Tony Williams (rugby league)

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Tony Williams
Personal information
Born (1988-12-12) 12 December 1988 (age 35)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight118 kg (18 st 8 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008 Parramatta Eels 11 4 0 0 16
2009–12 Manly Sea Eagles 73 35 0 0 140
2013–16
Canterbury Bulldogs
 80 10 0 0 40
2017
Cronulla Sharks
 1 1 0 0 4
2018 Parramatta Eels 5 0 0 0 0
Total 170 50 0 0 200
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008–17 Tonga 5 1 10 0 24
2011–12
Australia
 3 7 0 0 8
2012–14 New South Wales 3 0 0 0 0
2013–14
NSW City
 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 29 April 2021

Tony Williams (born 12 December 1988), also known by the nickname of "T-Rex",[2] is a former professional rugby league footballer. He played for both Tonga and Australia at international level.

He played for the

Canterbury Cup NSW. He played on the wing and as a centre earlier in his career. Williams played for NSW City Origin and New South Wales in the State of Origin series
.

Background

Williams was born in

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and is of Tongan descent. He grew up in Liverpool for the majority of his life in his family home and attended Liverpool Boys High School and Westfields Sports High School.[citation needed
]

He played his junior rugby league for the Cabramatta Two Blues. He was then signed by the Parramatta Eels.

Playing career

Williams playing for Parramatta in 2008

2008

Williams started the 2008 season playing in the

Remondis Stadium.[6] On 3 September 2008, Williams was named at centre in the 2008 NYC Team of the Year.[7] Williams finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 10 matches and scoring 4 tries for the Parramatta Eels in the 2008 NRL season. Williams was named in the Tongan squad for the 2008 World Cup where he not only played lock but also took on the responsibility of being the Tongan goal kicker with success.[8]
Williams played in 3 matches, scored 1 try and kicked 10 goals.

2009

In Round 5 of the

Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles being awarded the Duncan Hall Medal after being judged the grand final's best-and-fairest player, scoring a try in the Sea Eagles 32–18 win over Northern Pride.[11] Williams finished the 2009 NRL season
with him playing in 12 matches and scoring 9 tries in his first year with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

2010

Williams finished the

Australia and New South Wales. Williams was selected to play for the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea on the wing in the 30–18 win in Port Moresby.[14]

2011

Williams played in the centres for the first two games of the 2011 season and then missed the next 3 through injury. When he returned to the side, Manly coach

Hunter Stadium.[18] Williams scored his first international for Australia against New Zealand in the Kangaroos 26–12 win at Halliwell Jones Stadium.[19] Williams played in 4 matches and scored 2 tries, including playing off the interchange bench in the Four National final against England in the Kangaroos 30–8 win at Elland Road.[20]

2012

In Round 3 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Remondis Stadium, Williams was suspended for 7 matches for dangerous tackle on the Sharks hooker,

1300SMILES Stadium.[27]

2013

In Round 1 of the

ANZ Stadium.[31][32] Williams was heavily criticised in 2013 with his form being branded lazy and not being worth $650,000 a year.[33][34][35]
Williams finished his first year with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with him playing in 23 matches and scoring 5 tries in the 2013 NRL season.

2014

In February 2014, Williams was selected in the Bulldogs

Dubbo.[37] Williams was selected on the interchange bench for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2014 State of Origin series on the 100th State of Origin match in the Blues 12–8 win at Suncorp Stadium.[38] On 5 October 2014, in the Bulldogs 2014 NRL Grand Final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Williams played at second-row and scored a try in the Bulldogs 6–30 loss.[39][40] Williams finished the 2014 NRL season
with him playing in 27 matches and scoring 4 tries for the Bulldogs.

2015

On 23 January 2015, Williams was named in the Bulldogs

2015 Auckland Nines squad.[41] After the Bulldogs 41–34 win against the Canberra Raiders in Round 11, Williams suffered a season ending pectoral muscle injury at training, ruling him out for the rest of the season.[42] Williams finished the 2015 NRL season
with him playing in 11 matches for the Bulldogs.

2016

On 1 February 2016, Williams was named in the Bulldogs 2016 Auckland Nines squad.

Intrust Super Premiership NSW team.[46] Williams finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing 19 matches and scored 1 try for the Bulldogs. On 7 November 2016, Williams signed a 1-year deal with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for the 2017 season.[47]

2017

Williams started the 2017 season playing for the

Campbelltown Stadium.[48][49] Williams finished the 2017 NRL season with him only playing in 1 match and scoring 1 try for Sharks. On 17 November 2017, Williams signed a 1-year deal with his former club the Parramatta Eels for the 2018 season.[50]

2018

On 14 February 2018, Williams was fined $1,000, had his driver's licence suspended for 12 months, and was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond after appearing in Parramatta local court for mid-range

drink driving. Williams had insisted on driving home when his wife came to pick him up after a birthday celebration at the Albion Hotel in Parramatta on 16 December 2016. His three young children were in the car at the time. His driving was so erratic that members of the public called the police, who discovered Williams had a blood alcohol level of 0.122. "Shame on you, Mr Williams," Magistrate Jennifer Giles said at sentencing. She said the "community does not feel safe with you with a licence; you are exceptionally lucky you did not hurt or kill someone, or yourself."[51] Williams also has handed a 2-week suspension by the club.[52] On 29 April 2018, Williams ruptured his ACL in Parramatta's 24–22 victory over The Wests Tigers, subsequent scans revealed that he would miss the remainder of the season.[53]

On 15 September, it was alleged that Williams had tested positive to cocaine during a random drugs test conducted by the Parramatta club.[54] On 25 September, Williams contract with Parramatta was terminated after the player had been found guilty of failing a second drugs test. Williams was also handed a fine and a 12 match suspension by the NRL.[55]

2019

On 2 March, Williams signed a one-year deal to join the

Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.[56]
On 10 September, Williams was set to make a shock return to the Manly side for the club's elimination final against his former club Cronulla-Sutherland but the return did not eventuate.[57]

2020

In September 2020, Williams was released by the Manly club without having played a game.[58]

2021

In March 2021, Williams signed a contract to join the

New York Freedom, to play in the inaugural season of the NARL. In response to former NRL player Jarryd Hayne
being sentenced to almost six years’ jail for sexual assault, Williams wrote on his social media account: “To all Haynsy’s family and friends stay strong for him and let God do he’s thing I love you all … God always prevails. Before I let this be just want to congratulate the victim and the so called justice system you’ve sent an innocent brotherly to jail away from he’s kids you bunch of flops … that’s all respectively."[60]

On 6 May 2021, the New York Freedom then subsequently confirmed, via social media, that they had terminated Williams’s contract.[61]

2022

On 20 January, Williams signed a contract to play with Picton in the Country New South Wales competition.[62]

References

  1. ^ "Tony Williams – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  2. ^ Prentice, Andrew (14 September 2011). "T-Rex's switch into the Sea Eagles pack has seen the rise of a sleeping giant". The Manly Daily. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  3. ^ "Manly Snatch Eels Junior". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Mateo sparks Eels to important win". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Meet the New Heavyweight". Herald Sun. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  6. ^ [1] Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Toyota Cup Team of the Year". Herald Sun. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  8. ^ "BBC SPORT | Rugby League | Anderson cleared for Tonga squad". Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  9. ^ "Manly return to form against Parramatta". Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Late Penalty Hands Gold Coast 18–17 Win Over Manly". Herald Sun. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Tony Willikams Steers Coast Victory in Queensland". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  12. ^ "New Zealand squad named for Four Nations". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Kangaroos beat Kiwis to Tony 'T-Rex' Williams". Stuff.co.nz. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Australian PMXIII team Beats Kumuls". M.nrl.com. 26 September 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  15. ^ "2011 NRL Grand Final". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Best shoulder charges of 2011". NRL.com. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  17. ^ "Cherry Evans and Tony Williams Selected in Australian Four Nations Squad After Manly's 2011 NRL Grand Final Win". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Kangaroos Beat New Zealand 42–6 in RL Test". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Johnathan Thurston Stars as Australia Beat New Zealand 26–12 in Four Nations Openerin Warrington". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Darren Lockyer Leads Australia to 30–8 Win in Four Nations Final". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  21. ^ "Tony Williams Faces 10 Week Suspension for Dangerous Throw on Isaac De Gois". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  22. ^ "NSW Rookies Jamie Buhrer Todd Carney James Tamou and Tony Williams Lack Experience and Scars". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  23. ^ "State of Origin Game". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  24. ^ "Queensland Take on NSW in Massive State of Origin Game". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  25. ^ "Bulldogs to Confirm Tony Williams from Sea Eagles". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  26. ^ "Bulldogs Finally Lure Reluctant New Buy Tony Williams Away From Manly Sea Eagles". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  27. ^ "Australia Grind It Out in Second Half to Win 18–10 over New Zealand in Townsville Test match". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  28. ^ "Cowboys v Bulldogs Match". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  29. ^ "Confident Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Thrash Injury Laden Wests Tigers". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  30. ^ "Country Overcome City in Close Clash". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  31. ^ "Bulldogs v Eels preview". NRL.com. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  32. ^ Carayannis, Michael. "Plenty of points but patience missing for Bulldogs, says Hasler". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  33. ^ "Tony Williams Axed from Australian Test Side". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  34. ^ "Willie Mason and the Newcastle Knights are Wary of Threat Posed by Canterbury Bulldogs Big Man Tony Williams". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  35. ^ Ritchie, Dean (27 September 2013). "The Daily Telegraph names its five biggest flops of NRL season 2013". News.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  36. ^ "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  37. ^ "Hulking Centre Jamal Idris Stars in Thrilling City Country Draw in Dubbo". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  38. ^ "NSW Beat Queensland Maroons 12–8". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  39. ^ "Rabbitohs Win 2014 NRL Grand Final Defeating Canterbury Bulldogs 30–6". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  40. ^ "Bulldogs Grand Final Player Ratings". NRL.com. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  41. ^ "Auckland Nines 2015 ; Josh Morris Headlines Strong Squad Named by Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  42. ^ "Tony Williams ruled out for the season with pec injury". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  43. ^ "Bulldogs name 2016 Nines squad". Rugby League Week. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  44. ^ "John Reynolds touched Aidan Sezer's backside in Bulldogs vs Raider NRL match 2016". News.com.au. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  45. ^ "Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test". nrl.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  46. ^ Proszenko, Adrian. "Tony Williams dropped by Canterbury Bulldogs before Wests Tigers clash". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  47. ^ "Sharks sign Williams, Latimore". 7 November 2016.
  48. ^ "Dailytelegraph.com.au – Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories". The Daily Telegraph. Australia.
  49. ^ "Tony Williams out for the season". 9 May 2017.
  50. ^ "Dailytelegraph.com.au – Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories". The Daily Telegraph. Australia.
  51. ^ "Judge scolds NRL star: 'Shame on you'". NewsComAu. 14 February 2018.
  52. ^ "Parramatta Eels forward Tony Williams banned for two NRL games". 14 February 2018.
  53. ^ "NRL 2018: Josh Dugan suffers broken foot, Tony Williams' ACL injury confirmed". 30 April 2018.
  54. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (15 September 2018). "Williams' career in jeopardy over second strike drugs test". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  55. ^ "Williams sacked by the Eels after failing drug test". www.abc.net.au. 25 September 2018.
  56. ^ "T-Rex could reunite with Hasler at Manly after signing feeder club deal". Sydney Morning Herald.
  57. ^ "Tony Williams set to make shock return for Manly in elimination final, report". Sporting News.
  58. ^ "Bunnies lock in two rising stars; Manly farewell three players". www.foxsports.com.au.
  59. ^ "The Windsor Wolves are excited to get its 2021 campaign underway following the seasons launch". www.hawkesburygazette.com.au.
  60. ^ "Jarryd Hayne: Ex-Rugby League player jailed for 2018 sex assault". BBC Sport. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  61. ^ "Tony Williams loses contract with US club over comments backing former NRL teammate Jarryd Hayne". www.theguardian.com.
  62. ^ "Former NRL star set to revive rugby league career after finding new club". www.foxsports.com.au.

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