Wasn't Craig Wing seen in there once

No you're mistaken it was his twin Chicken!

Rumours are circling that Johnson is either off to Cronulla or Eels. They're discussing a swap deal for Mitchell Moses.

Moley on twitter has just posted that Widdop is homesick and wants a return to the UK (slightly odd, given that he's been there since he was a youngster, but there we are).

I know it's nothing official, will probably not be for 2019 and will cost the earth. Even so, surely we have to be all over this if there's anything in it?

Widdop would be an outstanding pick up for a SL team.

Given he is saying he is homesick I would think he would be looking for a move ASAP rather than in 2020.

Homesick usually means I can pick up a longer contract which the sum total sets me up for life back home.

With Johnson available, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go to St George and Widdop return to the UK for 2019.

You would have to think if he has been offered something it would be a minimum 4 year marquee deal, and you would expect we would be front runners to make that bid given our need for a top quality half.

Not sure I understand the Widdop rumour but if it gets us a HB of his calibre I’d be very happy. A big upgrade on what we have currently and a Williams/Widdop partnership at HB is genuinely an exciting prospect.

Like Johnson, Widdop is someone else truly worthy of marquee status. For some reason, as a Yorkshire lad, I always imagined he'd come to Leeds if he were to play SL.

Don’t understand Widdop being homesick either. I’m pretty sure his missus is Australian, and they have a few kids. I sat near his dad at a Storm game one time, and his parents were heading to the Gold Coast when Gareth moved to Sydney. All that being said if he is homesick I’d love him at Wigan. I remember hearing somewhere that Wigan were interested in him when he was a kid. Moving to Australia changed all that.

you mean RU failure Lee Smith?

It’s seems Cronulla are favourites to sign Johnson. https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/shaun-john ... 523ad24a01

It’s seems Cronulla are favourites to sign Johnson. https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/shaun-john ... 523ad24a01

Wigan are determined to either break even or make a small profit this coming season and have cut £600k from playing staff budgets and the only way for any more new players to come in is if some current players leave.

I don't claim to have knowledge of players' wages, but I doubt we have £150k cap space to bring in a marquee next year. However, I'd hope we would be in talks with him for 2020 when we have Sarginson, Burgess, Leuluai, Clubb, Powell and Lockers all off contract by my reckoning (I'd keep Sarginson and give one last season to Clubb, let the rest go, sign a 7, 8 and 9)

Yes, but I suspect having Widdop in his prime might be seen as a part of a bums on seats strategy. Clearly IL is desperate to increase attendances, getting someone of GWs quality is an opportunity that doesn't come around every day.

Reports in the media in Australia stating an official transfer request has been submitted by Widdop. He clearly had somewhere to go.

Can’t see Leeds being a viable option given they have 2 marquee players already.

We must be strong contenders.

How? We signed Hardaker and Bulluck and gave Manfredi, Davies, Marshall, Gildart and Isa new (presumably improved) contracts, surely we haven't got £150k available under the cap

It would certainly be a game changer - sounds too good to be true but fingers crossed. Whether its for 2019 or 2020 hopefully Wigan are all over it.

Can see Warrington gazumping us with their magical salary cap

Why would you pressure Isa's contract is improved?

Think of who we've released in the past 12 months and who we've brought in.
Smith (Big money)
Joel (Big money)
Sam (Big money)
Micky Mac (Big money)
Bateman (Big money)
Sutton
Frank Paul (Big money)

Bullock
Hardaker
Hankinson
Greenwood

There will be some young lads who've had improved contracts but there'll also be some young lads who've been moved on. I think we've got room but the issue is IL has said he wants to get rid of players if he's to bring some in. As was said earlier in the thread, he wants to make a profit this year and I don't think anyone can begrudge him that.

agree with that pal...why would you give marshall and davies improved contracts with budgie and manfredi coming back? means we have 4 wingers on good money, thats bad management

Maybe Drinkwater now needs to review his wage demands?

Its Huddersfield apparently

Get his missus in the club shop. We’ll be reyt on the cap

Snippet of Rads interview on radio this morning saying the SC keeps him awake at night and we dont have much room. Sure it wash Wish FM

bad management if we dont

I read somewhere that we have £120k to spend however the situation is further complicated by reducing the players budget for 2019, on that basis Widdop is out of our league unless as you say we release a player. 2020 should free up a nice amount of the cap so I would imagine that IFL and Rads are planning for the arrival of Giz.