England coach Wayne Bennett believes that a number of Super League-based players could handle the transition to the NRL: including Wigan half-back George Williams.
Williams has once again excelled for the Super League champions in 2016, earning selection to Bennett’s England squad for the Four Nations in the process.
And the 66-year-old told a media conference yesterday – which TotalRL was present at – that the high quality of the NRL could bring the very best out of someone like Williams – as well as other English talent, too.
“The plus we have as England is that the English players who are Australian-based are getting some good exposure and some good rugby in them,” he said.
“I’m sure the boys playing in the UK who I’ve picked would get the same headlines if they were in Australia. They’re a very talented group on the whole, and the individual skill levels are very high.
“George Williams is a fine example; I’ve watched him a lot and he’s a guy who could handle the NRL. He’s just one of many I believe could handle it. It’s the competition here which brings the best out of you.”
