RHYS Williams talks Boro, Premier League and his ambitions for the Socceroos.

There’s quite a bit of expectation on the shoulders of the young Socceroo players coming through the ranks, isn’t there?

I think the expectation on the young players coming through is something we thrive on,to be honest. Without a bit of a push or expectations, what’s a footballer? You can’t just plod along, doing your own thing in your career. The expectation affects us all
and we’re a hungry group of boys who are looking to push and start for our country. We know Holger is keeping an eye on us in training and that you’ll get your opportunity if you’re doing well. I think the main thing is that he trusts you. If you’re part of one of his squads then you know you have his trust to get the job done. You’re not just there to make up the numbers.

You’re one of many young players Holger has played in important matches since he took control of the Socceroos. Are you surprised how much faith he has in youth?

He obviously believes in the old adage that if you’re good enough, then you’ll play. I don’t think age or where a player is playing comes into it when he is selecting a squad or a starting XI. In the end, Holger wants to put his best players out on the pitch and we’re starting to get a few of the younger boys making their way into the team. The older players have been helping us along, but at the same time fighting for their places, so there’s a great atmosphere of friendly competition at the moment. Everyone wants to play for their country and wants to give 100 per cent in every game.

So having the experienced players helps you, too? Or do you look at them and think it’s time to knock them off?

I don’t think it’s so much of a case of wanting to knock them off. When I look at players like Luke Wilkshire and Lucas Neill and Timmy Cahill, I’m thinking I want to be where they are and have what they have. When they were younger, they were thinking the same thing about the players ahead of them. And I’ve had so much help off the likes of Emmo, Luke and Lucas. They’ve been huge influences on my career so far – just watching them in training, going 100 per cent all the time. That’s what I’m trying to achieve. But we are the next generation and it’s normal to want to be where they are now.

You’ve had an up and down Socceroo career so far, mostly due to injuries. How do you bounce back from that, and how do you feel about the last couple of years?

Since I came back from injury about a year ago, it’s been going great. I’ve forced my way back into the team and Holger has shown faith in me. I came on at half-time in both the games last summer, which was brilliant to get my foot in the door, and from then on I haven’t missed a camp. It’s always nice to have a manager who believes in you and I saw that when he selected me to play against Oman. I know it was a bad result but to get the call in such an important game did me the world of good. It shows me that if I can continue progressing I can get a foot in the door and hopefully make a spot my own in the future. 

Having the confidence of the boss is key for youngsters in the squad then?

Of course. I’m a confidence player and I think if a manager believes in me then it brings out the best in me. And that’s what’s happening with the national team for me at the moment. I’m enjoying going away with the squad and I’ve always got a chance of playing at the minute. I had to bide my time in the past, and with the old manager I would play here and there, but now I think I’m ready to step up and stake a claim for a regular place.

You once said that you don’t like being a bit-part player. How does that sit with your position as a Socceroo, maybe when you’re not playing every game?

Yeah, of course I realise that the players are in the team on merit, on the quality of their play. As a professional, you never like being a bit-part player. But I think it’s different coming into the national team compared to a club because, for Middlesbrough, I want to be playing every week and show people what I can do. With the national team, things change because I know right now that I don’t deserve to be starting. I set my standards high and I hope to be one of those players who will command a regular place in the future.

You mentioned the influence of the older generation of Socceroos. How have they helped you?

They’re all great boys and you couldn’t say a bad word about any of them. If you need anything they are always there – even though Lucas is in Abu Dhabi, I can text him or call him for a chat, and the same with Luke Wilkshire. They’ve definitely helped me and I think it’s a real advantage to have players like them around the national team because being in that situation can get in people’s heads sometimes at a young age. What’s good is that they’re around to keep you grounded and stop you getting ahead of yourself. They have taken me under their wing and have looked after me and I really appreciate that.

How do you feel about the last World Cup qualification group?

The pressure is on now. At the end of the day, we’re Australia and we should be confident in our ability to go out and perform. We’ve made the last two World Cups now and I think the pressure is on us a little, but we thrive on that pressure. And I think we live up to it. It’s a big group and we can’t wait to play these games. I’m sure the other players will say this too, but we’re a positive group, very ambitious and we know   we can qualify.

You played some of your best football this season but recently had a bad ankle injury. How disappointing has that been for you?

It’s been a nightmare really, as I’ve played 32 league games this season and I thought this might be the time that I play an entire season but it wasn’t to be. I’ve been out for a while now – obviously I want to be playing but I don’t want to cause more damage and beout for a longer time either.

You came eighth in a manager’s poll for the best player in the English Championship.

It’s a massive accolade for me because it wasn’t just from the papers or the TV but from all the managers in the league, who obviously know a lot about football. It was brilliant to be on that list – I’m shocked to get in the top eight at my club, let alone the league! There’s a lot of good players in the league so overall I’m delighted with it and it’s something I’ll always be proud of.

Tony Mowbray is your coach at Middlesbrough and he’s viewed as one of the best home-grown managers in the UK. How has he influenced you?

He’s brilliant. He’s probably the main reason why I signed the long-term contract with Boro. He’s got so much belief in me and I’ve played a lot of games under him. He’s never rushed me with my injury and he’s always there for me. If I knock on his door, he always has time to talk. He’s been a big influence.

He said he didn’t want you to leave when Bolton came knocking. It must be good to know how highly he rates you.

Both he and the chairman were keen to keep me and they told me what their plans were for the future. I’m an ambitious boy and the manager knows that. He said to me one day [the Premier League] will come. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. I listened to the gaffer and the chairman and they encouraged me that it was a good idea to stay. At the end of the day, I couldn’t be happier playing every week, pushing for promotion to the Premier League and I would love to play there with Middlesbrough. Long term I want to play in the Premier League – whether I’m good enough and if anyone wants me, time will tell. But my main focus is with Middlesbrough and I want to play at the highest level with them.

You also have two brothers, Aryn at Burnley and Ryan with Fulham. How are they doing?

They’re both flying! I went to watch Aryn at Burnley at the Youth Cup semi-final recently, which is massive over here. There were 12,000 people and he played a blinder – he won the sponsor’s Man of the Match and all the fans were saying what a good player he is. I’m over the moon for him. I think Aryn feels he needs to play catch up with how well his brother is doing but I would love to have been where he was at his age. He’s flying and I’m sure you’ll see him in the Green and Gold shortly. With Ryan, he’s doing well at Fulham too. He’s trained with the first team, playing in the reserves and seems really settled. And he’s just got a call up to a camp for the U23s, which is great news. I’m so proud of them.

So there could be a trio of Williams’s playing for Australia one day?

That’s definitely something we have talked about happening one day. It’s funny because when we fly back to Australia, I’m in business class and the boys are in economy and I said it would be nice if one day all three of us are up there going back to play for the national team. That would be brilliant but it’s a long time away. First we need to be playing for  our teams and then push on from there.

In your last FFT interview, we said you’re a future Socceroos captain. That has a nice ring to it.

That would be brilliant. That’s come as a shock to me! I would love to one day captain my country – that would be the best thing that could ever happen to me.

This article appeared in the June 2012 issue of Australian FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.

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