St George Illawarra Dragons halfback Sam Williams was pleased to have made his debut in the 31-12 win over the New Zealand Warriors at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday.
The Cooma Colts junior donned the Red V jersey for his first competitive outing and combined with five-eighth Gareth Widdop in the halves to steer the Dragons to victory in touch conditions caused by Tropical Cyclone Lasi.
Williams admits that the most pleasing aspects of the game was both the attacking and defensive tempo that the team displayed to notch the victory.
“It was a different sort of experience our there today with the weather,” said Williams.
“That wind was really strong and we knew that we had to be pretty patient and stay with them in the first half knowing that we could come home with the sail in the second half.
“I knew ahead of time that we were in for some pretty ordinary weather so I had thought about my game plan ahead of time but it always comes down to the day and you have to make the judgment on the day.
“Gareth is a great player and just playing with him you really see his composure and as a young half.
“I am still learning and it was really great to play alongside of him and to see how composed he is out there.
“Gareth has played with the best in the world, he is a great player and I would love to try and stay here and become a long-term halves partner with him”.
“Our big forwards really worked hard and rolled through the middle to give us a chance out the back which was great,” said Williams.
“Our completion rate was really good today and that is what wins you games.
“With that wind out there today it was especially important and the fact that we were able to grind away in that first part was really important.
“For me I was really happy with our defence on the edge.
“As an edge we scrambled really well, they threw a lot at us but we worked together and for each other and that is going to continue to be so important each week”.
