07 June 2024 , 17:06
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Warrington captain George Williams has vowed to end his trophy drought with the club - and has no regrets turning down Wigan.
The dazzling stand-off is arguably in the form of his life ahead of Saturday's Betfred Challenge Cup final with his former club. He ignored the chance to rejoin his hometown team when leaving Canberra in 2021, accepting less money to switch to ambitious Warrington.
But while Wigan have hurtled to a new level - they will hold all four trophies of Super League, World Club Challenge, League Leaders’ Shield and Challenge Cup if they prosper tomorrow - it’s been dry county for Williams. Yet the England skipper, who won two Grand Finals with Wigan, maintained: “I’ve never got any regrets. I back my decision. I love it at Warrington. Obviously, you could look at the last couple of years and say Wigan have won a few things and we haven’t won anything.
“But the goal doesn’t change for me: I’m still striving to win something with Warrington. We’ve got a great opportunity on the weekend which is good. I’ve got family and friends who support Wigan so hopefully I can get one over them.” The pain of getting so close to Cup glory still sears through Williams, though. He was part of the Wigan side who narrowly lost 18-14 to holders Hull in 2017. Williams, crucially, missed two conversion attempts.
The ex-Great Britain ace, back from a one-game ban for tomorrow's big showpiece, recalled: “We were the favourites. It was a close game. We scored first and I just remember it being really hot. It normally is on Cup final day. We got beat. But I don’t think we deserved to win when I look back at it. I’ve still obviously never won the Challenge Cup. That was my last taste of it. Seven years ago. But I still remember the disappointment I felt afterwards. I want to right some wrongs now.
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George Williams still can't forget losing the Challenge Cup final with Wigan against Hull in 2017 (REX/Shutterstock)“Hull went back-to-back which was disappointing for us. But I won’t worry about that too much. I’ve got another opportunity here and will just go full steam ahead.” Williams’ battle with reigning Man of Steel Bevan French will be fascinating. And as much as Warrington’s main aim has long been a first league title since 1955, the Cup still has a real allure. Williams, 29, added: “It’s something I dreamt of as a kid.
"I’ve been fortunate enough to win a fair bit in my career: a couple of Grand Finals and a World Club Challenge. But I’ve never had this one. I think it’ll taste really good and I am chasing it. We’ve a tough test coming. But Wigan are thinking the same thing. I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”