Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 2:27 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Williams was the best half back over here before he left. He can pass, his short kicking game is fantastic he can break a hole and can put people away. He’ll be an even better player for playing in the NRL.

Not that this is the first trait you look for in a half back, but he’s an excellent defender too.

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 2:47 pm  

Who says we won't see Williams and Widdop together? Not sure Widdop will be leaving.

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 3:04 pm  

ratticusfinch wrote:

Who says we won't see Williams and Widdop together? Not sure Widdop will be leaving.

We can hope - it just seems most likely right now. He wants to go home and he's playing far better than Austin so he will have more interest. Austin going will involve him finding a club that wants him, probably taking a pay cut and / or us supplementing his wages, if that is allowable under salary cap rules.

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 3:14 pm  

On Leeds board one guy as said Phil Caplin said on 40/20 that Leeds very interested in Austin but only if we chip in on his wage.

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 3:58 pm  

Yes I am sad, I couldn't find current operational rules for Superleague, these are from 2016, but assuming the general rules haven't changed then we can say the following https://secure.rugby-league.com/ign_doc ... 202016.pdf If Leeds / Leigh were to loan Austin for 2021 he would count on their cap, not ours. For the avoidance of doubt any agreement reached between the Clubs from and to which a Player is loaned as to who pays the Player’s salary (or part thereof) has no relevance to the treatment of the Player in accordance with this Clause. So I think we could pay part / all of Austins wages should we want to and be able to afford to without affecting our own cap spend, this could get around reluctance to pay his full salary for another club. 5.4.3 A player moving between Super League clubs during the regular season cannot have a lower SCV at his new club than what he had at the old one, regardless of what his new contract states. So Leeds cannot sign him for a loan or permanent deal in 2021 at a lower salary cap value than he currently has (although they could physically pay him less than his salary cap value if Austin agreed to it - which would seem unlikely, unless other terms of the deal were favourable to Austin i.e. longer deal). So Leeds would need to have a marquee spot available, or be able to accommodate either Austins wages or their current lowest paid marquees wages in full under the cap. I guess Hurrell & Tetevano are marquee at Leeds?

Yes I am sad, I couldn't find current operational rules for Superleague, these are from 2016, but assuming the general rules haven't changed then we can say the following https://secure.rugby-league.com/ign_doc ... 202016.pdf If Leeds / Leigh were to loan Austin for 2021 he would count on their cap, not ours. For the avoidance of doubt any agreement reached between the Clubs from and to which a Player is loaned as to who pays the Player’s salary (or part thereof) has no relevance to the treatment of the Player in accordance with this Clause. So I think we could pay part / all of Austins wages should we want to and be able to afford to without affecting our own cap spend, this could get around reluctance to pay his full salary for another club. 5.4.3 A player moving between Super League clubs during the regular season cannot have a lower SCV at his new club than what he had at the old one, regardless of what his new contract states. So Leeds cannot sign him for a loan or permanent deal in 2021 at a lower salary cap value than he currently has (although they could physically pay him less than his salary cap value if Austin agreed to it - which would seem unlikely, unless other terms of the deal were favourable to Austin i.e. longer deal). So Leeds would need to have a marquee spot available, or be able to accommodate either Austins wages or their current lowest paid marquees wages in full under the cap. I guess Hurrell & Tetevano are marquee at Leeds?

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:01 pm  

I really can't see Austin going anywhere until the end of the season when he'll return to Aus. Nice house in a nice part of Cheshire, fantastic salary and family settled. Why would he just turn that life upside down for no reason other than a long trek to Yorkshire and back each day. If it was an early return to Aus with a 3 year contract at Canberra or similar I'd fully expect him to take that option.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:10 pm  

easyWire wrote:

I really can't see Austin going anywhere until the end of the season when he'll return to Aus. Nice house in a nice part of Cheshire, fantastic salary and family settled. Why would he just turn that life upside down for no reason other than a long trek to Yorkshire and back each day. If it was an early return to Aus with a 3 year contract at Canberra or similar I'd fully expect him to take that option.

If leeds are offering him a contract, might be the better option that going back to Oz with his tail between his legs, very very unlikely he would get a decent contract in the nrl, if anyone has been paying attention to him over here,

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:12 pm  

easyWire wrote:

I really can't see Austin going anywhere until the end of the season when he'll return to Aus. Nice house in a nice part of Cheshire, fantastic salary and family settled. Why would he just turn that life upside down for no reason other than a long trek to Yorkshire and back each day. If it was an early return to Aus with a 3 year contract at Canberra or similar I'd fully expect him to take that option.

He’s buying loads of property over here. I wouldn’t bank on him going back Aus next year.

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:52 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

He’s buying loads of property over here. I wouldn’t bank on him going back Aus next year.

He must be cash-rich then! Otherwise I don't know how they'd give him a buy-to-let mortgage! And if he's cash-rich no wonder he's not fully focussed on game day

But yes if that's the case I guess he has a long term plan here.

Re: George Williams. : Tue Jun 15, 2021 7:49 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

At Pies I thought GW was outstanding or anonymous. He was much more high consistent in the NRL.
I’ve recall ever seen an ‘average’ ‘just above average’ game from Williams.

that's because, half the time, you dont have a clue what you're watching.