Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:29 am  

rubber duckie wrote:

Is it not possible to sign a short term deal ending in Nov and in advance a fresh 2/3 year deal from Nov 21?
Asking for a friend.

Short answer, no.

I don't know the exact nuts and bolts but the RFL ultimately set the level and the figure is calculated weekly. It also doesn't matter who pays the player, the value is assigned to the club that they play for (so if Club A paid a player's wages but he played for Club B then the salary would count towards Blub B's cap).

To deregister a player needs the RFL's permission. We managed it with Kev Brown when he injured himself pre-season because he hadn't played a competitive game. I think that it may be different if a player retired mid-season, but I'm not certain.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:27 am  

easyWire wrote:

I highly doubt Wigan will plump for Richardson. They’ll be patiently negotiating with Williams trying to get him down towards a salary figure that they’re prepared to pay, as they know him best and what he’s realistically worth. The problem is that Warrington can dangle the dollars carrot, which puts Williams in two minds - go back to Wigan where he’ll be the most comfortable or chase the money and try to make it work down here.

I’m not sure what Richardson could possibly offer Wigan that Harry Smith doesn’t. If anything Trueman would be a better fit if they could hang on another year.

I still think we’ll see Williams at Wigan and Trueman here with a transfer fee to Cas, who really need the money.

Williams and Trueman in the same team would be fun, wouldn’t it?

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:37 am  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Williams and Trueman in the same team would be fun, wouldn’t it?

It will surely be one or the other though.

I think we’re also forgetting that if Widdop stays and can keep the form he’s in, he’s actually better than both Trueman and Williams. I think next year ideally we would have Widdop and either Williams or Trueman alongside him. That’s a best-case scenario…. Worst case we’ll have no Widdop or Williams / Trueman. I’m not sure what Powell will have up his sleeve for that one - Ratchford and Dean?

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:03 am  

I think that in my view. The best scenario would be widdop and Williams in the half back positions for next season. And trueman as a backup next season. With trueman also learning from widdop before widdop retires at the end of the season next year.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:12 am  

wire2004 wrote:

I think that in my view. The best scenario would be widdop and Williams in the half back positions for next season. And trueman as a backup next season. With trueman also learning from widdop before widdop retires at the end of the season next year.

Great thinking, how about signing Nathan Clery aswell as back up in case you get a couple of injuries?

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:12 am  

NSW wrote:

Great thinking, how about signing Nathan Clery aswell as back up in case you get a couple of injuries?

Isn’t that known as “the Wigan approach”, from the good old days when you used to sign players and stick them in the reserves to pee off the opposition?

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:17 am  

[quote="Captain Hook"]Isn’t that known as “the Wigan approach”, from the good old days when you used to sign players and stick them in the reserves to pee off the opposition?[/quote]

The Nigel Wright manoeuvre. The cap was brought in to prevent that very tactic.

[Winslade's Offload]

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:17 am  

Captain Hook wrote:

Isn’t that known as “the Wigan approach”, from the good old days when you used to sign players and stick them in the reserves to pee off the opposition?

It was until the money ran out and then they were shopping at Tesco.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:19 am  

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... ms-3271818

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... ms-3271818

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:23 am  

So if Williams comes in now and replaces Widdop who is rumoured to be going back to Australia to Canberra, would you be happy with that? It's a good move long term, Widdop would presumably only have played for one or two more seasons at most, presuming he stayed over her and Williams should be good for 6-7 years. But it's also probably a step down, an out of form player who hasn't played recently replacing your form player this year?