Joe Williams (rugby league) facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Full name | Joe Williams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 September 1983 Cowra, New South Wales, Australia |
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Playing information
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| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 80 kg (12 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback, Five-eighth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Joe Williams (born 4 September 1983) is an Australian sportsman. He is famous for playing rugby league and for being a professional boxer.
His rugby league journey lasted from 2004 to 2008. During this time, he played as a halfback (HB) and five-eighth (FE). He played for teams like the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the top-level NRL.
Contents
Early Life and Rugby Beginnings
Joe Williams was born in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. He started playing rugby league as a junior for the Cowra Magpies. He also went to Marcellin College Randwick for his education.
In 2001, Joe was chosen to play for the Australian Schoolboys team. This was a big achievement for a young player.
Playing Rugby League
In 2002, Joe played in the Jersey Flegg Grand Final. He kicked the winning field goal for the Sydney Roosters. This helped them beat the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Joe later joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He made his first-grade debut in 2004. This was in a game against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He played 14 games in his first season.
The next few years were tough for the Rabbitohs. They often finished at the bottom of the league table.
Reaching the Semi-Finals
In the 2007 NRL season, Joe Williams helped the South Sydney Rabbitohs reach the semi-finals. This was their first time in the semi-finals since 1989! They played against Manly but lost the game.
Joe also played for the North Sydney Bears, a team linked to South Sydney. He helped the Bears reach the Grand Final in their competition. They lost a very close game to Parramatta. Joe even kicked a field goal near the end of that game.
Moving Teams and Retirement
In 2007, Joe signed with the Penrith Panthers for the 2008 NRL season. He played only one game for them before moving to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
After playing just two games for the Bulldogs, Joe decided to retire from rugby league. His last NRL game was in 2008. After leaving the NRL, he played and later coached for a local team called Dubbo CYMS.
Boxing Career
After retiring from rugby league, Joe Williams started a new career in boxing. He became a professional boxer.
In 2014, he won a big boxing match. He successfully defended his World Boxing Federation (WBF) junior welterweight world title. He also won a World Boxing Association (WBA) Asian title in the same fight.
Life Outside Sport
Joe Williams is the son of Wilfred Williams, who also played rugby league.
Joe has become a motivational speaker. He shares his life experiences to help and inspire others. He talks about facing challenges and finding strength.
In 2016, Joe visited the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in the United States. He went there during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. He carried an Australian Aboriginal flag to show support. This showed the connection between Aboriginal Australians and Native Americans.
Joe also appeared in a music video. He was in the Are You With Me Out There video by Brothablack, along with Anthony Mundine.
Career Statistics
- First Grade Debut: 2004 - Round 12, Souths vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Toyota Park, 29 May. He scored three goals in this game.
- North Sydney Bears: From 2007 to 2010, he played 19 games. He scored 7 tries, 54 goals, and 3 field goals, adding up to 133 points.
