England's national rugby league side has officially named George Williams as the captain for the forthcoming Rugby League World Cup, a decision announced by head coach Brian McDermott. Williams, who endured a serious neck injury that required surgical intervention in April, made a remarkable comeback in August. Since his return, he has been a pivotal figure for the Warrington Wolves, driving the team forward with the ambition of reaching the Super League Grand Final. Warrington's upcoming clash with Hull KR in the elimination round this Saturday will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The victor will advance to face the Wigan Warriors in the semi‑finals, with the championship match scheduled for October 3 at Old Trafford. McDermott praised Williams' resurgence, highlighting his leadership qualities and the positive influence he has on the squad. "I didn't really know George at all," McDermott admitted. "In fact, I didn't know many of the squad at all, to be fair.
I've only ever shaken their hands after games. I normally shook George's hand after his team beat my side when I was at Leeds.
We had a horrible record against Wigan in the regular season!" The coach continued, "It's been really enjoyable to get to know him. He's keen as anything, and while he was injured you could always tell that if anyone was going to make an early return it would be him." The coach was effusive about Williams' current form, noting his aggressive approach and relentless work ethic. "He's not feathering about on his feet waiting for the game to come to him.
He's out there getting the game, chasing it, and that is George Williams in a nutshell," McDermott said. He recalled the early days of Williams' career: "When he first broke into first grade, we all thought, 'who the hell's this guy?' He went out and got the ball, chased the play, whether he was trying to beat the opponent opposite him or darting inside to exploit a lazy defender. Add a few years and he's become stronger and wiser." Williams' appointment as captain almost guarantees his placement in one of the two half‑back positions for the World Cup squad, prompting questions about who will partner him in the halves.
Several candidates are under consideration, including Mikey Lewis, Jake Connor, Harry Smith and Hugo Savala. McDermott hinted that only three of these players will travel to the tournament, which will be staged across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from October 15 to November 15.
"Whether we take a six and a seven to back up the six and a seven that I have in mind to start, I'm still not sure," McDermott explained. "We're certainly going to take another half. We need to take another half. But if we take two halves as cover, it impacts how many covers we have for our outside backs, our back‑rowers and the rest of the spine.
Some decisions will be based on form, others on versatility." He added that a player who can cover both the halves and the dummy‑half (number nine) would be especially valuable: "If a guy can play in the halves but also play at nine, I might favour that as well. Unsure yet. The spine positions are a tough puzzle." McDermott plans to assess the options during the Super League finals, believing that performance under pressure will reveal the most suitable candidates.
"Can they handle the big occasion? Can they handle the game when so much is at stake?
I'll certainly be taking one half as backup. Whether I take two or not depends on the squad composition," he said. In addition to naming the captain, McDermott confirmed that former England greats Sean O'Loughlin and Paul Wellens will serve as assistant coaches for the World Cup campaign.
He praised their contributions, noting the extensive communication they've had via Teams calls and phone conversations about squad selection, tactics, defensive structures and the overall state of the game. "I've shared individual calls with Lockers (O'Loughlin) and with Wello (Wellens), and they've been fantastic," McDermott remarked.
"Both have been among the best players our country has produced and arguably among the top performers internationally. Whether the game is won or lost, they always leave the international arena with their heads held high.
I've learned a great deal from them about representative football, international competition, and the mindset required for a World Cup squad." He also highlighted the practical challenges of coordinating with coaches who have full‑time club commitments—O'Loughlin with Wigan and Wellens with the North Queensland Cowboys. "I have to be careful about texting them at odd hours for Zoom calls," McDermott laughed. "They're not being paid for this extra work, but they've never complained. I've tried not to lean on them too heavily, and they've been nothing short of awesome." The Super League playoffs kick off on Friday, September 18, with Wakefield Trinity hosting Leigh Leopards at 8 p.m.
on Sky Sports. The following day, Warrington Wolves take on Hull KR at 5.30 p.m., also live on Sky Sports. Semi‑final fixtures are slated for September 25 (Leeds Rhinos versus a to‑be‑determined opponent) and September 26 (Wigan Warriors versus a to‑be‑determined opponent), both broadcast on Sky Sports.
The postseason culminates in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 3, concluding a season that has seen England's leadership and coaching staff fine‑tune their strategies ahead of the global tournament.