Tom's father Steve played for the Parramatta Eels in the New South Wales Rugby League between 1975 and 1976 and was a co-founder of the Brisbane Broncos.
He was rushed into the 2004 Under 18 championships having played just 15 games of Australian rules football, from which he was taken as the Bulldogs first round pick in the draft.
Willams played well enough to earn a NAB Rising Star nomination in round 18.
[3] On 4 October 2007, Williams and fellow team member Daniel Cross leaped into the water of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong to rescue a woman attempting to commit suicide.
[5] Following the incident, both Williams and Cross were awarded certificates of commendation by Hong Kong's Director of Marine.