I think covid totally ruined the widdop signing for us. He's a fantastic player, no doubt about it, but it's not surprising that his family couldn't settle here under lockdown and restrions. We haven't seen the best of him and thats a real shame, best of luck to him in whatever he moves on to. I genuinely belive he signed for us with all the right intentions so no hard feelings from me if he does end up leaving us as expected.

By and large I don't disagree with your sentiments on the type of player who the club might target particularly our own youth (I'm no sure how Keanan Brand fits your narrative given your previous comments on another thread) but I didn't pick up on this detail in the "due diligence" post. to which I responded,

An Australian import is always a risk, sometimes they work out even at Warrington. I was 50/50 when Widdop was announced but not because of his dodgy shoulder or primarily that there'd almost certainly be a bout of homesickness for Australia.

After all he's 31 so not a wide eyed kid, he's from Halifax so will have some family links to the north of England and its environs should be of no surprise. He's a GB England international so you'd think that he'd have a good idea of the game over here both team mates and opponents. Added to that he's on top dollar, so for a couple of years maybe all parties thought that the risk was minimal and IF he packs his bags it was due to circumstances beyond anyone's control

I don't see the big deal about Widdop wanting to go home if he does. He's not been in great form and if he's a big wage earner it makes things easier for us to get him off the books. Same with Tyrone Roberts a few years ago. I don't know why fans whinge when these opportunities come up that allow us to quickly move a player on who isn't working out.

The bigger issue IMO is when you get guys like Asotasi who don't want an early release, then the club has to suck it up for the whole contract, regardless of how many fans offer to pay for their flight home themselves.

We signed Widdop too late in his career, he doesn't appear to be the player he was. Shame it hasn't worked out for both parties but if we move on I wouldn't get too stressed about it, a team rebuild is easier with him off the books. That is no reflection on Widdop's distinguished earlier career, he dominated the NRL in a playmaker position - when was the last time an English player did that? I wish him and his family well and will respect his career regardless of what happens with us.

RL Mole on Twitter pretty much confirms it, he’s very rarely wrong..

rlhttps://twitter.com/9_moley/status/1331212253018800129?s

I did quack some time ago and told you he was gone at the end of the season.

I beginning to thing Warrington is the (NHS type) NRL’s rehabilitation club of choice.
All we do is sign them crocked. Pay for their treatment and all expenses, $(Aus)1/3m grant, care for them and let them return for nothing and pay the airfare.

I believe you could be right Mr Duck ,we must be on every dodgy Aussies bucket list. Get a two year deal off the Wire & top up your pension while you get the best healthcare . No wonder we can't win anything when so many of our squad are underperforming.
I wonder if Sezer would even finish up as a shadow of his former self within 12 months of pulling on the primrose & blue.

Get Popeye back ffs

What was your assessment of us signing Currie to a new contract back in 2016 after he tore his ACL.

Correct. They went months ago also unknowingly to Mr Widdop at the time.

He’s not a 30-35 year old crocked NRL player.
He’s also a player who has proven ability and we know his attitude in rehabilitating. No question we honour his contract that he was in BEFORE he was injured...not contract post injured.

Another of your Ashton style inside knowledge?

You can believe what you want. I stand by the Ashton comment. The same as I told you we had signed Rob Butler in September.

Very kind of you, I will.

The statement LTS made was 100% accurate.

Th reason I doubted it was as follows

Lord Tony Smith wrote:
Ashton not been in training for a couple of weeks, been a naughty boy I believe.
This was in response to a suggestion that he might play on the wing. I queried it but got no response. When Ashton was named i again queried it, again no response.
I have no inside knowledge but the general impression seems to be that if you upset Price he is definitely capable of cutting off his nose to spite his face. In the light of the information I had I was sceptical about the “inside knowledge” if I’m wrong I’ll happily apologise but a bald statement doesn’t give me much to go on.