Why Shaun Wane literally gave George Williams pat on the back in front of media

WARRINGTON Wolves’ George Williams got a pat on the back from his England head coach Shaun Wane when the Siva Tau was discussed in the post-match press conference that followed the 34-18 victory over Samoa in Wigan on Sunday.

The Samoan war dance was a feisty affair, with the tourists screaming and chanting inches from the faces of the England players who lined up like a brick wall on the halfway line before kick-off.

It was almost a battle of wills in holding back the reins before the bruising battle commenced, with the television cameras focused on Hull KR’S Man of Steel Mikey Lewis butting heads with Samoan substitute Gordon Chan Kum Tong.

But when the Siva Tau was finished and the teams parted, three players lingered in the middle of the field still trying to psyche each other out.

When asked about it, Williams said: “It was just a stand off.”

Wane chipped in: “Was it you?”

Williams responded: “Yeah, I was in there.”

To which Wane, one of the hardmen of Wigan’s pack in the 1980s, responded by patting his skipper on the back.

St Helens forward Morgan Knowles and Samoa’s St George Illawarra Dragons prop Francis Molo were the other two in the triumvirate staredown.

It is not every week that players start a game in this way, so what was going through the England skipper’s mind when squaring up to the Siva Tau.

“I was just looking forward to it,” said Williams, who went on to have a hand in four of the England six tries while also notching one himself in a brilliant man-of-the-match display.

“It’s something we’ve done over the last few years, standing on the half-way line and fronting up.

“Every time you play Samoa they do that. We see that as our territory and we don’t want to let them come over it before the start of the game.

“It’s a good mentality fix and it gets us ready for the start of the game.”

Wane’s involvement with Williams’ career goes back to before he was a teenager, coming through the ranks at his hometown club Wigan where they won silverware together.

He was full of praise for his captain’s display but feels there is still more to come from a player described by BBC pundit and former St Helens skipper Jon Wilkin as ‘the best player in Super League’.

Wane said: “He was brilliant, and he always is for me.

“He can do better and he’s heard that about 540 times (from me) in his career. I know what he’s capable of and he’s my skipper, I’m proud, and he was superb today."

> READ: How the Warrington Wolves players fared in England's win against Samoa

When Wane was asked what areas Williams can improve, he said: “Manage the game better, run more, defend better, there’s loads of tiny little details.

“I’ve said this to you many times haven’t I, George?”

Williams responded: “Since I was about 12, yeah!”

The Wire stand-off was asked how does it feel when he had just spilt his guts out for the England cause and his coach is telling him he can do better?

“I think Shaun knows that gets the best out of me,” said Williams.

“He’s always riding me to be better. Sometimes I can come off and think I’ve had a great game and then he’ll tell me I’ve done five things wrong, which is good I think.

“You’re always looking to be better, you’re never the finished article.”