WIDDOP’S SHOCK NRL BACKFLIP
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 6:40 am
Gareth Widdop’s expected return to Australia has hit a major roadblock in a setback for the Canberra Raiders.
Meanwhile, two Sydney clubs have received a big boost in their pursuits for wantaway Bronco Tevita Pangai Jnr, and Rooster Isaac Liu appears to be on the move.
Gareth Widdop’s mooted return to the NRL has gone up in smoke with the playmaker reportedly opting to stay in England.
The 32-year-old had been eyeing a move to Australia — where his family is based — after a stint with Warrington Wolves since leaving the NRL in 2019.
But The Australian’s Brent Read said on Triple M that Widdop has backflipped and is set to stay abroad.
It looks like he’s now going to stay in England,” Read said. “Canberra were the club that were moving for Gareth Widdop but they’ve basically been told Gareth looks like he will stay in England now.
“It’s a bit of a backflip on Gareth’s behalf because he had been shopped around the NRL for a long time now — basically all season he’s been shopped around the NRL and didn’t really get any bites.
“It was only the past few weeks he started to get any interest and Canberra was one of those clubs, but it sounds like now he’s decided to stay in England. So you can put a line through him among those playmakers that were on the open market.”
Last month, Widdop’s former club St George Illawarra reportedly gave its blessing to the playmaker to return to the NRL with another team.
He was released from the final two years of his Dragons contract under the stipulation that he would not return to Australia to play for a rival.
The Raiders were then said to be the front runners for his signature after the departure of George Williams mid-season.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 38528daed2
Meanwhile, two Sydney clubs have received a big boost in their pursuits for wantaway Bronco Tevita Pangai Jnr, and Rooster Isaac Liu appears to be on the move.
Gareth Widdop’s mooted return to the NRL has gone up in smoke with the playmaker reportedly opting to stay in England.
The 32-year-old had been eyeing a move to Australia — where his family is based — after a stint with Warrington Wolves since leaving the NRL in 2019.
But The Australian’s Brent Read said on Triple M that Widdop has backflipped and is set to stay abroad.
It looks like he’s now going to stay in England,” Read said. “Canberra were the club that were moving for Gareth Widdop but they’ve basically been told Gareth looks like he will stay in England now.
“It’s a bit of a backflip on Gareth’s behalf because he had been shopped around the NRL for a long time now — basically all season he’s been shopped around the NRL and didn’t really get any bites.
“It was only the past few weeks he started to get any interest and Canberra was one of those clubs, but it sounds like now he’s decided to stay in England. So you can put a line through him among those playmakers that were on the open market.”
Last month, Widdop’s former club St George Illawarra reportedly gave its blessing to the playmaker to return to the NRL with another team.
He was released from the final two years of his Dragons contract under the stipulation that he would not return to Australia to play for a rival.
The Raiders were then said to be the front runners for his signature after the departure of George Williams mid-season.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 38528daed2
