https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nr ... 7316fafa15

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nr ... 7316fafa15

This is old news about the bidding war.

However given the credibility of the Courier Mail, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Sky, it does sound as though Gareth Widdop wants to come to Super League.

Well of course he does it’s pension time.

You are wrong. He would earn more money by staying in sunny Australia.

Not necessarily, and there's not SoO or playing for Australia to keep him in Oz.

Meh, stories of Widdop wanting to come to SL are nothing new, before he signed a new 4 year deal in 2017 their were similar stories. Think that was and is now more a move to get better money over there in Australia. Can see him coming over at some point but not next season. Even if he does I don’t buy the story in that article saying he’s signing a 2 year deal.....if he comes he’ll be on a marquee deal and money and want a 4 year deal.

Still not 100% convinced on his ‘return’. Surely more to achieve for him in NRL?

Is it just me who thinks he’s nothing special

Yes, it is just you.

Just you i'm afraid.

Yeah right, you really are a fantasist.

No it isn't, he's nothing special IMO either.

What a stupid thing to say. What is the salary cap in Australia.
How much richer are the australian clubs

The highest paid players in the SL are nowhere near the highest paid in Australia.

Even if Moran or Davy splash the cash the chances of him getting more than he would in Australia are minuscule

Then Wakey sign him and you change your mind.

We couldn't afford to sign him.

I think you know what i mean wayne.

Rupert Murdoch hasn't owned sky for god knows how long. Before the Comcast takeover news corporation owned 39% share of sky. The remaining 61% was owned by private investors.

Even before comcast bid to take over sky, Murdoch agreed to sell his 39% stake to Disney.

So who now owns Sky, Comcast or Disney?

Comcast now owns sky.

Why would the difference in salary cap have anything to do with it with the marque player rule? Unless you are suggesting he would not be a marque player?

The NRL is blessed with an abundance of talent throughout Aus, more extremely talented players than spaces in first team squads, players playing in the NSW cup would not struggle in SL, we have seen that from experience - If there was a chance a player like Widdop wants to come over, Moran would move heaven and earth to get it over here in terms of the money they would offer him and he has it to offer, are you seriously suggesting NRL clubs would beat him in a bidding war? It`s not really a money issue, they would not pay over the odds like a few SL clubs would for him and why would they when they can get someone of equal quality, or very near quality for a lot less money?

WIDDOP EARNS AU $550 k. Pa plus about AU $350 k endorsements etc.

That is close to £500k per year.

Do you think Moran would spend £500k on one player (even if only £150k is SC) and then have to pay other players enough to stay at Wire.

I don’t

As good as he is he is no Thurston Lockyer or Johns. He would not be enough to transform Wire or any other team without the need for extra players. Spending £500 would be a waste. Moran is not too daft to know that.

So out of interest what do you think Leeds are paying for Merrin? 750 K salary with multiple offers from the NRL and would rather not come over here according to Wayne Bennett... And FWIW yes I do think Moran would pay 500k for Widdop.

Agree with this. Is he REALLY worth a bidding war? Nah.

=#FF0000He was contracted to come to Warrington until a neck injury stopped him from playing, so I'm pretty confident Moran would be able to find the cash for Widdop.
=#0000FFOn what facts do you base this argument on? John's was lined up, so what would be different here?
Seems to me you don't want Widdop to come to SL, and will find any spurious reason just to say "he isn't coming, and I told you so".

What year was that Johns was lined up and what was the difference in Salary Caps between NRL and SL?