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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| Education | Marcellin College Randwick | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Joe Williams (born 4 September 1983) is an Australian sportsman. He became well-known for playing rugby league and later for his professional boxing career.
His rugby league journey lasted from 2004 to 2008. During this time, he played as a halfback (HB) and five-eighth (FE) for teams like the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
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Joe Williams' 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 later moved to the lower grades of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Joe went to Marcellin College Randwick and was chosen to play for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2001.
Winning the Jersey Flegg Grand Final
In 2002, Joe helped the Sydney Roosters win the Jersey Flegg Grand Final. He kicked the winning field goal against the St George Illawarra Dragons. After this, he joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs because he couldn't get into the Sydney Roosters' top team.
Joe Williams' NRL Career Highlights
Joe made his first-grade debut for South Sydney in 2004. This was in Round 12 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. His team lost that game, but Joe played 14 games in his first season. South Sydney finished last that year. The next two seasons were also tough for the team.
Reaching the Semi-Finals with South Sydney
The 2007 NRL season was a big one for Joe and the Rabbitohs. They reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1989. They lost to Manly in the first semi-final. Joe also played for the feeder club North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup. This meant he could play in their finals series. The Bears made it to the Grand Final but lost closely to Parramatta. Joe kicked a field goal late in the game, but Parramatta scored a try right at the end to win.
Moving to Penrith and Canterbury
In September 2007, Joe signed a one-year deal with the Penrith Panthers for the 2008 NRL season. He had first planned to play for a French team, Toulouse Olympique. However, he was released from his Penrith contract in May 2008. He then joined the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
After playing only two games with Canterbury-Bankstown, Joe decided to retire from rugby league. His last NRL game was a loss against the Canberra Raiders in 2008. After retiring from the NRL, he played for and later coached the Dubbo CYMS team in Country Rugby League in 2012.
Joe Williams' Boxing Career
After leaving rugby league, Joe Williams started a career in professional boxing. On 18 October 2014, 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.
Joe Williams' Life Beyond Sports
Joe Williams is the son of Wilfred Williams, who also played rugby league.
Speaking Out and Helping Others
Joe has openly shared his experiences with mental health challenges, especially during his time playing rugby league. In October 2014, a short story called The Enemy Within was released, which likely touched on his journey. Today, he works as a motivational speaker, inspiring others with his story.
Supporting Indigenous Rights
In October 2016, Joe Williams visited the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in the United States. This was during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. He carried an Australian Aboriginal flag to show his support and solidarity between Aboriginal Australians and Native Americans.
Music Appearances
Joe Williams also appeared in the music video for the song Are You With Me Out There by Brothablack. He was in the video alongside another famous Australian sportsman, Anthony Mundine.
