David Williams (rugby league)

David Williams

Williams in 2008
Personal information
Nickname	Wolfman[1]
Born	4 August 1986 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb)
Position	Wing, Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2008–15	Manly-Warringah	105	66	4	0	272
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2009	City NSW	1	1	0	0	4
2009	New South Wales	2	2	0	0	8
2008	Australia	2	4	0	0	16
Source: [2][3][4]

David Williams (born 4 August 1986) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australia international representative winger,^[5] he played his entire professional career with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League, winning the 2008 NRL Premiership with them. He is the younger brother of former Parramatta, Sydney Roosters, Nth Qld and Cronulla winger, John Williams.^[6]

Professional playing career

2000s

Williams was a Parramatta junior, playing for the Hills District Bulls based at Baulkham Hills, North-West Sydney.

In 2008, Williams developed a cult following and became known as the "Wolfman" for his shaggy locks and full beard. Williams scored a try in the 2008 NRL Grand Final victory over Melbourne Storm.^[7] Following the Manly Sea Eagles Grand Final victory, he had his beard removed by Manly team-mates as he slept.^[8]

In October 2008, Williams was named in the Australia squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[9][10] He made his test debut against Papua New Guinea at Dairy Farmers Stadium, scoring 3 tries, becoming one of few players to score a hat-trick on debut in the green and gold, and making a long break which led to another. Due to a hip flexor injury to teammate Brent Tate, Williams was chosen to play in the World Cup Final against New Zealand on 22 November 2008.

David along with some Manly teammates dyed his beard pink for the Women Of League Round to raise money for charity, in their match against the Penrith Panthers in Round 13 2009. He played on the wing in Manly's 28-20 win over the Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road in the 2009 World Club Challenge match on 1 March.

He was selected for City in the City vs Country match on 8 May 2009.^[11]

He made his New South Wales debut on the wing in State of Origin 2 played on 24 June 2009. Unfortunately for Williams and his NSW teammates, Queensland won the game 24–14, and the series. Williams scored a try in each of the two games he played.

2010s

In Round 25 of the 2011 NRL season, Williams broke his neck against Melbourne and was ruled out for the rest of season, missing out on Manly's 24-10 win over the New Zealand Warriors in the 2011 NRL Grand Final. He was given 3 to 4 months to recover.

Williams made his return to top flight football on 17 February 2012 for the Sea Eagles when they again traveled to England to face the Leeds Rhino's in the 2012 World Club Challenge match, this time at the Rhino's home ground Headingley Carnegie Stadium. The Wolfman came through the match without further neck problems but his return was spoiled by his opposite number Ryan Hall who scored 2 tries in a Man of the Match performance (including a 95m intercept try in the 27th minute when Williams looked set to score in the corner) that helped Leeds reverse the 2009 result with a 26-12 win.

The Wolfman enjoyed a stellar year in 2013 for the Sea Eagles and finished the minor round as the seasons equal leading try scorer having crossed for 19 tries. Williams won the award along with David Simmons from Penrith and James McManus of the Newcastle Knights.

On 10 July 2014, Williams was banned from playing in the NRL for the rest of the 2014 season following revelations he had bet on matches.^[12]

Williams returned to the Sea Eagles squad in 2015, scoring the winning try in Manly's ANZAC Day match against Melbourne. He was named captain of Manly's NSW Cup team where he played at Fullback. He retired at the end of the season.

The filming process was very different to preparing for a rugby league game.
It's a lot easier than running at Sam Burgess.

Williams on his first acting role in 2013.^[13]

Outside football

Williams made his acting debut in 2013 in Tropfest short film finalist Darkness Comes in which he plays a wolf man.^[14] Apart from his work in the field Williams works as a part-time model. He has done modelling for Calvin Klein and the charity calendar, Gods of Football.^[15]

References

1. Adrian Proszenko, Daniel Lane (28 August 2011). "Quick-thinking Slater praised for first aid on Wolfman". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
2. RLP
3. NRL Stats
4. Herald Sun
5. "Baptism of fire for new Sea Eagle". Fox Sports. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
6. Marshall, Matt (21 April 2009). "Brother wants to tame Wolfman". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
7. "Grand final: As it happened". Fox Sports. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
8. Gee, Steve (7 October 2008). "'Wolfman' David Williams has beard shaved off". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
9. "Manly six win Australia call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
10. Six manly players in australia squad – Sydney Morning Herald
11. Balym, Todd (3 May 2009). "Blues halfback duel in two as Mitchell Pearce misses selection". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
12. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-10/williams-banned-for-betting-on-nrl-matches/5588034
13. Auerbach, Taylor (11 December 2013). "Short film Bamboozled wins the 2013 Tropfest Film Festival at Centennial Park". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
14. "From running on rugby league fields to acting on the Hollywood big screen". Fox Sports. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
15. David Williams, a true god of football