Sam Williams hungry to help an expansive Wakefield Trinity battle for honours

The Australian stand-off joined from Canberra Raiders on a one-year deal and is intent on making his mark.

Williams played 10 games for Catalans Dragons in 2014, scoring four tries, so has an idea of what is to come.

An exciting playmaker with a fine kicking game, he hopes to turn Wakefield – who reached the top eight last term – into genuine contenders for silverware.

“I certainly enjoyed my time with Catalans and really enjoyed playing in Super League,” explained Williams.

“But that was only a pretty brief stint so I wanted to come over here, have a proper pre-season and give myself a real opportunity to try and play a full campaign and produce some quality football as the season goes on.

“One of the real advantages of coming to Wakefield is there’s a chance to try and really push the club to higher honours and the top end of the table.

“It gives us the opportunity to do something that has not been done too much in the recent history of the club.

“All the players and squad are really committed to doing something like that; it might be a slower process and take a couple of years, but I think the club is on the way up.”

Although restricted to just eight NRL games last season due to the form of regular halves Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer, Williams is highly-rated Down Under.

Indeed, he was offered a new deal by Canberra, who, with England duo Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead, got to within 80 minutes of the Grand Final, but felt now was the time to develop his own game elsewhere.

“I was speaking to the Raiders a little bit and they had an offer on the table, but coming over here and trying to play regular first-grade was a big thing for me,” said the 25-year-old.

“I’m at that point where I’ve had a few years in and out of the side, some good patches and some patches where I’ve not played as well.

“I just really want to string a really good amount of games together and I think that will benefit my footy.”

Wakefield have made some impressive signings for 2017 and there is a growing belief that, under the adventurous style of head coach Chris Chester, they could become one of Super League’s more exciting sides.

With the NRL more structured, Williams conceded: “It’s always nice to have that bit more freedom. We’ve still got to play within our structures and we’ve been working on a few things, but it is enticing having that little bit of freedom to come over and try and play my game.

“Chezzie always encourages us to back ourselves. We’ve put certain things in place to enable us to get opportunities and when they arise it’s about taking them.

“During the negotiations, I spoke to Hodgo who was coached by him (at Hull KR), too.

“He gave him some very good recommendations and having blokes from this part of England, like Elliott as well, made it a little bit easier making the switch.”

Wakefield’s half-back combination from last season still remains, the Ireland captain Liam Finn and Australian Jacob Miller, so there is competition for places at Belle Vue in that area.

However, it seems likely Williams – who also played for St George Illawarra – will be given a prominent role. If so, it will be intriguing to see him potentially face Hull FC’s Albert Kelly, his mercurial fellow Australian, in Wakefield’s first game of the season on February 12.

Kelly has made an eye-catching cross-city switch from relegated rivals Hull KR and Williams said: “He’s a very flamboyant half-back.

“I came through the school system playing against him and saw some of the stuff he can do.

“He’s a freak of a talent, extremely tough and I always enjoyed playing against him.

“When we played as youngsters I guess he was the benchmark so it will be a good opportunity first up for me as I start out with Wakefield.”