Over hyped while over here, or the real deal ? He's getting publicity the lad - www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 040261.ece

Over hyped while over here, or the real deal ? He's getting publicity the lad - www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 040261.ece

Apparantly nailed on to move to Wigan on a long term deal with the option of returning to Melbourne.

He'll be a superstar.

If he's got pace Saints don't want him?

If he's a hooker we'll have him

Makes me laugh how any decent player from Melbourne off contract is apparantly nailed on for a move to Wigan.

Michael Mcguire will be at Wigan for 2 - 3 years max, then he'll be off imo. So Widdop would get maybe 1 year working with him.

I can't quite understand where Saddened has got his information from either. Widdop has two years remaining on his Melbourne contract so isn't off contract.

There are rumours on the Wigan board that Melbourne will be our NRL tie in Australia and an article on the RFL website mentions Maguire may try to cheekily lure him to the DW Stadium in the future but that hardly constitutes 'nailed on'.

What's your source Saddened?

His bottom.

Widdop is a rising star who plays fullback. Melbourne are more than covered there with one William Slater. Wigan have links with Melbourne through Maguire and also through the efforts to forge an official link.

It would make sense for a young player to get experience if they can't find a position for him. Nailed on obviously isn't the right phrase.

My source is a radio commentator who was talking to my Dad in Asda.

He may well choose to bum it around the fringes at Melbourne, playing odd games and covering at half back etc or they may choose to move him or another player to another position. But Wigan are definitely trying. My bet is he signs for the Goons at the start of next season, plays 2 years then rejoins Melbourne.

You want a slice, don't you.

There is a real assumption over here that anyone who plays in Australia, even through the junior ranks who is English will be the next big thing. I bet most of the people talking about him on here haven't even see him play, I certainly haven't but I'm going on Sunday after the Widnes game so hopefully I'll believe the hype afterwards.

Did you not see the highlights of the Junior NRL Grand Final? He looked really good.

I didn't mate, and if he's really that good, then great. An English lad making it in the NRL through the junior ranks is quite an achievement. But he's been built up already, there's many 'superstars' in the English game coming through in my opinion, but they're given time.

If Widdop comes over in the next 2 years everyone will expect him to be a world beater now.

Was on scholarship at Haifax too dont you know!! About 2001! Must have taught him well in his time there!!