England playmaker keen to live out his NRL dream

England playmaker George Williams has confirmed his desire to play in the NRL next season.

Williams is under contract to Wigan for a further two years but said he was keen to move to Australia and would consider any offer from NRL clubs.

"It is something I have always dreamt to do so I definitely want to give it a go if there is a chance," Williams told NRL.com.

"Wigan would have to agree but if the NRL was an opportunity for me I would love to move to Australia to take that up."

The 23-year-old has played seven Tests for England and was a member of the England squad which made the final of last year's World Cup against Australia at Suncorp Stadium.

While there was interest from NRL clubs before Williams re-signed with Wigan last year, he said the World Cup had exposed him to the lifestyle in Australia and he now wanted to join the increasing number of England players in the Telstra Premiership.

"With the World Cup we did eight weeks, we travelled around and I got to see what it was all about," Williams said.

"I loved it, the lifestyle is good and it is definitely something that I'd like to do."

Williams has recently been linked to Newcastle but the 2015 Super League rookie of the year said he had not spoken to any NRL club about a move.

Manly would be another club in need of a quality five-eighth and Williams has a link to Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett, as he was his ball boy and looked up to him when Barrett played for Wigan.

Melbourne, Parramatta, Canterbury, North Queensland and Canberra are other clubs who may be on the lookout for a playmaker of Williams' standing.

"I haven't spoken to Newcastle but it is nice to hear that there be some interest," he said.

"If there was an opportunity that came up, that was more than just interest, I would like to pursue that.

 "I would have to come to an agreement with Wigan and maybe that is not what they want but it is my dream so if there is an opportunity I want to do it."

If Williams was to find an NRL club next season, he would be the 10^th member of the current England squad playing in the Telstra Premiership after Wigan this week released second rower John Bateman to join Josh Hodgson and Elliott at Canberra.

The Burgess brothers, Sam, George and Tom, play for South Sydney, Gareth Widdop and James Graham are key members of the St George Illawarra squad, while winger Ryan Hall will join Sydney Roosters next season.  

"I think it has massively helped England internationally to have so many boys playing week in and week out in the NRL," Williams said.

"I think our national team has benefitted from that. They play against the Australian boys every week and get to test themselves so it can only make you a better player in my opinion."

Wigan this week announced the appointment of former Papua New Guinea star Adrian Lam as coach for next season and he is reportedly planning to bring his son Lachlan, who plays in the halves for the Roosters and represented the Kumuls at the World Cup.

Great Britain legend Shaun Edwards will take over as coach from 2020 after completing his commitments with Wales at next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan.