In the midst of his first NRL pre-season, promising young Shark Nikora Williams has received one of the most prestigious awards for schoolboy athletes in NSW.
The Endeavour Sports High School graduate was presented with the Val Lembit Memorial Trophy for the Most Outstanding Male Representative at the NSW Combined High School Sports Awards at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.
He joins a storied list of sporting champions like swimmer Ian Thorpe, cricketer Steve Waugh, golfer Nick Flanagan and NRL players such as Blake Green, Cameron King and current Kangaroos star Zac Lomax to have earned the accolade.
Williams also received a NSW CHS Blue, a time-honoured award recognising those who have represented their state with distinction in their chosen sport.
"It's an honour to get it. I'm very grateful because there a lot of names there like Ian Thorpe and Zac Lomax who have won that award," Williams said of receiving the Val Lembit Memorial Trophy.
"Hearing my name get called out was a very pleasant surprise."
A goal-kicking outside back, Williams represented the Sharks in the SG Ball Cup (under 19s) this year before a handful of appearances in the Jersey Flegg Cup (under 21s).
Such is his talent, the teenager is training with the NRL squad over summer.
"It's a dream come true, definitely, but it's very hard," he said.
"All the coaching staff set a standard and you've got to live up to that standard every day when you're coming to training.
"It's nerve-wracking at times, but I'm grateful I've been given the opportunity by the Cronulla Sharks and the coaching staff to be able to train with the big boys for the first time."
Williams paid tribute to experienced Sharks junior rep coach Dave Howlett, who convinced him to abandon plans to drop out of Shire Christian School in Year 10 to start a trade apprenticeship and instead move to Endeavour Sports High under his tutelage.
Howlett was also Williams' SG Ball coach this year.
"I was grateful to learn off Dave," Williams, an Aquinas Colts junior, said.
"He knows a lot about footy and I take in whatever he talks about. I use it whether it's on the field or off the field. I just take all the lessons he's told me and I apply it to my everyday life."
Howlett described Williams as "one of the most passionate students I've had anything to do with".
"He absolutely loved the team, the Endeavour Rugby League Program and the school. He's left a mark that will last well after he leaves,” he added.
"The thing that sets him apart from other boys is his will to win and the fact he'll do whatever it takes on the field to help his team achieve.
"He's tenacious and competitive. I coached him at school and the Sharks, and he had exactly the same passion for both teams. He just loves being part of a team environment and trying to inspire other people.
"I'm really hopeful he'll blossom into an NRL player and a great team member at that level too.
"We're proud as a program and a school that we've played a role in his development as a person and player and we look forward to following his journey.”
Had he committed to the decision to leave school and become a tradie, Williams would've missed out on a raft of rugby league achievements. He represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2023 and made his mark at that level again this season.
"I was part of the NSW CHS team as captain (reaching the ASSRL National Championships final) and then got selected for the Aussie Schoolboys where we went to the Gold Coast to play France and played against Papua New Guinea over in Papua New Guinea," he said.
The skilful outside back scored the match-tying try in a 22-all draw with PNG in October.
With hard work his focus, Williams will look to take the next step in 2025. Howlett believes the rigours of an NRL pre-season will prepare him perfectly for higher grades.
"Hopefully next year I can play more consistent Flegg and, if I'm able to, have a crack at (NSW) Cup," Williams said.
Meanwhile, Engadine High School student Blake Wardrobe also earned a coveted NSW CHS Blue award for his touch football achievements. Wardrobe, who has played junior reps for the Sharks alongside Williams, captained the 2024 NSWCHSSA open touch football team.
