GEORGE WILLIAMS has declared that he’ll play for Warrington Wolves again – and that he’ll be fit and firing in time for World Cup duty.
The Warrington and England captain has been sidelined since mid-April due to a serious neck injury.
There was initially great concern that Williams’ time at the Wolves was over, with the 31-year-old heading to the NRL’s Dolphins at the end of the season.
A long lay-off would also jeopardise his place in the England squad under new coach Brian McDermott, who wants to keep Williams as skipper.
But the halfback is aiming to return before the end of the regular season, having undergone surgery last month.
Speaking on the Sin Bin Sessions podcast, Williams explained: “I’d had a bulging disc for a while. It’s when it gets close to the spinal cord that it becomes dangerous.
“There was a minor crusher (tackle in a match against Catalans Dragons) and my hands went numb. I came off for a green card, came back on and finished the game.
“In the morning it was still numb and I said ‘this is not right’.
“I had numb hands for four or five days. I had to get an operation or I couldn’t play again, so it was a no-brainer.
“They take (the disc) out, put a cage in, and then your bone grows back around the cage I think. It sounds extreme, but I was told plenty of lads have had it done and are still playing.
“He mentioned Alex Walmsley, and his was a lot worse than mine, so that gave me some confidence.”
Williams cannot take part in any contact activity for three months following the operation, but has now started running and gym work.
“I’ve got eight weeks of that before I can play from this point,” he added.
“Hopefully I’ll have three or four games before the play-offs, then I’d be into the World Cup.
“I know match fitness is a bit different but if I can get three or four games in before the play-offs, that gives me six or seven games hopefully if we get to the Grand Final, before the World Cup.”