http://stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/afl/williams-comeback/1447968.aspx
Williams comeback
BY BRAD FORREST
3/03/2009 4:00:00 AM
CRONULLA Sharks forgotten star Reece Williams has suddenly become very important while the Sharks lick their wounds before the start to the NRL season proper.
Out for the year last season, Williams stunned trainers and team-mates alike by playing all but 12 minutes of Saturday night's brutal trial game.
The match against the Newcastle Knights claimed Sharks' back rowers Paul Gallen and Reni Matuia with knee and ankle injuries respectively, Jacob Selmes (two broken ribs) as well as Anthony Tupou (bruised neck).
While scans show Gallen could recover in time to join Tupou for round 1, Matuia is out for 4-6 weeks.
The last official pre-season NRL trials proved to be a horror for both the Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday night.
At Cessnock's new-look Baddeley Park, the Sharks won and lost, outlasting a hard-tackling Knights side 14-10, but losing on the personnel front.
At ANZ Stadium, a listless Dragons side was well beaten by an enthusiastic South Sydney, 18-6, but at least Wayne Bennett's side escaped without serious injury.
Williams, one of the Sharks' best players in 2007, was forced to have knee reconstructive surgery soon after the start of last year and missed the entire season.
The Yarrawarrah local junior played 20 minutes of an earlier trial, then on Saturday night stayed on the field as his fellow forwards fell around him.
"The knee felt great,'' said a smiling Williams as he left the field afterwards.
"It was a big hit-out for me, and a great confidence booster.
"I can confidently say now: `Bring it on,' because that showed I'm ready for anything.''
The fact Brian Smith's big Newcastle pack really put it to the Sharks, made Williams' stay that much more important for the rival coach Ricky Stuart.
Having already lost Greg Bird and utility Fraser Anderson, Cronulla's back row stocks minus Gallen and Matuia are pretty low, although the Sharks have the option of shifting Luke Douglas back from the front row again.
"We still have a bit of work to do,'' said Stuart after the game.
In the steamy and humid conditions of the Hunter, both sides were willing in defence and made far too many handling errors, with the two referees not helping the spectacle by coming down hard on both sides in the ruck and kick areas.
Considering the key personnel they lost, the Sharks did well to stay with the Knights either side of half time, with the kicking game of Trent Barrett proving the difference.
A worried Stuart decided to bring off his other big names mid-way through the second half, although hooker and tryscorer Corey Hughes came back to call the shots.
Both Mitch Brown and youngster Blake Ferguson were given long stints as the Sharks look for a centre partner for Ben Pomeroy, while two spectacular leaps for tries by the tall David Simmons on the wing were the real highlights for the outside backs.
Sharks 14 (Dave Simmons 2, Corey Hughes tries; Luke Covell goal) d Knights 10 (Richard Fa'aoso, Cameron Ciraldo tries; Corey Paterson goal) at Baddeley Park, Cessnock.
Forgotten man: Reece Williams takes on the Newcastle defence at Cessnock. Picture: John Veage
