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Welcome to the Wobbler
By Leipziger July 25 2008
The Falcons' 2008-09 squad appears complete now with the signing of Leeds rugby league winger Danny Williams, a prolific 21-year-old marksman who scored the only try of the game on his debut for the Rhinos at St Helens aged only 19, on a one-year deal. Though he is prolific when he gets on the pitch, this hasn't doesn't seem to have happened too much in recent months.
 

Born in Leeds in September 1986, Williams stands at 6ft and weighs in at 88kg, and scored 20 tries in 19 games in the 2005 senior academy season before being promoted to the Rhinos first team squad for 2006, becoming a regular and scoring 12 tries in 15 starts whilst also playing in the club's senior academy First Division Grand Final victory. In the academy he also crossed nine times in ten starts in that season.


Williams' first season as a senior Rhino also saw a first full England cap, in a win against France at Headingley in the Federation Shield, after previously playing for a number of England age-group sides. Whether we will see him in the England union side quite as quickly would seem less likely.


Williams has also had a successful spell on loan to Castleford Tigers, scoring a number of tries there, and although he will find getting over the line harder in union, he at least knows where it is.


This season our new winger has made sporadic competitive appearances for the Rhinos, although he did set up a try against Celtic Crusaders in the Challenge Cup. He has spent time at Hull FC this season too, but without taking the field.


Tomorrow Leeds take on St Helens in the Challenge Cup semi-final at the Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield – it's unlikely Williams will play having not been named in the Rhinos squad, but if he does then tuning into BBC1 from 12.10pm might be worthwhile. Actually, I might watch it anyway, make it my one token league viewing of the year.


Unlike our other signings of the summer, this is in a position we really need strengthening after a mixed time for John Rudd last year and the loss of our first and second choice full-backs which could see Tom May moved into the 15 shirt next season. And as has been suggested, competition for places is always good for keeping the likes of Rudd, Phillips and Visser on their toes.


Williams is a young winger and so could well follow in the footsteps of Jason Robinson, the only real league-to-union success of the pro era in England. Hopefully he does better than the likes of Chev Walker and Karl Pryce, and of course the more celebrated Andy Farrell and Henry Paul.


A slight worry could be Danny's nickname of 'Wobbler', but hopefully that has nothing to do with his on-field demeanour. Hopefully he will also do as well as our previous rugby league conversions Alan Tait, John Bentley and Va'aiga Tuigamala.


Welcome Danny, looking forward to seeing you play.



P.S. Did anyone know that Leeds Rhinos have a French page on their website? For the benefit of Catalan Dragons fans I suppose, but I've never seen this in rugby before.

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Re: Welcome to the Wobbler
Posted by: London_Falcon (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:25:10:23:46

Blimey that was quick work Leipy, nice one

Re: Welcome to the Wobbler
Posted by: TouchLine (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:25:10:50:54

Quote:
Hopefully he will also do as well as our previous rugby league conversions Alan Tait, John Bentley and Va'aiga Tuigamala.

None of these were conversions. They all playd Union before going to League. AFAIK Robinson is the only Leaguer to be succesful in Union in the UK

Re: Welcome to the Wobbler
Posted by: lebigmac69 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:25:11:00:26

I was wondering the same thing myself.

Re: Welcome to the Wobbler
Posted by: steve1888 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:25:13:35:30

He may well have played alot of union at school and locally before signing for Leeds acadamey too though so being young it'll be quite easy to adapt back.

Re: Welcome to the Wobbler
Posted by: Leipziger (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:25:14:49:24

Good point. That's what happens when I write something really quick then have to rush out before really checking it. What I should've said was hopefully he'll do as well as our other signings from league.

Re: Welcome to the Wobbler
Posted by: Workie Ticket. (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:25:15:13:10

I didn't think Henry Paul did too bad for Glos - he certainly changed the game against us when he cam on at Kingsholm back in 2003.

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