England vs Australia: Williams ‘really confident’ 100 days out from the Ashes

England captain George Williams says he is really confident that his side can put on a real show against Australia in 100 days’ time when the first rugby league Ashes series in 22 years begins at Wembley Stadium.

The two nations will battle it out in a three-match series, starting under the iconic arch on October 25. And star half-back Williams has told a special episode of The Last Tackle, timed to celebrate the 100-day countdown, that the players can’t wait to get ripped in.

“I’m really confident. Honestly, on behalf of England and what [head coach] Shaun Wane’s been doing over the last few years, we beat Tonga 3-0, Samoa 2-0, and I think the next step for us is to play against the best,” Williams told The Sportsman Rugby League’s weekly podcast on a promotional bus trip around London which finished up at Wembley Stadium.

“I’m so glad we’ve been able to lock it in, and as soon as it was announced the playing group was thriving straight away. We always concentrate on club rugby, but when you know there’s a bigger picture at the end, standards rise. We’re just trying to grow now and get better, because we’re playing against the best.”

And the two-decade gap since the last series between these iconic rivals has only made the appeal greater for Williams and his squad.

“I was a kid the last time it happened. I’m 30 now, and it’s not been done for a long, long time. It’s something us players are really looking forward to, we know it doesn’t come around often but hopefully we can replicate it a little bit more. But we’re playing against the best nation in the world, and they have been for a long, long time.

“It will be brilliant. We know it’s not been common, so whoever’s in that shirt has got to make the most of it. I always say that playing for England is the pinnacle, but playing against Australia at Wembley I think that’s the pinnacle, that’s the top of the top. If that doesn’t get you up for it then we’re in the wrong job.”

Current RFL president and celebrity Australia fan Adam Hills adds that the rivalry is one that supporters of any sport should be hoping to be a part of.

“Australia v England… in anything, it doesn’t matter what the sport is, it could be tiddlywinks… it would still kick off,” Hills explains.

“The way I try to describe it to people is, if you remember in the last Ashes cricket series when it all kicked off over a stumping fiasco… I was at Lord’s that day and it was hostile. There were about 40,000 English fans just baying for blood.

“Imagine that, but the people on the pitch are allowed to tackle each other. That’s what this series is going to be!”

England full-back Jack Welsby is set to return from a major injury in good time to play a part in the series, which will also see the sides collide at Hill Dickinson Stadium and AMT Headingley over the autumn.

And the St Helens man says that the England squad’s preparation is ramping up despite the focus still remaining on the ongoing Betfred Super League season.

“We’ve had a bit of a taste of it over the last couple of years with the Tonga and Samoa games, but it’s definitely been building for this series at Wembley and all these big stadiums. It’s something we’ve all been looking forward to, and there’s obviously still a lot of Super League rugby to play but it’s at the forefront of our minds now.

“Waney’s very honest, and that’s what he prides himself on… he doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned or leave anything to chance. He wants us all to know where we stand and what we need to improve on going into the last couple of rounds of Super League and into the play-offs before the big games.

“I’m glad he’s doing that, and all the boys are too.”

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Welsby continues by saying they will not be daunted by the fact that the touring Kangaroos will be heavy favourites.

“They deserve that tag, and they’re coming over here with a number of great players. Obviously they’ve got Nathan Cleary, who’s the world’s best player, and whoever else they pick are going to be good players.

“So it’s something I’m really looking forward to, challenging myself against the best, and hopefully we get the better of them.”

The return of the showpiece match-up brings to mind memories of the great clashes of the past, with the likes of Martin Offiah starring in landmark England victories.

And Offiah insists the latest group of England players can now join him and his former team-mates in capturing the nation’s imagination.

“It’s a great opportunity to get rugby league back on the back pages, and back in the psyche of the British sporting public,” Offiah explains.

“To play against Australia at Wembley, nothing gets bigger than that for a rugby league player. I’ve played against the Australians here, I’ve won against the Australians, I’ve created my legacy at this stadium, but it’s a chance for another generation to write their legacy and put themselves in the hearts of the British sporting public.

“The likes of Junior Nsemba, Jack Welsby and many others have got an opportunity here to create a legacy.”

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