And the Canberra Raiders halfback is loving have one of the best No.7s there's ever been fine-tuning his game.

Williams is heading into his first NRL finals series at the end of his first season in the NRL - against the Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

He's played in four grand finals with Wigan before he shifted Down Under from the English Super League.

The 25-year-old spent most of those 161 first-grade games for Wigan at five-eighth, before switching to halfback at the Raiders.

Losing hooker Josh Hodgson (knee) midway through the season heaped more responsibility on Williams' shoulders to lead the team around.

But it's something he's relished - especially with the help of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who played halfback for Australia and NSW.

"I've loved it. I played a lot of six in England and being halfback's a little different - you've got to be a bit more vocal," Williams said.

"It's something I'm learning each week and under 'Sticky' it helps. He's obviously been doing it a long time and doing it for years.

"I'm learning off the best and trying to learn each week.

"I could go on all day [about how he's helped me]. Just little subtle things in my game that he's been really good with me.

"He reviews my game each week and he wants to get better, and I want to get better, so we're both going in the same direction."

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

While everyone's written the Sharks off - they haven't beaten a top-eight side all year - the Raiders weren't taking them lightly.

The Raiders have identified the start as crucial. They've only scored the first try once in the past nine games - when they rested nine of their regulars against the Sharks last weekend.

They've won all seven games they've scored first, and have gone on to win seven of 13 when they didn't.

The first half has been their Achilles heel in their six losses this season - conceding eight tries to two in the opening 20 minutes, and 14 tries to five in the first 40.

Overall, they've slightly edged the first half before dominating the second stanza.

"I think the start's massive and I think having 10,000 there [Saturday] night will help us start well," Raiders captain Jarrod Croker said.

"If we can start well and get into that arm wrestle, it will be better for the back end."

NRL ELIMINATION FINAL

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks, 5.40pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Semi Valemei 3. Jarrod Croker (c) 4. Jordan Rapana 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Tom Starling 10. Dunamis Lui 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Sia Soliola 16. Hudson Young 17. Corey Harawira-Naera. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 21. Matt Timoko.

Sharks quad: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Dugan 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Connor Tracey 7. Chad Townsend 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Toby Rudolf. Interchange: 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Andrew Fifita 17. Jack Williams. Reserves: 18. Teig Wilton 20. Mawene Hiroti.