George Williams lifts lid on pressure of nailing last-gasp drop goal to keep Warrington's season alive
England captain George Williams was Warrington's hero as he coolly struck Saturday’s matchwinner in a thrilling Super League play-off eliminator against St Helens
by David Craven · The MirrorGeorge Williams revealed he felt the heat lining up the drop goal that fired Warrington within 80 minutes of Old Trafford.
The England captain was the hero as he coolly struck Saturday’s matchwinner in a thrilling play-off eliminator against St Helens. But, with both sides’ season on the line in a frenetic tussle, he had already had one extra-time effort charged down by international team-mate Joe Batchelor.
Williams explained: “We probably set up in the wrong position. And when I missed the first I thought I had to nail the second. The pressure was on but thankfully it just got there.”
Had he felt any need to attempt the golden point score earlier in the tackle count to make it easier? Stand-off Williams, who takes his side to Hull KR in Friday’s semi-final, insisted: “No. I just knew I had to give myself a couple more metres.
“Saints worked hard all night and I knew they’d come again. We set up on the left post not right as obviously I’m right footed. I prefer to kick it from the left and bring it back in so I’m not going into the incoming traffic. That’s the detail of it.
“If you miss two in a row I reckon that’s when your head starts to go! I’d still step up for a third but I’m just so grateful it went over. It seemed to be in the air for so long. I was hanging on. I don’t know how far it went over but it just seemed to sneak in. But they all count so it doesn’t matter.”
It was a brilliant comeback from Warrington who looked like having their season ended when trailing 16-4 in the first half. Winger Matty Ashton (2) and centre Toby King (2) finished with tries and Josh Thewlis slotted three goals to regain the lead.
But Mark Percival dramatically kicked a touchline conversion of Jon Bennison’s last-minute try to send the finest game of the Super League season into extra-time.
Warrington, hoping to end a 69 year wait for the league title, must win at Craven Park to face either champions Wigan or Leigh in the Grand Final.
But Williams, who produced two outstanding try assists in the epic 23-22 success, conceded: “We will have to be a bit better than we were tonight. “We’d not conceded 22 in a long time.
“Credit to St Helens. They came to play and defended really well. “We probably made a couple more errors than we wanted to. But they played the territory battle really well. I just liked our resilience. It’s not always going to be perfect in these games.
“It was probably a six or seven out of ten tonight and we managed to win. Next week we’ll have to be a nine or ten to win and it’s something to look forward to. It’s a massive challenge.”
And as a fascinating play-off series continues, he will take on fellow England half-back Mikey Lewis in a mouthwatering battle of Super League’s top schemers.
Ex-Wigan and Canberra ace Williams, 29, added: “The play-offs have been brilliant so far. You want to be playing against the best players and best teams and we’ll get that on Friday against Hull KR.
“Mikey’s had a great year. I think he’ll get Man of Steel and rightly so. I know him well from England and as players you want to play against the best. He’d probably say the same thing.”
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