There's no guarantee he'll wear the Raiders No. 7 jersey next year, but halfback Sam Williams says he takes confidence from Canberra declining to release him to join the Gold Coast Titans.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Williams will be integral for the Raiders as they aim to keep their finals hopes alive when they host the Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium on Monday night.
But the 24-year-old's first-grade future at the Raiders beyond this season remains uncertain with the addition of Titans playmaker Aidan Sezer next year.
Sezer is expected to partner star five-eighth Blake Austin in the halves.
That leaves Williams - who has enjoyed a wonderful return to the NRL this year - on the outer.
Raiders chief executive Don Furner knocked back an approach from the Titans to release Williams from the final year of his contract.
"I'm glad the club showed enough faith in me that they don't want to release me," Williams said.
"I wasn't even too sure what happened.
"If they ring Donny and he says no, it doesn't matter how far it goes with me."
Williams would have had the inside running to play alongside rookie halfback Kane Elgey next season.
The Titans have now moved on and signed Brisbane Broncos under-20s star Ashley Taylor.
Williams came through the Raiders' junior ranks before making his first-grade debut in 2011.
He played three seasons in and out of the team before joining the St George Illawarra Dragons last year.
He left the Dragons mid-way through the season and played the remainder of the year with the Catalans Dragons in the Super League, before returning to the Raiders on a two-year deal.
"There's not many clubs where you have just the two halves," Williams said.
"I know some clubs have more depth than others, but I think there is always going to be a fight for positions.
"It's really good where we'll be in a position next year where players who have played more than 50 first-grade games and I think it's going to put the club in a good position.
"It's not something I'm stressing about at the moment, it's something I'll worry about in February next year."
Williams' focus is helping the Raiders reach the finals.
To do that, they will have to win four of their remaining five games.
"We're in the position where the ball is still in our court, and if we're playing good footy then we're going to be in the finals," Williams said.
"There's no point coming down to the last week and we've had a couple losses and it means nothing to us.
"We need to make sure we go out there on Monday night, have a win and start taking a little bit of momentum into the finals."
The Raiders will have to start their surge to the finals without several key troops.
Second-rower Sia Soliolia is out for the rest of the season with a fractured cheekbone, hooker Josh Hodgson will miss one to two weeks with an ankle injury while winger Edrick Lee is serving a one-game suspension for tripping.
Raiders captain Jarrod Croker said the nine-day turnaround between the Tigers game and last weekend's 32-24 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys couldn't have come at a better time.
"We've had a big couple weeks with a golden point game against the Sharks and a warm game at Penrith into a short turnaround to Townsville with a bit of travel as well," Croker said.
"Sia's been one of our more consistent players and you saw his toughness and courage last week.
"It's an unfortunate situation, but that's the game we play."
