Sam Williams (rugby league)

Sam Williams (born 18 March 1991) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback or five-eighth for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.

Sam Williams
Personal information
Born (1991-03-18) 18 March 1991
Cooma, New South Wales, Australia
Height179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–13 Canberra Raiders 42 8 0 0 32
2014 St. George Illawarra 4 0 0 0 0
2014 Catalans Dragons 12 4 21 0 58
2015–16 Canberra Raiders 24 4 0 2 18
2017 Wakefield Trinity 24 6 26 0 76
2018– Canberra Raiders 25 4 30 4 80
Total 131 26 77 6 264
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013 NSW Country 1 0 0 0 0
As of 17 November 2020
Source: [1][2]

He previously played for Canberra and the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League.[3] Williams has previously played for the Catalans Dragons and Wakefield Trinityin the Super League.

Background

Williams was born in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia.

National Youth Competition

A Cooma Colts junior, Sam Williams boarded at St Gregory's College for his secondary schooling and played for the Junior Kangaroos in 2010. Sam debuted for the Canberra Raiders in the National Youth Competition in 2009 and was selected in the team of the year in 2010, he was also previously the National Youth Competition Captain.

NRL career

Williams has played 65 first grade matches for the Canberra Raiders and 4 for the St. George Illawarra Dragons. He has scored 12 first grade tries. Sam made his NRL début for the Canberra Raiders against the Cronulla Sharks in round 1 of the 2011 NRL season due to an injury sustained by then Canberra Raiders first choice halfback Matt Orford. Williams impressed on his début with a strong all round performance that earned him the man of the match award. In round 6 of the season Orford was again ruled out through injury, giving Williams another opportunity in first grade, in this game against the North Queensland Cowboys Williams was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul. Later in the season Williams managed to cement his spot as the first choice number of seven.

In July 2013, Williams signed a 1-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2014.[4]

In June 2014, after only being selected for 4 games in 13 rounds for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Williams joined the Catalans Dragons in the Super League on a 1-year contract effective immediately.[5]

He returned to the Canberra Raiders in 2015 on a two-year deal.[6]

In round 2 of the 2016 NRL season, Williams wore a special James Bond themed jersey with the number 007 on the back. He would kick the match winning field goal in that game with the Raiders winning 21-20.[7]

In September 2016, Williams was named at halfback in the 2016 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year.

Later in 2016, Sam rejected a new contract offer with the Canberra Raiders and signed a 1-year contract with English Super League club Wakefield Trinity for the 2017 season,[8] after which he re-joined Canberra on a 2-year deal.[9]

Williams made 10 appearances for Canberra in the 2019 NRL season but spent most of the year playing for Canberra's feeder club side Mounties in the Canterbury Cup NSW competition. Williams played in Mounties elimination final loss against Newtown at Campbelltown Stadium.[10][11] On 5 November 2019, Williams signed a two-year contract extension with Canberra.[12]

In the 2020 NRL season he made a larger impact on the Raiders, captaining them in the final game of the regular season against the Cronulla Sharks.[13]

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  3. - Canberra Raiders
  4. http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/dragons-sign-sam-williams-one-one-year-deal-10357/
  5. http://www.catalansdragons.com/en/articles-9/91-2843-catalans-swoop-for-sam-williams/
  6. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/sam-williams-returns-to-canberra-raiders-20140918-10ijxb.html
  7. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/canberra-raiders-v-roosters--main-story---20160312-gnh9nb.html
  8. "Sam Williams: Canberra Raiders half-back joins Wakefield Trinity for 2017". BBC Sport. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  9. "Canberra Raiders sign halfback Sam Williams for NRL and Green Machine comeback". The Canberra Times. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  10. "Finals week 1". NSWRL.
  11. "Sezer willing to wait in the wings". nrl.com.
  12. "Raiders re-sign Williams as Sezer exit looms". NRL.
  13. Sharks v Raiders - Round 20, retrieved 30 September 2020
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