Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur believes that big man Tony Williams deserves a contract extension with the team.
Williams is now at a crossroads in his NRL career, with his contract expiring this off-season and his unfortunate injury in last weekend's win over the West Tigers where he ruptured his ACL, his future remains cloudy.
“It’s early days but everything he’s done has indicated to us that he’s someone that we want to try and keep for next year,” Arthur told foxsports.com.au.
“We’ll have to wait and see where that gets to. He trained really hard and I’m sure he’ll train hard to get himself back ... Hopefully he’ll be right to do a full pre-season and then we’ll go from there.”
Less than a year ago, Parramatta signed the star to a one-year deal to test how he would fit with the team and continue to monitor the 29-year-old and reassess a potential new contract at the conclusion of the next season.
The time has come for the club to make the assessment of whether they will keep him on board, but Williams has no intention of stepping away from the game just yet.
“I wake up every morning, look at my partner and kids and know I have to play again ... the thought of providing for them will get me through this,” Williams told PlayersVoice.
“Another knee reconstruction, another season lost. It’s frustrating and depressing. I have only managed six NRL games in the past two seasons. But I know I have to keep going, to keep on playing for my family."
