Aussie

Maybe it's time, we as a club (and possibly the game in general), reassess these Aussie imports'contracts.

e.g. take a ball park figure of £250,000 p.a. as his ceiling.
He would reach this goal by appearances, winning games and cups, AND actually seeing out each year of his contract. Too many times now, "superstars" from the NRL are coming over for big money, then suddenly getting cold feet, or a better offer back home. Whatever happened to honour?
Bar Walters in 2000, I can't recall any Aussies going back early, until the last few years.
Yes, this homesickness tag can be covered under the umbrella of "mental health", which extends to players' families, but then the clubs have to look at recruiting again, at great inconvenience to themselves.

If we assume that Widdop is going then how many is that that have left their contracts early in recent times? Three (Widdop, Roberts, Sandow)?

Is that a lot in the context of the total number of players who have come from the NRL over the years?

I don’t disagree with focusing on more on home grown talent because clearly that removes the homesickness risk but I think it’s worth going for a foreign player if they have the quality on the park.

I would hope that the club, like any business, would review the success or otherwise of all contracts and learn lessons from it.

You can put all sorts of clauses into contracts including loyalty bonuses, buy out fees etc. This only works if both sides are willing to agree to them. The problem seems to be one of supply and demand. The best players are in demand in both hemespheres which gives them greater power at the negotiating table.

I wouldn’t include Sandow on the list of Warrington players. We only brought him over because Smith screwed up by not replacing Briers with an equivalent level of player. And the reason he went home early was definitely not homesickness.

I’ll be interested to see how GI settles with his partner here. It’s only a year contract but there’ll still be a level of COVID restrictions in place which might make their winter a bit miserable. Also his kids are staying in Aus so that will be tough. Hopefully they’ll stick him in the Cheshire countryside with some horses (a passion for both him and his partner) and keep him away from the bars of Stockton Heath on those long winter nights.

I was thinking just this. Hopefully the club have already lined up the ultimate equestrian experience.

A bookies in Runcorn Shopping City

Not really a big surprise that Widdop and particularly his family are homesick for Aus. In an interview in England in late 2017 he said:

"My wife Carley and Kids Braden,Harper Rose and Willow all call Aus home - and while I do as well, having spent over a decade here, it's like the saying goes, there is no place like home. England will always hold a special place in my heart."

I'm with Lefty on this. If I was offered the chance to work and live abroad witb mg family my first question would be "how will the wife and kids manage?" because if your home life is poor you ain't gonna stick it out no matter what your bank balance.

So, do what most families would do and look at the climate, where you'll be living, what amenities and social life there is, the experiences of others etc.

Frankly, some of our recent imports priority list seems to be :

1). Salary
2). Get-Out Clause
3). Opportunities to sample the fermented delights of the UK

... ...

654). Will the wife and kids like it

Let him go and throw a blank cheque at Sezer.

Infamy
Infamy
They've all got it infamy

I didn't realise Inglis was leaving his kids in Aus, that's a very hard decision to make.
If he only stayed for 1 year and we got a 70% inglis i'd be happy, i just hope he'll come over and be happy here.
Aiden Sezer would be a nice edition to the squad.
The way our luck with halves is going though we'll end up signing Rangi Chase. Literally can't think of anyone free that would add alot to us.
Joe Mellor would do a decent job for us but don't think he has the Quality of the likes of Widdop....but who does?

More like Lorraine Chase

She could fly into Luton Airport

Maybe give Riley Dean a few run outs soon?

‘Halton Lea Shopping Centre’... the place where they stick Widnesian refugees after they escape across the water.