Doesn't need to be a clause, if the player wants out, usually the player gets out. (Not that I'm saying that's the case with Williams btw).

If there is a clause, does it mean that a player could leave on a free transfer?

If a transfer fee isn`t required, it makes a massive difference to recruiting a player that necessitates a significant transfer fee.

There is a rumour though, the Aus Telegraph have reported that 4 clubs are “circling”, Fox asked him if he had plans to return and he said that he couldn’t rule it out (granted he seemed to suggest in the future) and a number of the online click-baits are running it, Zero Tackle for example.

I’m not saying it’s likely, as we’d have to command a few for him (he can’t play the home sick card twice), but if a club come knocking we could be vulnerable.

I'd be amazed if we allowed a clause to say he could walk out whenever he wanted and return to the NRL, but a clause could say a player could leave for free or it could say he could leave for a minimum fee, it could also stipulate whether that was just for NRL or included SL too. I'd be surprised if any clause existed given his acrimonious departure from the NRL.

I'd agree a transfer fee would make it more unlikely, and if Bateman is rumoured at $250k I would expect Williams to be well in excess of that being a half. Although he is a known quantity somewhat in the NRL, he's already been over there and performed well, so less of a risk compared to a 'new' SL player heading to the NRL.

It would be a very good business deal for Wigan if they receive $250k for Bateman, given his form for Wigan since his return to England.

He did play well in Australia for Canberra but has looked a shadow of his former self since then.

could Wigan be planning using the £140,000 plus some to try and buy Williams back from us?

He only has 1 year left on contract, he's probably just putting the feelers out which I don't blame him for. I'd like him to stay beyond his contract because he's a brilliant player, he just needs a better foil alongside him with a good tactical kicking game and a pack which gets him in to the opposition half more regularly. Hopefully both of those problems will have been addressed by the time next season starts.

He has another two seasons left with us.

I love how Williams just saying he would like anothe crack at the NRL one day has turned in to clauses and him trying to immediately move ha ha
Anyway just announce Drinkwater already, getting bored waiting now.

Well I doubt they will be using it to pry King from us.

It's to buy out Ratchford's contract, Boxing Day announcement, you heard it here first.

"Nurse, where's my medication?"

So is Drinkwater spending Xmas in France then? I would have thought the sooner he arrived the better, irrespective of whether Williams is back?

There has not been any announcement yet, that we have signed Drinkwater, other than the heads-up on here from Paul (Who is usually correct).

Maybe it is just hearsay and rumour......until we announce we've actually signed Luke Gale on a 1 year deal........can you imagine.
I assume either he doesn't want to come here and wants to stay in France like he said when the rumours first appeared. Or the contract is a minefield and overly complicated. He supposedly signed up to 4 weeks ago according to some, so it makes no sense if we actually have signed him. Which leads me to believe he hasn't signed a contract yet.

Quote ="Boss Hog"There has not been any announcement yet, that we have signed Drinkwater, other than the heads-up on here from Paul (Who is usually correct).'" From Rugby League Live's Ross Heppenstall, on an update from the Catalans Dragons general manager... https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... a-25572492 [iChan confirmed star men such as Mitchell Pearce, Josh Drinkwater and May were on board again for the coming season[/i

Quote ="Boss Hog"There has not been any announcement yet, that we have signed Drinkwater, other than the heads-up on here from Paul (Who is usually correct).'" From Rugby League Live's Ross Heppenstall, on an update from the Catalans Dragons general manager... https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... a-25572492 [iChan confirmed star men such as Mitchell Pearce, Josh Drinkwater and May were on board again for the coming season[/i

Thanks for that update.

The article certainly throws a lot of doubt about whether Drinkwater will be moving to Wire.

Agree, don’t think I have ever doubted Paul’s posts but the delay in any announcement and now this recent post does make it look very doubtful.

Catalans and there players seem to have a bad habit of signing elsewhere, then completely ignoring the contract and resigning with the club, it`s happened a few times.

If Drinkwater doesn't want to be here, then we should let him stay over there.

Agree, but I don`t want to see Ratchford at halfback and Minikin at centre, if we don`t sign Drinkwater.

Totally agree and hoping that as they are not mutually exclusive, if it's true that he's not coming that we have a better plan.

If he is not coming give Leon Hayes a crack from the start. He looks like he has all the attributes and a player we can build a side around for the future.

Williams started for Wigan when he was 18 as did Lomax for Saints. Hayes will be 19 at the start of next season.

I have wondered for a while whether we would be better spending our spare cap and quota spot on a high-quality centre rather than a half back.

We have Ratchford, Dean & Hayes in the halves, we have very few options in the centre, and it is such a key attacking position.

Yeah with him saying he wanted to stay at Catalans, and Chan saying he's onboard for 2023 i'd say that's dead in the water.......Luke Gale here we come ha ha
Be interesting to see if he does give one of our youngsters ago.
I don't want to see Ratchford at halfback either and think we look weaker with minikin in the squad. If he finds form and fitness again he's a decent player, but looked well off the pace when he came back from injury.

I really am at a loss as to how me managed to get in this position of having 2 key roles up in the air.