Cast your mind back to 2018; it is the first season of the Women’s Super League and St. Helens, a rugby league powerhouse, sign Naomi Williams to their inaugural side.
The club pioneer in the female rugby league world known simply as ‘Nom’ has confirmed that her boots are being hung up.
Since that first game seven years ago, Williams has played 95 games, scored 32 tries, won four Women’s Challenge Cups and won Women’s Super League title.
Despite her retirement as a player, Williams, also a former England international, will remain at the club as an assistant coach in the Women’s Pathway to Performance (P2P) programme.
Williams, standing aside dutifully with the talent coming through the ranks, believes the time is right for her to step aside from the game as a player.
“It feels like the right time for me; at the age I am now, I would not want to be taking up someone else’s spot in the squad, especially with the talent we have got coming through,” Williams said.
“You only have to look at Erin [McDonald] this year; she has come on leaps and bounds, and I would never want to stand in the way of that.”
With time to reflect on what was for her as a player, Williams says she has made lifelong friends at the club and that donning the St. Helens jersey is still her proudest moment to date.
“The Saints girls are absolutely incredible. I’ve made some of the best friends I’ve ever had, and I won’t be losing any of those friendships — I’ve already told them I’ll be outside every week with a pen and paper asking for autographs,” Williams continued.
“More than anything, I’ll miss pulling on that Red V. I’ve been a Saints fan all my life, was a season ticket holder from being thirteen, and at Knowsley Road I had ‘Roby’ on the back of my shirt.
“I never dreamt of being able to play for my country – I was lucky to be able to do that – but the real dream for me was always to play for Saints, and it has meant everything to me.”
Craig Richards, a joint coach of the St. Helens women’s side had nothing but praise for Williams.
“Thinking back to some of our first conversations, ‘Nom’ always spoke about what the shirt meant to her, how much she loves this club, and it continues to show; if she’s not selected to play, she will be there in the stands to cheer the team on,” Richards said.
“Everyone loves her and being around her. She has been the backbone of the team.
“It is fantastic that she will be part of our P2P programme and help the next generation push forward. From a coaching point of view, I think the sky is the limit for her.”