Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 9:31 am  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

No other team apart from Warrington can afford Williams.

I'm sure Williams is headed to Warrington, but I think that statement is a bit daft. Wigan's owners are very wealthy. Ken Davy could easily fund it as well, Leeds could at the drop of a hat, but again their commitment to matching that kind of spending when the rest of their team is pants is the question. Saints are another club that could easily spend as much on Williams if we wanted to. He's just not a priority with us having an international 6 and a very promising 7 already and no back row, centre or fullback for next year. Half the clubs in SL could spend that much on a player if they wanted to. Most are ruled out as he wouldn't sign for them.

I think the Williams saga has always been a straight shot between Wire and Wigan. And he's chosen you because the offer is higher financially and he'll see you as a better chance of trophies as you have a stronger squad currently.

Where's the announcement by the way? Duckie and yourself confirmed it two weeks ago? Is shifting Austin so you can fit him in this year the issue?

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 9:50 am  

Saddened! wrote:

I'm sure Williams is headed to Warrington, but I think that statement is a bit daft. Wigan's owners are very wealthy. Ken Davy could easily fund it as well, Leeds could at the drop of a hat, but again their commitment to matching that kind of spending when the rest of their team is pants is the question. Saints are another club that could easily spend as much on Williams if we wanted to. He's just not a priority with us having an international 6 and a very promising 7 already and no back row, centre or fullback for next year. Half the clubs in SL could spend that much on a player if they wanted to. Most are ruled out as he wouldn't sign for them.

I think the Williams saga has always been a straight shot between Wire and Wigan. And he's chosen you because the offer is higher financially and he'll see you as a better chance of trophies as you have a stronger squad currently.

Where's the announcement by the way? Duckie and yourself confirmed it two weeks ago? Is shifting Austin so you can fit him in this year the issue?

Info was wrong, it happens. I’ve since heard it might not even be announced till 2 weeks time but who knows.

Surely your second paragraph about Williams choosing Wire because of a higher financial offer contradicts you’re first one? Yes you are right though, he turned down Wigan because they offered at least 100k less than Wire at least.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 9:57 am  

I'm sure the owners of Saints, Leeds, Huddersfield and Wigan could afford Williams, but what LTS I think was getting at is that no club has owners that are willing to back their clubs to the same extent that Moran and Middleton do at Warrington in terms of these individual signings. I would assume that Austin and Widdop are out in front in terms of the highest paid players in the league, and this follows marquee contracts for the likes of Roberts / Sandow and a spend on transfer fees well in excess of any other side.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 9:59 am  

Saddened! wrote:

And he's chosen you because the offer is higher financially.

So everyone else can pay what we can but he's coming to us because no one else can pay what we can?

Sound.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:00 am  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Info was wrong, it happens. I’ve since heard it might not even be announced till 2 weeks time but who knows.

Surely your second paragraph about Williams choosing Wire because of a higher financial offer contradicts you’re first one? Yes you are right though, he turned down Wigan because they offered at least 100k less than Wire at least.

Not really. Your statement was that no other club could afford him. My point was that there are clubs who can afford him, but it's more a case of priorities. Wigan for example COULD afford to match your offer, but they don't want to. It's like if you're in a bidding war for a rattan garden set on Ebay. If you stick £3,800 in and no one matches it, it doesn't mean no one else can afford the set, just that no one values it as highly as you do at that moment.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:05 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Not really. Your statement was that no other club could afford him. My point was that there are clubs who can afford him, but it's more a case of priorities. Wigan for example COULD afford to match your offer, but they don't want to. It's like if you're in a bidding war for a rattan garden set on Ebay. If you stick £3,800 in and no one matches it, it doesn't mean no one else can afford the set, just that no one values it as highly as you do at that moment.

They really couldn’t hence why they gave up their option of signing him. They’re signing players from the Championship and Leigh currently. For want of a better phrase they don’t really have a pot to pee in currently.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:06 am  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Info was wrong, it happens. I’ve since heard it might not even be announced till 2 weeks time but who knows.

Surely your second paragraph about Williams choosing Wire because of a higher financial offer contradicts you’re first one? Yes you are right though, he turned down Wigan because they offered at least 100k less than Wire at least.

Oh nooooo, ambo for karetaker!

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:12 am  

Yes, the difference is between could pay and are willing to pay.

We need a halfback whereas Saints and Wigan are probably right to spend their money elsewhere.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:21 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Leeds could at the drop of a hat, but again their commitment to matching that kind of spending when the rest of their team is pants is the question.

I think there's going to be some seriously depressed Saints fans when this young Leeds team starts beating them. Maybe a year or so away from that but the addition of another half back is close to the final piece in the jigsaw.

Re: George Williams. : Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:26 am  

St Helens Wolf wrote:

Yes, the difference is between could pay and are willing to pay.

We need a halfback whereas Saints and Wigan are probably right to spend their money elsewhere.

They’ve scored 14 points in 3 games. Hastings is going, maybe French, Field homesick, Leuleui retiring. They need a prop or two but I’d say there desperate for a creative half also.