Yep LW is well connected I think and has good insight to whats going on, unlike some, more prolific posters.

One of the neighbours has a lad in the academy and apparently the word in camp is that its been agreed between both parties.

They just need to draw up the contracts now and agree the T's & C's. Would be an unbelievable signing if we manage it.

Pretty much what I've been told plus Clark being paid a huge lump sum ofnext year's salary to get him off as a marquee next season.

I would be excited by signing Widdop for 2020 but would temper it slightly by recognising he will be 31 when he starts playing for us so there is risk. We've had players before of that age who have been very good. Jonathan Davies and Chris Hicks were 31 in their first season for us and Brett Hodgson was 33. But we've also had lots of players who we've signed on the basis of their form 2-3 years before they arrived and they haven't been the same for us: Rauhihi, Asotasi, Nikau, Swann, Brown. The peak-decline point kicks in for different players at different points but is usually between 30 and 33 so signing anyone within that range on big money is a risk. He does have a good reputation as a professional with no off-field markers to think he'll be an early decliner so hopefully that means we aren't taking too much of a gamble. I think if by 2020 we have a solid team who have largely been together for 3-4 years, who have at least been in the mix for trophies in 3 out of the preceding 4 seasons, then we won't be seeing Widdop to be a one-man superstar to drag us up but bringing an extra edge on and off the field to that could take a good team to being champion material, kind of like how Juventus hope a late-career Cristiano Ronaldo will take them the final step to being European champions.

If he signs I would see him as an Adrian Morley style signing, a very talented player, who has played with the best and not been found wanting who would set an excellent example for everyone around him...so no pressure Gareth!

I think he will be as influential for us as Morley was at that time, if we manage to sign him. With him controlling the play I think we would have a decent tilt at the title - by this I mean a real chance

So do u not think we had a chance in previous grand finals? I think we have fielded a side capable of beating the opposition. I don't think our losses were as much due to ability as opposed to the more mental side of these high pressure games we didn't handle the pressure as well nor adapt in adversity when faced with it.

Anyways rumour has it sol is after a gb shirt..

We could have won 2012 and 2013 I think if luck had been on our side. I genuinely expected us to win 2012.

Very slim chance in 2016 and 2018 as we didn't have the ability to score more than 1 try in both. Wigan were the better side on balance in both games - not just mental, but better RL players in key positions.

Who??

Shaun o'laughlin sol wants a gb shirt in the tour., he has been influential in his role with Wigan and internationally. Given his age and how many games he misses or does not finish is he too great a risk and do we look for his long term replacement or given his service at international level is it a fitting fairwell for him?

Back in the old days off season rumours were stuff like Sculthorpe is gonna sign for us, Andrew Johns is coming back, now it's Sean O'Loughlin wants to go on an international tour...

I saw his name being painted on an old style mini in a back street chop shop, he is the future.

and Malcolm McDowell

Actually talking of O'Loughlin, I do remember a rumour that we tried to sign him in the first year we moved to the Halliwell Jones. He was a teenager then, what a superb signing he would have been.

He's no Roddy McDowell

My reaction on Christmas day when my pal told me that Widdop was a done deal for 2020 was that he is just the very man we need to help us retain the title . . . .

100%

I hope that you're spot on

Right actor, decent film, wrong thread

Planet of the Apes Roddy is a better actor.

NOOOOOO WAAAYY!!!

Correct UR. The festive alcohol intake is having an effect.

Come on man.
Roddy McDowell and Doug McClure are two of the best Sci-fi character heroes of all-time.

Gertrude the duck, better than them two and outshone James Mason.

Apart from IF and A Clockwork Orange he also dispatched Captain James T Kirk without wearing a latex mask Game Set and Match or is part of a rubber conspiracy?