GEORGE Williams admits the way in which Warrington Wolves’ 2024 season ended will not be easily shrugged off.

However, he admits he is grateful for the distraction of playing for England to help numb the pain.

Just over three weeks after The Wire agonisingly missed out on their first Super League Grand Final since 2018, Williams will lead his country out in his hometown of Wigan on Sunday as they face Samoa in the first of two Test matches.

And while this is usually the time of year for rest and recuperation, the half-back admits he would rather still be playing this year more than most.

He also says the fact he has been joined in Shaun Wane’s squad by four of his Wire teammates, giving the club the joint-most representatives in the 24-man party alongside champions Wigan Warriors, demonstrates that it was a season to be proud of at club level.

“We had so many players playing well and it shows,” he said.

“Ben Currie was in career-best form, Danny Walker’s getting better and better and Matty Ashton’s a late bloomer having come on the scene a bit later – he’s unbelievable.

“How the season ended will hurt for a while, but this will help me take my mind off it.

“I can use it to try and maybe right some wrongs as it’s a chance to get out there and play again, which is always nice.

“A lot of our lads are on holiday now, but I’d rather be playing for England than on holiday. I’m much happier to be here.

“It’s something I always and enjoy and love. Playing for England is always a privilege and something I look forward to, whenever and wherever it is.”

The two-Test series has been billed as something of a “revenge mission” for England, whose dreams of a World Cup Final on home soil were dashed by a golden-point semi-final defeat to Samoa when the sides last met in 2022.

Williams was part of the England side that day and admits that remains the low point of his career, but that it taught him and his teammates a valuable lesson.

“There’s been a lot of change within both teams from that game,” he said.

“That’s the worst loss I’ve ever taken in my career – I’ve lost Grand Finals and Challenge Cup Finals, but this one just hit differently.

“There was a chance to play in a World Cup Final in your home country, which might never come around again for me, so it hurt really badly.

“It showed us that if you’re not a nine out of 10 in international rugby league, you’re going to get beat. They’re the standards you’ve got to have.

“We were a bit off that day and Samoa got us, so we know where we need to be to win.”

The fact there’s a series happening at all is something of a victory for England, with Samoa understood to have initially turned down the opportunity to tour before eventually agreeing to Tests at Wigan’s Brick Community Stadium on Sunday and Headingley in Leeds on Saturday, November 2.

Having swept aside Tonga 3-0 in a Test series last year, this year’s games continue the build-up to the next Rugby League World Cup – due to be held in 2026 – for Wane’s side, with an Ashes series against Australia pencilled in for next year.

“I think it’s what we need,” Williams said.

“As players, you want to be playing against the best teams and the best nations.

“We’ve been limited over the past couple of years but to have had Tonga and now Samoa, leading into maybe an Ashes series and then a World Cup, that’s exactly what you want and it’s exciting.

“No disrespect to France, but I don’t think we’ll get as much out of playing them as we do out of playing against Samoa.”

As captain, Williams’ place in the side is arguably the most secure but who partners him in the halves is one of the many live debates surrounding team selection.

On paper, it is a tough decision for Wane as he chooses between Harry Smith, who has helped steer Wigan Warriors to an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, and newly-crowned Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Mikey Lewis of beaten Grand Finalists Hull KR.

So does Williams have a preference?

“I’m glad I’m not the coach,” he said.

“Harry’s obviously won the comp for the past two years and has won trophy after trophy at Wigan, but Mikey’s just had the season of his life and has won the Man of Steel.

“Luckily, we’ve got some good depth and whoever Waney goes with, I’ll be happy for him.”