It's a WIN win situation for George on return to the Gong

The first time George Williams ran out at WIN Stadium, he was a young Wigan Warriors playmaker with dreams of one day making it in the NRL.

Just 23 at the time, Williams was part of a powerhouse Wigan side that included Sam Tomkins, Liam Farrell and Sean O'Loughlin.

The Warriors beat Hull FC that day in the first Super League match played outside Europe, before going on to claim the 2018 premiership.

The second time he graced WIN Stadium also delivered a victory as the Canberra Raiders rolled the Dragons 37-8 in Round 18, 2020.

Come Friday and Williams leads England onto the same patch of turf on the Wollongong coastline with his nation’s World Cup hopes on the line.

The first job for England (+64) is to beat the PNG Kumuls by a healthy margin. Then they'll be hoping Tonga can put a big score on Samoa (+132) in Sunday's blockbuster to help turn around a points differential that stands at 68.

“All we can do is focus on ourselves,” Williams told NRL.com

“We’ve got a big points difference, so we’re wary of that, but more importantly we want to play well and get the win.

“You know what you’re getting with Papua New Guinea. They’re always really physical and really passionate.”

It’s a fitting place for Williams to face such a momentous occasion given this is where the seed of an NRL career was planted back in 2018.

“That was my first real thought of maybe coming to Australia, I really loved it,” Williams said

“Any time you can come over here as an Englishman, it’s good. Even though Super League is trying to improve, I think any of the lads who get the opportunity to come out here should definitely do it. It’s something really special.

“We don’t get those beaches back home, so I’m going to make the most of it.”

Now 31, Williams is about to embark on his second stint in the NRL.

After seven seasons in Super League, he crossed to Canberra in 2020 and racked up 32 games in lime green before returning to England to join Warrington.

Next year he’ll link with Kristian Woolf at the Dolphins on a two-year deal, and with two young children and a third on the way, he says the timing couldn’t be better.

“I’m really excited to come back and live in Australia. It’s great for my kids, but more importantly I’m going to a good team,” he said.

“They’ve had a great year, it’s been exciting to watch, and hopefully I can play a good part in that moving forward.”

Williams insists his exit from Canberra was never about football.

“I left at a mad time in the world with COVID. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy it, I absolutely loved it,” he said.

“My missus was pregnant with our first child, so it was more of a family decision than a career one.

“I’m glad I’ve got the opportunity to come back and hopefully finish my career out here.”

At the Dolphins, Williams will join forces with England teammates Herbie Farnworth and Morgan Knowles, though after eight seasons in the NRL he reckons Farnworth has well and truly gone full Aussie.

“I was fortunate in Canberra, we had four or five of us back then,” Williams said.

 “It’s always nice to have a bit of normality and some English accents around.

“Herbie is very Aussie now. I give him a lot of stick for that, he sounds very Aussie. He’s changed."

The Dolphins announced Williams’ signing just four days before England opened their World Cup campaign against Tonga in Perth.

That game gave Williams his first close-up look at his future halves partner Isaiyah Katoa, who steered Tonga around in style as the red army prevailed 30-12.

“I don’t know him personally, but I had a chat with him after the game and told him I’d see him in a couple of months,” Williams said.

“He’s a great young kid. He’s still very young, but he plays well beyond his years in terms of maturity.

"He’s been in the NRL a good few years now for someone so young, so I’m looking forward to linking up with him.”

It also made for an unusual first meeting with his new coach.