant pack in affecting the result of a rugby game.

David Armstrong is a hell of a signing for Leigh.

We've been on the back foot against saints in the past and Penrith this year and it's harry smith and his kicking game that kept us in the game. I don't think Williams could do that. But isn't the threat that Williams is.

I think the pack thing is a bit of an excuse. They had the chance to end sets better and almost never did.

He's looked ideally suited for Superleague from the bits I've seen and should be a huge threat for them. Lams record of picking fringe players up from the NRL is fantastic and this guy could be the next success story.

I agree with that but was that not Drinkwater's job? If Smith wasn't playing could French have done it? I would say Williams job is to attack the line with Drinkwater controlling the game and doing that behind a beaten pack is nigh on impossible

Amazed that Leigh have managed to sign Armstrong. He's been brilliant standing in at FB for Newcastle and I thought they had been unlucky and missed their chance as he was sure to agree a NRL contract. They must have thrown a fair chunk of money at him - I do wonder if the prospect of going back to playing 2nd choice to Ponga was a deciding factor though.

As said above, Lam has been great at spotting talent on the outside of NRL 1st teams. It didn't work out the best as coach here but we have sure benefited from him bringing Bevan and Jai into the team.

I agree. That's why I said, 'most' sides.

Reports are circulating that Wakefield Trinity are on the verge on signing John Bateman on a three year deal 2025-2028.
Huge signing for Daryl Powell if true.

Reports started on the Rugby League ITK account.

Not saying it won’t happen as a broken clock is correct twice a day but I wouldn’t necessarily take it as gospel either.

What do you think are the chances of getting Chan permanently at Hull?

I'd have thought pretty slim but who knows. Is he playing second row at Hull or in the middle? and how is he going?

I think he'll step up a spot once Isa leaves/retires at the end of 2024 and that will keep him here.

6 months into a 3 year deal. Can’t see it.