Short answer, no.

I don't know the exact nuts and bolts but the RFL ultimately set the level and the figure is calculated weekly. It also doesn't matter who pays the player, the value is assigned to the club that they play for (so if Club A paid a player's wages but he played for Club B then the salary would count towards Blub B's cap).

To deregister a player needs the RFL's permission. We managed it with Kev Brown when he injured himself pre-season because he hadn't played a competitive game. I think that it may be different if a player retired mid-season, but I'm not certain.

Williams and Trueman in the same team would be fun, wouldn’t it?

It will surely be one or the other though.

I think we’re also forgetting that if Widdop stays and can keep the form he’s in, he’s actually better than both Trueman and Williams. I think next year ideally we would have Widdop and either Williams or Trueman alongside him. That’s a best-case scenario…. Worst case we’ll have no Widdop or Williams / Trueman. I’m not sure what Powell will have up his sleeve for that one - Ratchford and Dean?

I think that in my view. The best scenario would be widdop and Williams in the half back positions for next season. And trueman as a backup next season. With trueman also learning from widdop before widdop retires at the end of the season next year.

Great thinking, how about signing Nathan Clery aswell as back up in case you get a couple of injuries?

Isn’t that known as “the Wigan approach”, from the good old days when you used to sign players and stick them in the reserves to pee off the opposition?

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The Nigel Wright manoeuvre. The cap was brought in to prevent that very tactic.

It was until the money ran out and then they were shopping at Tesco.

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... ms-3271818

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... ms-3271818

So if Williams comes in now and replaces Widdop who is rumoured to be going back to Australia to Canberra, would you be happy with that? It's a good move long term, Widdop would presumably only have played for one or two more seasons at most, presuming he stayed over her and Williams should be good for 6-7 years. But it's also probably a step down, an out of form player who hasn't played recently replacing your form player this year?

Widdop is contracted for next year as well so it will be him and Williams in the halves next year unless an Aussie club pays a fee. If they did I’d expect us to sign Trueman as Widdop’s replacement from what I’ve heard. I’d be more than happy with that.

If that was the case. Not a problem. Not ideal, but this season is another screw up on a slightly lesser scale of 2020. Get him now, take a hit and regroup for 2022.

Williams partnered with Widdop for 2021-2022 with Trueman in for 2023 season would be my ideal, but we have to recognise its highly likely Widdop wont be here in 2022. If this is the only way of getting Williams to us, it has to be done. Williams / Austin for 2021 then hopefully Williams / Trueman for 2022 onwards.

I'd happily accept that.

Widdop is in exceptional form but most of us have written off this year and he has been seemingly itching for a move back to his family.

Makes a change from your usual barbs discrediting our academy set up, I suppose.

Should Williams arrive at the HJS, it's more likely to be Austin, not Widdop, who makes way for him.