Neck surgery leaves George Williams’ Warrington Wolves return uncertain

Warrington head coach Sam Burgess said the best-case scenario was that Williams was back by mid-September and would finish his five-year Warrington career and return to the NRL at the end of the season.

“George is due to go for surgery next week,” Burgess told BBC Radio Merseyside.

“That gives us a start with the recovery, and it’s not as simple as when boys get their shoulders or ankles done, there are more complexities around the neck.

“So I guess it’s a minimum 12 weeks and a minimum four weeks after that. That would be the time frame in the best case and we’re not going to know until eight, 10 weeks down the line.

“What I can say is that George is as healthy as can be going into it, he looks almost healthy enough to play.

“It’s not like he’s in pain or anything, but it’s something that needs doing.

“I guess the setting of the surgery day gives us all a bit of, not closure, but something to work from and we go from there.”