It’s been another sterling season for NSW Cup steward Mitch Williams in leading the Wyong Roos to the top of the competition.
However, it’s hardly a surprise for his coach Rip Taylor who knows the 2013 NSW Cup player of the year is ready to finally take the big step onto the NRL stage.
“I’d love to see it happen,” Taylor said.
“It would be great to see him get an opportunity and I don’t think he would let anyone down. I know he wouldn’t let anyone down. We’re certainly privileged and happy to have him.”
Williams has been inspirational for the Roos this season, topping the league with a monster 647 tackles for the season while also recording the most line break assists with 19 and second most try assists with 17.
His consistency is a cornerstone of the premiership force that Wyong have formed into this season.
“I try to make my best game and worst game as close as I can with each other,” Williams said. “I know if I’m going to put in the same effort each week then I should get similar results and that’s what I really base it off.
“At the start of the season we set down a few goals for a top-four finish. A top-four finish is within reason and then during semi-final time obviously we want to win the big prize.”
After the opportunity to play with the Sydney Roosters in the Auckland Nines tournament this year, Williams was named captain for the NSW Residents team in his third-straight appearance.
“It was unbelievable. I got to train with the Roosters in the preseason. It was a great insight to how hard they work and to play the Nines was a great experience over there.
“There are always things I can work on and there will be until the day I stop playing.”
The non-stop tackling machine states he started playing soccer before he fell in love with rugby league in his first game at eight years old.
“I always loved tackling more than running the ball. Growing up, I loved tackling and I loved the fact that you could go out and tackle someone – I thought that was great.”
Many commentators have been vocal in their desire to see Williams given the opportunity to finally play first grade after paying many years of due diligence in the VB NSW Cup. However, some appear to think that the size of the player is more important than the size of their heart.
“I’d love to see it happen but for whatever reason, he’s been pigeon holed into the too-small category unfortunately,” Taylor said. “It’s been that way since a very young age through recruitment and development. They’ve pigeon-holed him and it’s very hard to shake.”
Despite the obstacle, Williams is determined to overcome the challenge and achieve his life-long dream.
“My goal has always been to play NRL,” Williams said. “Whether that time is slowly passing by I’m not sure but I just want to keep playing the best football I can.
“I love football – it’s what I want to play every weekend whether I’m good at it or not. I love the game and my drive is that I haven’t gotten to where I want to go. I believe I am still capable of doing that so I’m going to keep trying.”
