Lowdesert Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Imminent, apparently....and taking a pay cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleD Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 4 minutes ago, Lowdesert said: Imminent, apparently....and taking a pay cut. Is that because he’s keen to experience the life and sights of Warrington? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Daddy Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Is that for the 2019 season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balmain1969 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Gareth Widdop quits St George Illawarra Dragons in Super League move JANUARY 14, 2019 St George Illawarra skipper Gareth Widdop will quit the Dragons after agreeing to a move to return to England. The English international will walk away from the final two years of his contract to join Warrington Wolves in 2020. St George Illawarra are expected to announce the move as early as Wednesday with Widdop to take a pay cut to return to England. Dragons officials were stunned when Widdop requested an early move from his contract, which is worth about $1.8 million. The two parties have been in contact since before Christmas. While Widdop, who has played 24 Tests for England, has reaffirmed his commitment to the club for this year, he made it clear he wanted out having harbouring a long-term desire to play in the English Super League while still at the height of his career. The Daily Telegraph has learnt St George Illawarra will retain first rights on Widdop’s services should the 29-year-old opt to return to Australia. “There’s no secret I have aspirations of going over to the UK and playing,” Widdop said in November. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I have a good relationship with the club and so when the time is right we’ll work together.” Wigan, Leeds, Huddersfield and St Helens all tried to sign Widdop but it was former coach Steve Price who secured Widdop’s signature for a second time. Price signed Widdop from Melbourne to the Dragons in 2014 but the partnership was short-lived after Price was axed midway through Widdop’s first season. Price since took over from Warrington and led them to a grand final in his first season last year. Widdop will form a halves combination with Blake Austin after the former Raider joined Warrington this year. Widdop emigrated to Australia from Halifax as a teen. The Dragons have already planned for life post-Widdop having signed Corey Norman. Norman’s arrival is expected to shift Widdop to play fullback for the first time on a regular basis in the NRL. Widdop’s departure will also keep the door ajar for local product Matt Dufty to remain at the club. Despite being just one of five players to feature in all Dragons 26 games last year, the arrival of Norman and Widdop’s switch to fullback is set to see the off-contract Dufty have a reduced role this year. Widdop has played 185 NRL games since making his debut for Melbourne in 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 He must be on some money to be moving to Warrington, considering the contract he was on at St George. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Boy Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 That should cure him of his "homesickness" ! Money can't buy you happiness! It can buy you beer and that's a bit like happiness in a glass! "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." Sir Winston Churchill Some folks are wise and some are otherwise! Tobias Smollett "I distrust camels, and anyone else who can go a week without a drink." Joe E Lewis "Look at the ffing state of that"! My mate on the Avenue last Friday whilst pointing to a scantily clad young lady and spitting a mouthful of beer out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuutaisrambo Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Just can't see a top NRL star in his prime moving to Super League for career reasons. My guess is he's scared of big spiders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuutaisrambo Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 $1.8m AUD is about £1m so i assume that's for 3 seasons? so that's £333k a season........what will be be on at wire about 200k tops? Whatever it's good to see talent like this coming to the UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Kevin Sinfield Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 1 minute ago, tuutaisrambo said: $1.8m AUD is about £1m so i assume that's for 3 seasons? so that's £333k a season........what will be be on at wire about 200k tops? Whatever it's good to see talent like this coming to the UK Who knows what he’ll be on at Wire, but I’d be surprised if he’s going from £333k to £200k, that’s some pay cut. I think it will be considerably more than £200k. Huddersfield were willing to make him their highest paid player ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowdesert Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 23 minutes ago, Roy Boy said: That should cure him of his "homesickness" ! He hasn't got their yet Roy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowdesert Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 5 minutes ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said: Who knows what he’ll be on at Wire, but I’d be surprised if he’s going from £333k to £200k, that’s some pay cut. I think it will be considerably more than £200k. Huddersfield were willing to make him their highest paid player ever. Exactly. Who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave T Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 1 hour ago, tuutaisrambo said: $1.8m AUD is about £1m so i assume that's for 3 seasons? so that's £333k a season........what will be be on at wire about 200k tops? Whatever it's good to see talent like this coming to the UK I think the $1.8m would be for the 2 years that Widdopp is cutting his contract short by. This would be half a million quid a season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auntie Linzi Morris Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Confirmed by the Warrington Guardian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man of Kent Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Interesting to see how Wire manage the cap but balls to the cap, frankly. Great signing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave T Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 1 minute ago, Man of Kent said: Interesting to see how Wire manage the cap but balls to the cap, frankly. Great signing. He will cost £150k on the cap. The cap isn't an issue at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clogiron Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Sods law he will sustain a ACL or some suchlike injury with the Dragon's this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man of Kent Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 3 minutes ago, Dave T said: He will cost £150k on the cap. The cap isn't an issue at all. Not at all? Spending big, aren’t you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave T Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 4 minutes ago, Clogiron said: Sods law he will sustain a ACL or some suchlike injury with the Dragon's this year. Aye that's the risk with signings like this. But, that's life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave T Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Just now, Man of Kent said: Not at all? Spending big, aren’t you? I'm not sure of your point. All he will cost on the cap will be 150k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man of Kent Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, Dave T said: I'm not sure of your point. All he will cost on the cap will be 150k. I mean the overall spend, Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Spice girls are touring hence the acquisition no issues with marquee signing I would suggest Moran will pay something close to his NRL value as Davey would have done good for sl well done wire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbruce Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 6 minutes ago, Man of Kent said: Not at all? Spending big, aren’t you? Surely this is the purpose of the Marquee exemption. You can sign big name players but it doesn’t ruin the rest of your squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave T Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, Man of Kent said: I mean the overall spend, Dave. So not a cap issue then? I thought you were wondering how we would manage the cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man of Kent Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Just now, Dave T said: So not a cap issue then? I thought you were wondering how we would manage the cap. Oh gawd, another tiresome DaveT circular argument. OK, there’s no issue with Wire’s expensive squad full of internationals/ NRL imports and the salary cap. You win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Kevin Sinfield Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Great for Super League, bad for Simon Moran’s bank balance, but he can afford it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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