That comment that rick made about Braith wasn't meant as a SLUR. He said Braith was a good player but wan't as good as he was, Braith has played for the roosters for 2 yrs and has scored one try, Ricks played 6 games and scored 4 trys..
INTERVIEW WITH MUNDINE & RICKS FATHER
THE father of controversial St George Illawarra five-eighth Richie Williams has defended the 20-year-old from his hospital bed after suffering a heart attack following Wednesday's Anzac Day match.
Doug Williams, who has a history of heart problems, said that while he was angered by the backlash against his son for criticising the form of Roosters star Braith Anasta in Wednesday's Herald, the drama had nothing to do with his heart attack early yesterday morning.
Williams said his son had played "all over" his opposite, Anasta.
The development came as Anthony Mundine said St George Illawarra should get behind the 20-year-old's wearing his old No.6 jersey and predicted a bright future for the rookie playmaker.
"If Richie Williams believes in his talent and his ability the way that he does, then that's good," Mundine said. "I believe anyone can say what they want. I don't feel that any club or any structure should keep anyone from being themselves - that is what's lacking in the game and in Australian sport in general."
Since bursting on to the scene for the Dragons this season, Williams has been compared with Mundine - his idol - but his father insisted his son wasn't trying to emulate the former Origin star turned world champion boxer.
"Everyone says that he is trying to be Choc but that's rubbish. He's being Richie Williams," said Williams snr, who was taken to The Prince of Wales Hospital after complaining of chest pains at 2am.
"Why shouldn't Richie say what he feels? It is about time someone had the guts to open their mouth and say what's really going on in the game.
"He is confident, he wants to win the game, it is the blokes around him that aren't confident.
"You have all these fans and commentators bagging him but he is the only bloke at the Dragons trying to do things. Everyone is saying Braith played all over him, but the stats show you the real story, Richie played all over Braith."
During the game, Williams made more tackles, kicks, linebreaks and metres than Anasta but missed eight tackles to Anasta's three. The Roosters five-eighth also had two try-assists but Williams ran through Anasta on the way to a 70-metre break.
Dragons and Roosters fans yesterday vented their anger at Williams on talkback radio and internet forums, although some applauded his straight talking.
Mundine encouraged the pivot to continue to speak his mind and last night phoned the rookie playmaker to offer his support.
"Brownie [Dragons coach Nathan Brown] was like that with me, he used to say, 'Why are you saying this or saying that?'. But I love pressure, I thrive on pressure," Mundine said. "I used to do that to [Brad] Fittler and [Laurie] Daley, I told Daley he was running on old legs and I said about Fittler, 'Why pick him, I'll whip him'. If Richie believes in himself and his ability, then why not do that.
"He's not putting pressure on anyone else, more than anything it should fire his teammates up. He's showing them leadership and how competitive he is and how great he wants to be.
"I've watched him play a few times and I think he's going to be a great talent. As soon as he gets some more games under his belt and he becomes more comfortable, he'll be hard to stop.
"I just hope St George don't crack under the pressure of the media and the dictators that want to come down on the kid … they should get behind him, if anything."
Williams snr also said his son should ignore the criticism.
"I don't think Richie should shut his mouth about anything. He is not being cheeky, he is talking football and saying what's on his mind," he said.
"He wasn't sledging Braith, he said he was a good player who wasn't playing as good now as he has before. Richie has played six NRL games and scored four tries, Braith has played for the Roosters for two years and scored one."
Brown last night said club management and other Dragons players had spoken to Williams about his comments.
"They pointed out to him that they were inappropriate and not in the spirit of the game of rugby league," Brown said. "Richie understood and was appropriately sorry and assured us all he will be more thoughtful in the future."
