Born in Canterbury, New South Wales in 1929, Willey was graded by the Canterbury-Bankstown Berries in 1948 as a , but was soon shifted to , and was the Berries regular first-grade fullback and goal-kicker from 1949 to 1953. In 1951, he was appointed captain for four games at the age of 21.
Born in Canterbury, New South Wales in 1929, Willey began his career as a , but transitioned to , and served as the Canterbury-Bankstown Berries' regular first-grade fullback and goal-kicker from 1949 to 1953. At age 21, he was appointed captain for four games in 1951.