RETIRING halfback Joe Williams got the finish he deserved when Brothers embarrassed Temora 50-6 at Equex Centre yesterday.
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After a fabulous career, which included NRL stints at the Rabbitohs and Roosters, Williams bowed out in glory as the Brethren smashed the Dragons by nine tries to one.
In a game that promised little and delivered exactly that, Williams at least was able to savour one last football hurrah before turning his hands to boxing on a full-time basis.
Reflecting later on his 15 magic years of first grade in Sydney and the bush, the star playmaker did not have to pause to think of his fondest highlight.
"I've played in grand finals and everything else, but playing alongside my old man (Wilfred) was the best," Williams said with passion.
"That's something I won't forget."
Like his son, Wilfred Williams had all the rugby league gifts and played with and against some of the best of his generation.
For Joe Williams, yesterday's farewell was tinged with disappointment as Brothers struggled home in seventh spot on the Group Nine table.
"The year could have been a lot better," he said.
"I can think of four games we should have won ... that's eight points."
On a day when Williams finally called time on rugby league to prepare for a world title boxing defence, Brothers gave Temora the complete rounds of the kitchen in a game of questionable standard.
Both teams struggled for headway in the opening 20 minutes before Brothers broke the bonds courtesy of some nifty work from Williams.
A long pass from the halfback set things in motion before replacement Zac Wilson skirted the touchline to score the first try in the 23rd minute.
Barely 90 second later, Williams was in the thick of the action again, delivering a pass for second-rower Tom Warner to send skipper Blake Dunn strolling across for another try.
By the time Williams and Wilson combined to put a steaming Brayden Sharrock over in the 36th minute, the Brethren were up 20-0 and in no danger.
Temora still managed a consolation try to lightweight second-rower Sam Kerry right on half-time, but it was hardly enough to raise hopes of a Dragons revival in the second half.
Still, any delirious thoughts of a Temora comeback, however, were totally wiped away after Ben Warner (45th minute), Isaac MacKenzie (48th) and Matt Ward (54th) posted tries for the Wagga team.
Again Williams had a hand in the lead-up to two of them to further etch his mark on the landslide victory.
Significantly, Williams was not the only Brothers player to finish up yesterday.
Prop Sione Nuilia also played his last game as the Brethren walloped the Dragons.
Nuilia did not get a try in the Dragons slaughter, but was given the honour to boot the conversion of Ward's try in the 54th minute.
With Williams and Nuilia gone, a new chapter will start for Brothers in 2015 as Ben Black takes over as captain-coach.
Just as Dunn and Tom Warner were sensational yesterday, Black will desperately need them to carry it on next year