Tony Williams

[zombie jesus]

• He is about equal with Farrar and Matai for number of runs per match.
• He averages the most metres of any back, and the only player ahead of him is Watmough.
• 11 line breaks, next closest being 7. (8th in the NRL)
• 82 tackle breaks, next closest being 52. (8th in the NRL)
• Only he and Robertson have played every minute of this season.
• Equal top try scorer for the club.

I think he is being rated harshly. I know he does some things half arsed and we'd all like to see him go flat out for 80 minutes, the fact is, his half arsed effort is better than most of our side.

Tony is a very big boy, he takes some time to wind up, he's certainly no Matt Bowen or Billy Slater. I think he will also be a slow starter in every season, he needs game time to get his fitness to the levels it needs to be.

He's playing a position reserved for smaller, leaner players and outdoing most of them.

He has improved a lot since the start of the season, his involvement has gone up, he's getting that shuffling start out of his run as he goes along. He's shown some amazing ability to off load.

His defence is a bit dodgy, but I think he looks a million times better when he has Lyon next to him, if Lyon stays fit, Williams will do well.

His future is in the forwards, he would be great for impact off the bench running wide, the injury to the other Williams changed those plans for this season.

Also remember, he's only 21!!

 

[Dutchy]

The thing that disappoints me about Rex is that he has the potential to absolutely destroy teams, especially off kick returns if he were to run as hard as guys like Nightingale, Uate or even Robbo.

It was what Wolf used to do, and it is something we are really lacking.

 

[zombie jesus]

The thing that disappoints me about Rex is that he has the potential to absolutely destroy teams, especially off kick returns if he were to run as hard as guys like Nightingale, Uate or even Robbo.

It was what Wolf used to do, and it is something we are really lacking.

Would be nice if the flat out running was there, with his size, I'm not so sure he is capable of it all the time, every time, nevertheless, those 2 guys you mentioned, Robertson and Nightingale, he's out doing them both in terms of stats, Uate is ahead if him, but he's a freak. Tony is in the top 10 for kick return metres amongst wingers.

Comparing to Wolfman, looking at David last year and Tony this year, their kick return metres are almost identical.

Potential is the key word, that's why I added he is 21, still a boy, a very, very big boy, but still a boy.

The player most would compare him to is Vatuvei, he was pretty much a backet case until around 2008 when he had 60+ games under his belt, Tony has about 30.

I have to say, my opinion of him was pretty low at the start of the year, it all turned around one day when I went to look at his stats so I could bag him some more and I was shocked at what I saw, changed my mind and outlook on him.

 

[nz eagle]

I agree with zombie, and I actually dont see him moving to the forwards for at least 5 years, with plenty of game time he improving every month.

he is close to our best player this season and although I agree that sometimes he doesn't run aggressively enough, I think it may be down to fitness.

Compared to vatuvei, a similar sized winger I think T-rex gets much more involved.

But he has been bagged on all manly forums since we signed him so its not going to change.

 

[Nice Beaver]

I'm the first to say that I've been in the bagging of Tony Williams brigade.
I think he has improved a lot this year and does put in some of the time.
But I believe that if there is someone more capable of filling a position then they should be in the squad.
Wayne Bennett always says that you pick the best 17 players to win you the games. While I'm no great fan of Bennett but the theory has served him OK the past 30 or so years.
And while its only my opinion, I really think that Hopoate or Whare would be better options than Williams.
They have speed, are good defenders and play with enthusiasm every play (from what I have seen).
Williams may be great further down the track, but right now he's just not there.
Nothing personal against the guy, but that's just the way I see it.
I don't think it can be fitness that effects his contribution as he sits on the wing. Its not like he's making hit ups every set and making 20 tackles. A lot of it is between his ears.

 

[Nice Beaver]

Double post - sorry !

 

[eagles4eva]

Double post - sorry !

Trex needs some anger in him, get fired up and hit the line hard.. when he is full force the guy is sensational, he looks lazy sometimes on kick returns.. In saying this i wouldn't want to tackle him..

 

[CC_Eagle]

He has improved immensely since the start of the season and I think his performances in the past few games reflect that.

His defence still needs work though.

 

[Wrong_Number]

He's a better backrower IMO.

 

[zombie jesus]

He might be eventually, don't know how you can have that opinion yet though.

He had a very quiet game tonight, 2 tries, I would have backed him to score a 3rd if he held that ball in the second half.

 

[eagles4eva]

He's a better backrower IMO.

???

Potential maybe, at present he isn’t attaching the line hard enough to warrant a backrower position.. Based on his current form and injuries I wouldn’t take him away from the wing..