David Williams (rugby league, born 1986)

Australia international rugby league footballer

David "Wolfman"[1] Williams

Williams in 2015

Personal information

Full name| David Williams
Born|  (1986-08-04) 4 August 1986 (age 39)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height| 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight| 92 kg (14 st 7 lb)

Playing information

Position| Wing, Fullback
| Club

Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
2008–15  | Manly Sea Eagles | 103  | 66  | 4  | 0  | 272
Representative
Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
2009  | City NSW | 1  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 4
2009  | New South Wales | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 8
2008  | Australia | 2  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 16

Source: [2][3][4]

Relatives| John Williams (brother)

David Williams (born 4 August 1986) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played on the wing in the 2000s and 2010s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australia international representative,[5] he played his entire professional career with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL, winning the 2008 NRL Premiership with them.

## Background

[edit]

He is the younger brother of former Parramatta Eels, Sydney Roosters, North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks winger, John Williams.[6]

## Professional playing career

[edit]

### 2000s

[edit]

Williams was a Parramatta junior, playing for the Hills District Bulls based at Baulkham Hills, North-West Sydney.

Williams playing for Manly

In 2008, Williams developed a cult following and became known as the "Wolfman" for his shaggy locks and full beard. Williams scored a try in the 2008 NRL Grand Final victory over Melbourne Storm.[7] Following the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Grand Final victory, he had his beard removed by Manly teammates as he slept.[8]

In October 2008, Williams was named in the Australia squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[9][10] He made his test debut against Papua New Guinea at Dairy Farmers Stadium, scoring 3 tries, becoming one of few players to score a hat-trick on debut in the green and gold, and making a long break which led to another. Due to a hip flexor injury to teammate Brent Tate, Williams was chosen to play in the World Cup final against New Zealand on 22 November 2008.

He played on the wing in Manly's 28–20 win over the Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road in the 2009 World Club Challenge match on 1 March. Williams along with some Manly teammates dyed his beard pink for the Women of League Round to raise money for charity, in their match against the Penrith Panthers in round 13 2009.

He was selected for City in the City vs Country match on 8 May 2009.[11]

He made his New South Wales debut on the wing in State of Origin 2 played on 24 June 2009. Unfortunately for Williams and his NSW teammates, Queensland won the game 24–14, and the series. Williams scored a try in each of the two games he played.

### 2010s

[edit]

In round 25 of the 2011 NRL season, Williams broke his neck against Melbourne and was ruled out for the rest of season, missing out on Manly's 24–10 win over the New Zealand Warriors in the 2011 NRL Grand Final. He was given 3 to 4 months to recover.

Williams made his return to top flight football on 17 February 2012 for Manly-Warringah when they again traveled to England to face the Leeds Rhino's in the 2012 World Club Challenge match, this time at the Rhino's home ground Headingley Carnegie Stadium. The Wolfman came through the match without further neck problems but his return was spoiled by his opposite number Ryan Hall who scored 2 tries in a Man of the Match performance (including a 95m intercept try in the 27th minute when Williams looked set to score in the corner) that helped Leeds reverse the 2009 result with a 26–12 win.

The Wolfman enjoyed a stellar year in 2013 for Manly-Warringah club and finished the minor round as the seasons equal leading try scorer having crossed for 19 tries. Williams won the award along with David Simmons from Penrith and James McManus of the Newcastle Knights.

Williams played in the 2013 NRL Grand Final loss against Sydney Roosters in which the player endured a horror night. Firstly Williams was out jumped for the ball in the first half by Daniel Tupou which led to a try. In the second half, Williams failed to kick the ball dead as roosters player Michael Jennings raced past him to score the winning try.[12][13]

On 10 July 2014, Williams was banned from playing in the NRL for the rest of the 2014 NRL season following revelations he had bet on matches.[14]

Williams returned to the Manly-Warringah squad in 2015, scoring the winning try in Manly's ANZAC Day match against Melbourne. He was named captain of Manly's NSW Cup team where he played at Fullback. He retired at the end of the season.

## Statistics

[edit]

Year  | Team  | Games  | Tries  | Goals  | Pts

|
|
|
|
|

2008  |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 20  | 14  | 2  | 60
2009  | 18  | 11  |  | 44
2011  | 12  | 8  |  | 32
2012  | 16  | 12  |  | 48
2013  | 27  | 20  |  | 80
2014  | 7  |  |  |
2015  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 8
| Totals  | 103  | 66  | 4  | 272

> The filming process was very different to preparing for a rugby league game.
> It's a lot easier than running at Sam Burgess.

Williams on his first acting role in 2013.[15]

## Outside football

[edit]

Williams made his acting debut in 2013 in Tropfest short film finalist Darkness Comes in which he plays a wolf man.[16] Apart from his work in the field Williams works as a part-time model. He has done modelling for Calvin Klein and the charity calendar, Gods of Football.[17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Adrian Proszenko, Daniel Lane (28 August 2011). "Quick-thinking Slater praised for first aid on Wolfman". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
2. ^ RLP
3. ^ "NRL Stats". Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
4. ^ Herald Sun
5. ^ "Baptism of fire for new Sea Eagle". Fox Sports. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
6. ^ Marshall, Matt (21 April 2009). "Brother wants to tame Wolfman". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
7. ^ "Grand final: As it happened". Fox Sports. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
8. ^ Gee, Steve (7 October 2008). "'Wolfman' David Williams has beard shaved off". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
9. ^ "Manly six win Australia call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
10. ^ Six manly players in australia squad Archived 7 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine – Sydney Morning Herald
11. ^ Balym, Todd (3 May 2009). "Blues halfback duel in two as Mitchell Pearce misses selection". Fox Sports. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
12. ^ "Grand final shocker behind me: Williams". www.abc.net.au. 31 January 2014.
13. ^ "NRL grand final: five things we learned". www.theguardian.com. 6 October 2013.
14. ^ "Williams banned for betting on NRL matches". www.abc.net.au. 10 July 2014.
15. ^ Auerbach, Taylor (11 December 2013). "Short film Bamboozled wins the 2013 Tropfest Film Festival at Centennial Park". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
16. ^ "From running on rugby league fields to acting on the Hollywood big screen". Fox Sports. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
17. ^ David Williams, a true god of football

## External links

[edit]

* NRL profile

* v
* t
* e

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles squad – 2008 NRL premiers (7th title)

* 1 Brett Stewart
* 2 Michael Robertson
* 3 Steven Bell
* 4 Steve Matai
* 5 David Williams
* 6 Jamie Lyon
* 7 Matt Orford (c)

* 8 Brent Kite
* 9 Matt Ballin
* 10 Josh Perry
* 11 Anthony Watmough
* 12 Glenn Hall
* 13 Glenn Stewart

* 14 Heath L'Estrange
* 15 Jason King
* 16 Mark Bryant
* 17 Steve Menzies

* Coach: Des Hasler

* v
* t
* e

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles squad – 2009 World Club Challenge winners

* 1 Brett Stewart
* 2 Michael Robertson
* 3 Jamie Lyon
* 4 Steve Matai
* 5 David Williams
* 6 Chris Bailey
* 7 Matt Orford (c)

* 8 Jason King
* 9 Matt Ballin
* 10 Josh Perry
* 11 Anthony Watmough
* 12 Glenn Hall
* 13 Glenn Stewart

* 14 Heath L'Estrange
* 15 Adam Cuthbertson
* 16 George Rose
* 18 Shane Rodney

* Coach: Des Hasler

* v
* t
* e

Australia squad – 2008 Rugby League World Cup finalists

* Boyd
* Campese
* Civoniceva
* Fitzgibbon
* Folau
* Gallen
* Gidley
* Hunt
* Inglis
* Kite
* Laffranchi
* Lockyer (c)
* Monaghan
* Perry
* Price
* Prince
* Slater
* Smith
* Stewart
* Tate
* Thurston
* Tupou
* Watmough
* Williams
* Coach: Stuart

* v
* t
* e

National Rugby League season top try scorers

* 1908 Horrie Miller
* 1909 Tommy Anderson
* 1910 Arthur McCabe
* 1911 Dave Garlick
* 1912 Roy Algie
* 1913 Harold Horder
* 1914 Harold Horder
* 1915 Frank Burge
* 1916 Frank Burge
* 1917 Harold Horder
* 1918 Frank Burge
* 1919 Gordon Wright
* 1920 Gordon Wright
* 1921 Gordon Wright
* 1922 Cec Blinkhorn
* 1923 Herman Peters
* 1924 Tommy Kennedy
* 1925 Benny Wearing
* 1926 Benny Wearing
* 1927 Benny Wearing
* 1928 Tony Redmond
* 1929 Alan Brady
* 1930 Morrie Boyle
* 1931 Jack Lynch
* 1932 Alan Ridley
* 1933 Jack Gray-Spence
* 1934 Dave Brown, Fred Gardner & Vic Hey
* 1935 Dave Brown
* 1936 Fred Tottey
* 1937 Fred Tottey
* 1938 Don Manson
* 1939 Sid Goodwin
* 1940 Jack Lindwall
* 1941 Percy Dermond & Sel Lisle
* 1942 Jack Lindwall
* 1943 Cyril McMahon
* 1944 Sid Goodwin
* 1945 Chicka Cahill & Jack Snare
* 1946 Jack Lindwall
* 1947 Bob Lulham
* 1948 Norm Jacobson
* 1949 Ron Roberts
* 1950 Jack Troy
* 1951 John Graves
* 1952 Peter O'Brien
* 1953 Ian Moir
* 1954 Ray Preston
* 1955 Brian Allsop & Ian Moir
* 1956 Tommy Ryan
* 1957 Tommy Ryan
* 1958 Eddie Lumsden
* 1959 Ken Irvine
* 1960 Reg Gasnier
* 1961 Johnny King
* 1962 Eddie Lumsden
* 1963 Reg Gasnier
* 1964 Reg Gasnier
* 1965 Johnny King
* 1966 Ken Irvine
* 1967 Les Hanigan
* 1968 Stan Gorton
* 1969 Ken Irvine
* 1970 Ken Irvine
* 1971 Paul Cross
* 1972 Bob Fulton
* 1973 Bob Fulton
* 1974 Kevin Junee & Bill Mullins
* 1975 Johnny Mayes
* 1976 Bob Fulton
* 1977 Russel Gartner
* 1978 Larry Corowa
* 1979 Mitch Brennan & Tom Mooney
* 1980 John Ribot & Wayne Wigham
* 1981 Terry Fahey
* 1982 Steve Ella
* 1983 Phil Blake
* 1984 Terry Lamb & Steve Morris
* 1985 Steve Linnane
* 1986 Phil Blake & Garry Schofield
* 1987 Terry Lamb
* 1988 John Ferguson
* 1989 Gary Belcher
* 1990 Mal Meninga
* 1991 Alan McIndoe
* 1992 Mark Bell & Tim Brasher
* 1993 Noa Nadruku
* 1994 Steve Renouf
* 1995 Steven Menzies
* 1996 Noa Nadruku
* 1997 Terry Hill (ARL) Matthew Ryan (SL)
* 1998 Darren Smith
* 1999 Nathan Blacklock
* 2000 Nathan Blacklock
* 2001 Nathan Blacklock
* 2002 Nigel Vagana
* 2003 Rhys Wesser
* 2004 Amos Roberts
* 2005 Matt Bowen
* 2006 Nathan Merritt
* 2007 Matt Bowen
* 2008 Brett Stewart
* 2009 Brett Morris
* 2010 Shaun Kenny-Dowall & Akuila Uate
* 2011 Ben Barba & Nathan Merritt
* 2012 Ben Barba
* 2013 Michael Jennings, Jorge Taufua & David Williams
* 2014 Alex Johnston
* 2015 Semi Radradra
* 2016 Jordan Rapana & Suliasi Vunivalu
* 2017 Josh Addo-Carr & Suliasi Vunivalu
* 2018 David Fusitu'a
* 2019 Maika Sivo
* 2020 Alex Johnston
* 2021 Alex Johnston
* 2022 Alex Johnston
* 2023 Dominic Young
* 2024 Alofiana Khan-Pereira

*[Pld]: Played
*[T]: Tries
*[G]: Goals
*[FG]: Field goals
*[P]: Points
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*[t]: Discuss this template
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