Inductee Dennis Williams

ARL HOL V2

HALL OF FAME - DENNIS WILLIAMS

Auckland club teams Te Atatu (1970-1980) Glenora (1981) Auckland representative record Auckland (1971-1981) Victories over touring sides Australia (1971 and 1977), Great Britain (1974 and 1977), Wales (1975) and France (1975 and 1977) Half century of games for Auckland
Personal honours 30 caps for the Kiwis (1971-1981) New Zealand Rugby League Legends of League inductee (1995) Rothville Trophy Player of the Year winner (1977) Dennis Williams The man who led Auckland through their most successful season on record achieved feats in the mighty blue jersey which will probably never be matched. The skipper of Auckland’s 1977 Grand Slam winning side, Dennis Williams captained victories over Australia, Great Britain and France that year. In 10 seasons with the region’s representative side Williams beat full international touring teams on seven occasions: Australia, Great Britain and France twice and Wales once. Those games were among the first in Auckland to be played under floodlights, adding a level of excitement to matches which hadn’t been experienced before as the crowds flocked to Carlaw Park.
It seems astounding given his success at representative level that Williams never won a premiership at club level, appearing in only one final with Glenora, losing to Mount Albert, in his final season of 1981. A centre or five eighth with mesmerising footwork and speed off the mark, Williams is arguably the finest player to come out of the Te Atatu Roosters. t international level he has the rare distinction of scoring a try with his first touch of the ball in his debut game for the Kiwis. What made it even more impressive? He was only that day celebrating his 18th birthday. To this day Williams remains the youngest ever Kiwi international. In 30 games for New Zealand he scored four tries and won nine encounters. Williams continues to reside in west Auckland to this day.