Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:12 am  

I know Moran and Middleton are not short of a few bob but I do have reservations about this move..
Reading articles recently about widdop and the eye-watering amount his contract is worth (reports in aus are saying $800,000aus). I know that widdop was signed before the pandemic so have no issue with that but I just hope we are not breaking the bank for williams.
Just reading these forums I don't see people crying out to come back to the HJ so I am not too sure the financial landscape will be the same as before or might take a while to get back to pre covid levels.
If the goverment had lifted all restrictions do we expect a sell out against Wigan or Saints?
The club have emailed me this week with details of the season ticket refund for the games missed at the start of this year stating that I have the option to donate it to pull on your heart strings. I could have wrote the script for that. But it doesn't feel right that the tone of that email and then giving a big money contract.
Now if we have indeed put a contract under Williams'nose then I expect it to be more than what wigan would have offered, I don't buy the "wanting a fresh challenge line".
It might all be OK and Powell comes in with Williams and we grab the big prize in 2022 but I think some other clubs are being a bit more cautious. Trueman, if he is available might have been a more sensible option. Time will tell I guess.

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:15 am  

Wincham Wire wrote:

Even though Price said Widdop going nowhere watching the NRL earlier in the week they seem pretty sure Widdop will be joining NZ Warriors imminently!

I can't blame the club for insisting Widdop stays til the end of this season. If he goes now we are finished for the season, even if Williams replaces him. Although I'm glad we are getting Williams, it's foolish to think he's in the same class as an in-form Widdop, or that he will suddenly be our saviour. If anything the usual Warrington pressure of expectation will drop straight on Williams' shoulders, putting him off his game and making all of us question his huge marquee salary. I think it's best for everyone if Widdop stays for this season, and Williams joins Powell with a fresh head and a full pre-season.

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:45 am  

Deus Dat Incrementum wrote:

I know Moran and Middleton are not short of a few bob but I do have reservations about this move..
Reading articles recently about widdop and the eye-watering amount his contract is worth (reports in aus are saying $800,000aus). I know that widdop was signed before the pandemic so have no issue with that but I just hope we are not breaking the bank for williams.
Just reading these forums I don't see people crying out to come back to the HJ so I am not too sure the financial landscape will be the same as before or might take a while to get back to pre covid levels.
If the goverment had lifted all restrictions do we expect a sell out against Wigan or Saints?
The club have emailed me this week with details of the season ticket refund for the games missed at the start of this year stating that I have the option to donate it to pull on your heart strings. I could have wrote the script for that. But it doesn't feel right that the tone of that email and then giving a big money contract.
Now if we have indeed put a contract under Williams'nose then I expect it to be more than what wigan would have offered, I don't buy the "wanting a fresh challenge line".
It might all be OK and Powell comes in with Williams and we grab the big prize in 2022 but I think some other clubs are being a bit more cautious. Trueman, if he is available might have been a more sensible option. Time will tell I guess.

Wouldn’t Trueman be even more expensive than Williams given that Castleford would demand a fee approaching £200k ? We are very lucky to have 2 genuine fans who support the club over the long term and, for that I am very grateful. Felt the same about Ossie Davies in the ‘70’s. Of course income will be limited for some time and I for one will be happy to donate and not ask for a refund and hope most supporters are able to do the same and back the owners. They seem to be determined to get us to a Grand Final win.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:35 pm  

Yeah but as with other signings, if we can pay cash for players, we don't get into fictional bidding wars with other clubs

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:06 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

Duckie whistles a happy tune.
Just to recap. When I was tipped off he was coming to Wire, it was about a 3 year deal starting in Nov. Nothing about Wire making room in the cap for him this season.
I can only assume as a Wire in 2021, he’ll be loaned out.

How will he be "loaned out" in 2021 if he's not a Wire player until November?

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:50 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

How will he be "loaned out" in 2021 if he's not a Wire player until November?

We sign him now on a salary that doesn't take us over the cap (probably nothing) & then loan him to a club that pays his salary?

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:09 pm  

I’d like to be 100% convinced he’s actually going to sign for us, even though I’m pretty confident. I see Leed’s as the dark horse club.
The reason being in the joint statement issued with Wigan last night, he thanks Wigan for not taking legal action to allow him to play imminently to get prepared for the forthcoming World Cup.
Steve Price stated that Gareth Widdop isn’t going anywhere though I’m not sure wether to believe that. That for me means to make up his salary, one of Blake Austin or god forbid Daryl Clarke are the other 2 players in the squad which will leave enough cap space.
The only other scenario I can possibly think is that Greg Inglis who from day one for me hasn’t had his heart here ( because of the COVID situation) possibly will leave straight away along with another player who’s been told his contract won’t be renewed. This possibly will leave enough cap space for this year with his money being made up over the next 3 years.
He could always do a Kris Radlinski and play for free this year because he’s desperate to play in the World Cup.

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:12 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

We sign him now on a salary that doesn't take us over the cap (probably nothing) & then loan him to a club that pays his salary?

We can sign him now for next season but, unless we have space under the cap, then he can't be registered as a Wire player this year. We cannot pay him less this year then more for the remainder of his contract, his 'cap value' will be set by the RFL and it will reflect the total amount of his contract divided by the total time period.

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:41 pm  

It's a strange state of affairs when a player is left in limbo part way through a season.

Re: George Williams. : Sat Jun 19, 2021 3:41 pm  

GW will be in limbo because he is leaving the club he signed for early & they have generously given him 2 months pay.

Didn't he leave Wigan mid contract ?