Absolutely. Loving reading the Canberra fans moaning on social media about how these lads are breaking contracts. They have no issue with them tapping up these guys before the end of their deals in the UK or with them trying to hoover up young academy talent like Harry Rushton before they’ve even broke in to a first team, so it’s tough to feel sorry for them.

I really do hope Williams comes back because it’ll leave us in a fantastic position going forward regards the age of our spine combined with the chances of them heading for the NRL at the first chance. We’d have Hardaker around 29, Williams at 26/27, Sam Powell would be 29 and Bateman would be about 27. You’d think there’s a sniff of Harry Smith trying his hand there at some point but those other 4 I mention could well finish their careers here and play together for 4,5,6 seasons maybe.

If Trueman does go to Wire I can’t see GW going there too. They’re too similar HB to make a decent partnership, both creative and go off and do their own thing. You need one creative HB and one organisational HB, the latter suits neither GW nor Trueman. That’s not to say the organisational one doesn’t be creative occasionally mind

We shouldn't feel sorry for them at all. Jealous maybe ... because their game is at the zenith of sport in their country, whereas ours is at the nadir.

In fact they have so much talent in Aus, it's pretty despicable that they also come to pinch the little actual talent we have.

It's not like we can afford to see our domestic game continually stripped of its stars. We struggle to sell ourselves in the home market as it is.

Every time one of these defection to Aus stories goes wrong, while I'm sorry for the player, I'm glad to see the NRL club so peeved. It's exactly what they deserve and might even make them think twice before pouncing again.

Looks a safe bet that he'll be back in England in either 2022 or 2023. Some settle, some don't and that's always the risk clubs take. On the Fox League show this week one of the pundits claimed that Warrington have already shown an interest.

When I first heard this I though it was someone pulling my leg.

The more I read and hear about this and the current situation at the Raiders and now Lam mentioning it publicly I actually think it is highly likely to happen.

Amazing how some things, possibly, work out.

Here here..... I'll drink to that!

My initial thought was I'd love Williams back as I think he's a great player (not sure that he's as influential as Hastings) and a Williams & Smith partnership sounds fantastic.

On reflection I'm not entirely certain if overall that it would be a great aquisition particularly if it meant we couldn't also significantly improve the front row. Also what do we do with Field??
A difficult one for IL and KR. Will get blasted if he ended up with say Wire but if their hands are tied from a finance perspective and it's Williams or a new prop a very difficult choice.

I think the squad is a little out of balance at the moment so IL and KR have some difficult decisions to make over the next couple of years. With the odd exception they generally get it right and I'd like to think they will get it right again particularly for the historic 2022 season.

Must admit I did wonder about Field. If Williams were to come back I can’t see a future here for him which is a great shame as we’ve barely seen him play. There are some real tough choices ahead.

There are but still it's better to have difficult choices but still have choices rather than just sign whoever is available irrespective of their qualities.

IL is no mug and I'm quite sure that next year's squad will have better balance across the varying positions for a big push to land at least one of the 2 major trophies available.
As well as a prop we are also light in the threequarters which needs to be addressed particularly so if Gildart also departs.

If we were to resign Williams I think that we will hear about it sooner rather than later.

Field may be unlucky due to the timing. We can’t pass up the opportunity to get Williams back for possibly the rest of his career on the basis that it’ll hold back an unproven Aussie, who is here to try and make a name for himself over a couple of seasons before heading back to Oz as a starter.

I think French will follow Hastings out the door anyway and with Gildart likely to leave, I think that’ll possibly see chances for Field at fullback, as well as at stand off because Hardaker may be needed to cover those centre spots on occasion (and we’ll need to sign at least one).

Taking an opportunity to get Williams back is a no brainer for me.

William's is a no brainer really. IF he returns then, you'd like to think that he stays for 5+ years. Field is a gamble in that he might be great and he might equally be shocking. Either way he won't be here longer than 2 or 3 seasons max (he's roughly said the same himself).

French is the difficult one imo. I didn't realise that he has an extra one year option (which might be in his favour). I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but I don't think he'd get a gig at FB in the NRL. A quick tot up and there's probably 13 NRL sides out of 16 that either have better FB's than French, or long term prospects in situ. There's not many options to go as a starter and he'll be on good money here too.