Gareth Widdop attracts interest from Canberra Raiders

[FuiFui BradBrad]

Is this the time we mention John Folau for no uncertain reason?

Waiting for the right moment, don’t want to go off too early

[greeneyed]

What is John Folau actually doing at the moment?

[manbearpig]

Is this the time we mention John Folau for no uncertain reason?

Waiting for the right moment, don’t want to go off too early

GH lore.
Along side
scrapbooks
Player's name - year, profiles (eg fergo2012)
Tony Williams....and
A petrol station

[FuiFui BradBrad]

What is John Folau actually doing at the moment?

I think he’s a barista at Raiders HQ? He’s always seen having coffees with Don

[Le Cam]

I think the club could do a lot worse than Widdop. I think jumping on someone based on potential is the wrong thing and if Widdop is the best stop gap I would not be against it. He’s a good player and if he has something left in his legs it could be ok.

All of the current NRL based options are pretty much no go’s for mine. If you get Widdop for a year and a half on not huge money then you can actually devise a proper plan moving forward rather than jumping on a player for the medium term that is the wrong fit.

Strong agree

[sprintman]

Been having a look at Warrington forum. They’re saying Widdop has been playing well and they’d rather keep him than gain GW who they think has signed or about to. Give Widdop a year and it gives us breathing space…

[kiwi raider]

As long as he's cheap and its only this year and next. 500k is too much for a 33 year old who hasnt been playing in the nrl and has injury issues .
350k and it could be worth a punt

[afgtnk]

Been having a look at Warrington forum. They’re saying Widdop has been playing well and they’d rather keep him than gain GW who they think has signed or about to. Give Widdop a year and it gives us breathing space…

I'd take that with a pinch of salt. What works regularly in the ESL doesn't work here. They may as well be playing a different game.

English fans rant and rave about guys like Hastings, Sezer, consider them to be top halves, yet they've shown to be highly ordinary at NRL level.

[Rickmando]

Signing Widdop is the same admission that we won’t be competitive in 2022 that sticking with Sam Williams would be… the only difference is price. I refuse to believe a 33 year old playing in an inferior competition is the answer (any kind of answer) for us next year or beyond

[MrPosh]

Been having a look at Warrington forum. They’re saying Widdop has been playing well and they’d rather keep him than gain GW who they think has signed or about to. Give Widdop a year and it gives us breathing space…

I'd take that with a pinch of salt. What works regularly in the ESL doesn't work here. They may as well be playing a different game.

English fans rant and rave about guys like Hastings, Sezer, consider them to be top halves, yet they've shown to be highly ordinary at NRL level.

We do no such thing.

Hastings is a good player, but nowhere near an international. He'll be an upgrade for the Tigers next year, but not someone who will move the needle.

Sezer has been a run of the mill half in the ESL. Another Sam Williams or Michael Dobson. Absolutely fine, but not worth a lot of money.

[GreenMachine]

Widdop is playing as a second receiver..,
So yeah, going to be fun watching us play two 5/8ths again after the first experiment failed…

He’s not an organising halfback as many here seem to be obsessed with…

Starting to think we just run with Williams and strengthen other positions…

[afgtnk]

Been having a look at Warrington forum. They’re saying Widdop has been playing well and they’d rather keep him than gain GW who they think has signed or about to. Give Widdop a year and it gives us breathing space…

I'd take that with a pinch of salt. What works regularly in the ESL doesn't work here. They may as well be playing a different game.

English fans rant and rave about guys like Hastings, Sezer, consider them to be top halves, yet they've shown to be highly ordinary at NRL level.

We do no such thing.

Hastings is a good player, but nowhere near an international. He'll be an upgrade for the Tigers next year, but not someone who will move the needle.

Sezer has been a run of the mill half in the ESL. Another Sam Williams or Michael Dobson. Absolutely fine, but not worth a lot of money.

You sure?

I've been through enough of the English forums to understand what the consensus about them is. Guys like Hastings and Sezer get rated above George Williams, possibly because they're more comfortable with increased space and time - a laughable prospect when considered in NRL conditions.

[Finchy]

How often do average to below average NRL halves go to the ESL and end up blitzing it straight away or winning a Man of Steel award? Austin, Hastings, Dobson, Chase, etc

[Postman Pat]

Been having a look at Warrington forum. They’re saying Widdop has been playing well and they’d rather keep him than gain GW who they think has signed or about to. Give Widdop a year and it gives us breathing space…

I'd take that with a pinch of salt. What works regularly in the ESL doesn't work here. They may as well be playing a different game.

English fans rant and rave about guys like Hastings, Sezer, consider them to be top halves, yet they've shown to be highly ordinary at NRL level.

We do no such thing.

Hastings is a good player, but nowhere near an international. He'll be an upgrade for the Tigers next year, but not someone who will move the needle.

Sezer has been a run of the mill half in the ESL. Another Sam Williams or Michael Dobson. Absolutely fine, but not worth a lot of money.

Are you sure?

Hastings won the man of steel award, don’t pretend the comps are comparable. Let’s be honest Rangi Chase won one.

[Finchy]

Ryan Hall can score 250 odd tries in that comp, but comes up with a duck egg in the NRL playing for the star studded Roosters.

[MrPosh]

Been having a look at Warrington forum. They’re saying Widdop has been playing well and they’d rather keep him than gain GW who they think has signed or about to. Give Widdop a year and it gives us breathing space…

I'd take that with a pinch of salt. What works regularly in the ESL doesn't work here. They may as well be playing a different game.

English fans rant and rave about guys like Hastings, Sezer, consider them to be top halves, yet they've shown to be highly ordinary at NRL level.

We do no such thing.

Hastings is a good player, but nowhere near an international. He'll be an upgrade for the Tigers next year, but not someone who will move the needle.

Sezer has been a run of the mill half in the ESL. Another Sam Williams or Michael Dobson. Absolutely fine, but not worth a lot of money.

Are you sure?

Hastings won the man of steel award, don’t pretend the comps are comparable. Let’s be honest Rangi Chase won one.

Of course they're not comparable, mostly they're not even close - but that doesn't mean plenty of the individual players aren't close.

Players who come from Australia with a reputation can do no wrong in the eyes of the media and the impressionable fans. Especially when they start well, like Blake Austin.

Most fans judge on performance alone, but they're not the ones voting on the awards.

You see the same with the Sydney media playing favourites.

[greeneyed]

Warrington warns off NRL clubs chasing star Gareth Widdop

Warrington has issued a strong 'hands off' warning to the Raiders and Warriors regarding veteran playmaker Gareth Widdop - even though they are about to sign George Williams from the Raiders.

"I've heard the stories but we haven't had an official request for a release from any NRL club," Warrington boss Karl Fitzpatrick said. "And if we did, we would deny it.

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-news-t ... 2541697deb

[Rickmando]

If this is anywhere near the top of our list of priorities right now then my word are we a basket case of an organisation

[GreenMachine]

If this is anywhere near the top of our list of priorities right now then my word are we a basket case of an organisation

We’re a basket case regardless.
This is just the cherry on top.

[yurithe1]

Warrington warns off NRL clubs chasing star Gareth Widdop

Warrington has issued a strong 'hands off' warning to the Raiders and Warriors regarding veteran playmaker Gareth Widdop - even though they are about to sign George Williams from the Raiders.

"I've heard the stories but we haven't had an official request for a release from any NRL club," Warrington boss Karl Fitzpatrick said. "And if we did, we would deny it.

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-news-t ... 2541697deb

Good. As if the Raiders need to blow another $200K in transfer fees.

That said, I watched Widdop's most recent game and he did look good as a playmaker. Problem is, he didn't seem to be doing much organising.

[greeneyed]

Warrington warns off NRL clubs chasing star Gareth Widdop

Warrington has issued a strong 'hands off' warning to the Raiders and Warriors regarding veteran playmaker Gareth Widdop - even though they are about to sign George Williams from the Raiders.

"I've heard the stories but we haven't had an official request for a release from any NRL club," Warrington boss Karl Fitzpatrick said. "And if we did, we would deny it.

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-news-t ... 2541697deb

Good. As if the Raiders need to blow another $200K in transfer fees.

That said, I watched Widdop's most recent game and he did look good as a playmaker. Problem is, he didn't seem to be doing much organising.

Yep, just an upfront claim for a transfer fee.

[T_R]

Warrington warns off NRL clubs chasing star Gareth Widdop

Warrington has issued a strong 'hands off' warning to the Raiders and Warriors regarding veteran playmaker Gareth Widdop - even though they are about to sign George Williams from the Raiders.

"I've heard the stories but we haven't had an official request for a release from any NRL club," Warrington boss Karl Fitzpatrick said. "And if we did, we would deny it.

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-news-t ... 2541697deb

Good. As if the Raiders need to blow another $200K in transfer fees.

That said, I watched Widdop's most recent game and he did look good as a playmaker. Problem is, he didn't seem to be doing much organising.

I watched a couple of games he played in early in the season. You know when the best halves reach a certain age, they lose that individual zip in their play and instead take on an organising role, managing the game and getting the best out of the players around them? That's precisely what Widdop was up to, except for the organising role, managing the game and getting the best out of the players around them bit.

[FuiFui BradBrad]

Warrington warns off NRL clubs chasing star Gareth Widdop

Warrington has issued a strong 'hands off' warning to the Raiders and Warriors regarding veteran playmaker Gareth Widdop - even though they are about to sign George Williams from the Raiders.

"I've heard the stories but we haven't had an official request for a release from any NRL club," Warrington boss Karl Fitzpatrick said. "And if we did, we would deny it.

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-news-t ... 2541697deb

Does Karl mean they would deny the request, or deny the story?

If they’re denying the story, so far so good Karl

[Canberra Milk]

Interestingly I looked on the Wigan Warriors facebook after news broke that Georgey Boy wouldn't be going back there. They didn't seem to care that much, weren't all that fussed about him. "He did well at Canberra because he had good players around him"

[Canberra Milk]

And a quick look at Warrington's facebook now... they really love Widdop. They are hoping Blake Austin is the one to go rather than him, to make way for Georgey

[MrPosh]

Interestingly I looked on the Wigan Warriors facebook after news broke that Georgey Boy wouldn't be going back there. They didn't seem to care that much, weren't all that fussed about him. "He did well at Canberra because he had good players around him"

Yeah, that's mainly because they're bitter. Wigan fans are particularly one-eyed - even by rugby league standards.

They also have a very very promising young half in Harry Smith, which softens the blow (although Williams should have been the perfect foil for Smith).

[Coastalraider]

Interestingly I looked on the Wigan Warriors facebook after news broke that Georgey Boy wouldn't be going back there. They didn't seem to care that much, weren't all that fussed about him. "He did well at Canberra because he had good players around him"

Yeah, that's mainly because they're bitter. Wigan fans are particularly one-eyed - even by rugby league standards.

They also have a very very promising young half in Harry Smith, which softens the blow (although Williams should have been the perfect foil for Smith).

If he’s that promising Mr Posh, maybe we should get him in our system???

[bonehead]

Interestingly I looked on the Wigan Warriors facebook after news broke that Georgey Boy wouldn't be going back there. They didn't seem to care that much, weren't all that fussed about him. "He did well at Canberra because he had good players around him"

Yeah, that's mainly because they're bitter. Wigan fans are particularly one-eyed - even by rugby league standards.

They also have a very very promising young half in Harry Smith, which softens the blow (although Williams should have been the perfect foil for Smith).

If he’s that promising Mr Posh, maybe we should get him in our system???

He's at Wigan so by default He's in our system already

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[Seiffert82]

Warrington warns off NRL clubs chasing star Gareth Widdop

Warrington has issued a strong 'hands off' warning to the Raiders and Warriors regarding veteran playmaker Gareth Widdop - even though they are about to sign George Williams from the Raiders.

"I've heard the stories but we haven't had an official request for a release from any NRL club," Warrington boss Karl Fitzpatrick said. "And if we did, we would deny it.

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-news-t ... 2541697deb

Good. As if the Raiders need to blow another $200K in transfer fees.

That said, I watched Widdop's most recent game and he did look good as a playmaker. Problem is, he didn't seem to be doing much organising.

I watched a couple of games he played in early in the season. You know when the best halves reach a certain age, they lose that individual zip in their play and instead take on an organising role, managing the game and getting the best out of the players around them? That's precisely what Widdop was up to, except for the organising role, managing the game and getting the best out of the players around them bit.

[greeneyed]

Widdop return on ice

Gareth Widdop has gone cold on a return to the NRL. Widdop was expected to seek a release from Super League club Warrington to come back to Australia next season for family reasons. The Raiders and Warriors were interested in signing the NRL premiership winner, but it now looks like Widdop will remain in England.

Read more: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nr ... 76bb25cf92

[Raiders666]

But radical raider said he signed for 2 5 years

[greeneyed]

I went searching for a media report and that was the latest I could come up with.

[Rickmando]

Widdop return on ice

Gareth Widdop has gone cold on a return to the NRL. Widdop was expected to seek a release from Super League club Warrington to come back to Australia next season for family reasons. The Raiders and Warriors were interested in signing the NRL premiership winner, but it now looks like Widdop will remain in England.

Read more: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nr ... 76bb25cf92

Dodged a bullet

[FuiFui BradBrad]

But radical raider said he signed for 2 5 years

First Dufty, now this. What will become of us if we cant we trust anonymous online sources anymore

[Seiffert82]

Thank goodness for that.