THREE years after Joe Williams was a villain in Wellington, the former NRL player-turned-boxer will turn hero in the town after news emerged this week that he has signed on to play with the Cowboys for the remainder of the 2015 Group 11 season.
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It was back in April of 2012 that Williams, who was coaching Dubbo CYMS at the time, stood up from the bench at Kennard Park with his team trailing and took off his tracksuit to reveal a Fishies playing strip.
With his team in trouble he took to the field and booted a late field goal to give CYMS a 29-28 win.
Fast forward to this Sunday and he will be wearing the maroon and w hite of Wellington when they take to the field against competition frontrunners Parkes at Jock Colley Field.
"It will be different having the Wello fans cheering for me instead of against me, but I'm really looking forward to it," Williams said.
"I've been having the conversation with (Wellington president) Trent McQuillan for a couple of years now about eventually playing with the Cowboys, and this seemed like a good time.
"After I got stopped in my last fight I have to take a mandatory spell from boxing, and I'm really looking forward to testing myself in Group 11 again. I played one of my first knockouts with Wellington and know a lot of people in the community so it's going to be good.
"My son Rome is four years old now. He's starting to play footy and I can spend some more weekends with him.
"My partner Courtney Merritt can be closer to her family as well, and our son Ari can see a bit more of Court's family as well."
The fact that Williams is making a comeback will come as a shock to nobody, as he has always been a person to test himself.
After spending time with the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney, Penrith and Canterbury during his NRL days, he returned to the bush and spent a couple of seasons with Dubbo CYMS before moving to Wagga Wagga at the end of the 2012 season.
He guided the Fishies to a premiership in 2011, winning the Bob Weir Medal in the process, before coaching them to a runner-up finish in 2012.
Since then he has combined boxing with the odd football cameo, and is looking forward to the challenge of taking on Parkes first up on Sunday.
"We can't expect miracles and that it will all happen this weekend, and there's no bigger challenge than taking on Parkes," Williams said.
"Dennis Moran is one of the most competitive guys I've played against and he obviously has them going well.
"But Wellington are sitting in fourth place at the moment, and (coach) Justin (Toomey-White) is doing a great job with the side.
"It's really important to recognise that because I don't want my arrival to downplay any of the good work that the boys have done so far."
