How desperate are England that people are latching onto a player with good potential but has not even played first grade as some sort of Saviour or Messiah?

Grow some locals.

Widdop would be doing nothing in England if he had not moved to Oz

His father played for Keighley 89/90 season.

just run that one bye me again will ya?





you'll be claiming sam burgess & gaz ellis next...

Who cares?

He's just another kid with potential who's got a bit of a mouth.

When he gets a full season in first grade then talk but until then there's better players in front of him

I suppose thats the attitude we should take really.



The lad seems to fancy himself abit and good on him for showing that sort if confidence but as it stands he's got to try and get in the Melbourne side before he even thinks about a place in an international side and that will be a tough enough test.



Going off his interview on the superleague website he's been working on his Aussie accent just incase he ever does gain selection

Such as?

At last some sense





He is almost 21 and has never played a first grade game. Until he proves himself he is no better than a junior at Wigan, Leeds etc. He wasnt exactly renowned as a 16 year old before going to Australia and wasnt even at a Super League club. Despite this people automatically assume that he is better than our own academy players never mind established ones.



I would bet that some of the people that are raving about him havent actually seen him play and are just jumping on the bandwaggon. Others think that he is some kind of superstar based on a few grainy interent clips.

Supports Fax as well but only would play at SL level if in the UK-cant blame him to be honest. His dad was also at Fax reserves and flattened Mal Reilly after training once at Thrum hall. Gary was a very handy player but also had a good punch on him!

Good on the lad and so what if he is arrogant and full of confidence? Maybe thats why the Brits often fail to live up to the Aussies as they lack confidence and believe they are going to get beat. If he does not make it in the NRL so what least he has given it a good try. For me I am glad Gareth is where he is, though shame the system in the UK turned him away from our game to play Union! That should be a wake up call to the RFL-but as usual the same stale system will be in place and more youngsters get bored and drift out the game.

Lets face it if he can catch, run, tackle reasonably and isn't an idiot he would be first choice for England at fullback. We have no one anywhere near the quality of the Australians.

Saddened what I meant was after not playing a first grade game how can he be in front of people like Briscoe, Owen (imo englands next fullback), or even dare I say it Paul flippin Wellens.

I've no doubt he'll go on to become a good player but giving it mouth like that he'll get a good slap by those 'park footballers'.

Unless you've seen more of him then the rest of us who knows!



I think thats the point really. Just because the lad plays for an NRL club and is English we all presume he's going to be a blinder when in truth he may not cut the mustard for Melbourne and be released to play park rugby somewhere.



Hopefully he'll be as good as the hype and will actually want to turn out for England but as things stand he's behind about 15 players for the England fullback jersey.

I've seen a lot of him and I'll see more of him in the reserves this season for the Storm.



A lot of people wouldn't be going on about him here in oz if it wasn't for Matty Johns talking him up in the U20s Grand Final on telly last year. And continually pointing out that he's a pom and how good he is and how he'll get into a GB side etc. etc



Unfortunately this is all to help the hype surrounding the Toyota Cup U20s comp over here.



I'll keep you up to date on how he's going in the NSW Cup if you like. Because that's where he'll be playing!

Whats your opinion on him?



The real deal or overhyped? I'd guess you think the latter going off that post.

Michael Jennings is 21, as a comparison.

Quote Saddened!="Saddened!"Apparantly nailed on to move to Wigan on a long term deal with the option of returning to Melbourne. He'll be a superstar.'" He's a massive Bulls fan & he admits he would like to return and play in Super League at some point and would "love" to play for the Bulls but, with two years remaining on his Storm deal, is in no hurry. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-le ... 6107457.jp HTH

Quote Saddened!="Saddened!"Apparantly nailed on to move to Wigan on a long term deal with the option of returning to Melbourne. He'll be a superstar.'" He's a massive Bulls fan & he admits he would like to return and play in Super League at some point and would "love" to play for the Bulls but, with two years remaining on his Storm deal, is in no hurry. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-le ... 6107457.jp HTH

I can, sad but true that a sizeable proportion of the Dulls' crowd have HX postcodes.



He'd be nowt without his scholarship at the mighty Fax

I don't understand what your comparison's about TBH.

Very good player. He was their player of the year in U20s. But seriously. This means nothing at the end of the day. Wait til he plays against the grown ups. Then decide.



Being in Australia where everything is talked up, you have to take a back seat and analyse for yourself.



Like last night, most Souths fans wouldn't have seen Burgess play before. But he's a hero of theirs already as the media have made it so. Poor bugger, but he'll handle it.

Michael Jennings is a similar age and is already playing Test RL. Widdop is being talked-up despite not even playing a first team game.

Right got it.



Who's talking him up? Is it people over there who haven't seen much of him? Or over here where people haven't seen much of him?

Quote Rooster Booster="Rooster Booster"Right got it. Who's talking him up? Is it people over there who haven't seen much of him? Or over here where people haven't seen much of him?'" The latter. Melbourne Storm's Brit wonderkid. The reality is we are dealing with a very good Toyota Cup player, I don't have to tell you that though. I remember seeing Obediah Geia play for AIS and being impressed by him, read that he was going great guns in the Toyota Cup, but he made a couple of first grade appearances and has since disappeared. www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bendirs/2010 ... hings.html

Quote Rooster Booster="Rooster Booster"Right got it. Who's talking him up? Is it people over there who haven't seen much of him? Or over here where people haven't seen much of him?'" The latter. Melbourne Storm's Brit wonderkid. The reality is we are dealing with a very good Toyota Cup player, I don't have to tell you that though. I remember seeing Obediah Geia play for AIS and being impressed by him, read that he was going great guns in the Toyota Cup, but he made a couple of first grade appearances and has since disappeared. www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bendirs/2010 ... hings.html

Quote getdownmonkeyman="getdownmonkeyman"The latter. Melbourne Storm's Brit wonderkid. The reality is we are dealing with a very good Toyota Cup player, I don't have to tell you that though. I remember seeing Obediah Geia play for AIS and being impressed by him, read that he was going great guns in the Toyota Cup, but he made a couple of first grade appearances and has since disappeared. www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bendirs/2010 ... hings.html'" Obediah Geia as been given a starting Jersey for North Queensland Cowboys this season.

Quote getdownmonkeyman="getdownmonkeyman"The latter. Melbourne Storm's Brit wonderkid. The reality is we are dealing with a very good Toyota Cup player, I don't have to tell you that though. I remember seeing Obediah Geia play for AIS and being impressed by him, read that he was going great guns in the Toyota Cup, but he made a couple of first grade appearances and has since disappeared. www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bendirs/2010 ... hings.html'" Obediah Geia as been given a starting Jersey for North Queensland Cowboys this season.

He didn't start the trial match, nor make the squad for the Titans trial game.

Widdop will be making his NRL debut tomorrow against the Warriors, coming in at centre in place of Dane Nielson.

Melbourne's reserves won only their second game today 64-12. Tandy and a few others played. Did Neilson? Was mentioned in passing to me that a few first graders actually want to play NSW Cup due to what's going on. Don't know how true that is.



Widdop was due to play 5/8th today. Don't know if he did.