BREAKING:
@RaidersCanberra
are are aware that their star English half George Williams is homesick - they’ve talked to his agent and asked him to stay put. The club understands it’s been difficult with Covid and not seeing family and will put support around him.
@9NewsSyd

Potential return now Hastings is going?

If so, I imagine we wouldn't be the only British club pitching in, and some of them, sadly, have much more spending power than us.

As part of the release agreement, Wigan will have first refusal on Williams' services should he return to Super League once his time in the NRL has come to an end


Wigan executive director Kris Radlinksi said: "George has developed into one of the world's finest half-backs and, although we are naturally disappointed to lose a home-grown player of his calibre, we wish him the best in his move to the NRL.

"I have no doubt he'll take that competition by storm”

Williams, who has made 172 appearances for his home-town club, said: "Firstly I want to say a massive thanks to everyone at Wigan Warriors for everything they have done for me.

"I've been at Wigan since I was 12 years old and I have managed to live my dream playing 170-plus games and winning two Grand Finals for my home-town club, along the way making some incredible memories and friends for life



This was the statement when he left. After signing back JTomkins, Mossop, STomkins, Sarginson, JBurgess, Tommy, Bateman. I have faith we’ll get him back SHOULD he return to SL.

George Williams is a brilliant player. If this is true and he does wish to return I do hope he re-sign for Wigan.
If the "first refusal" is correct then hopefully the club will persuade George to re-join us.

Williams was at times excellent last time round but I feel he just got a little stale since his Aussie jaunt he’s been revitalised,if he wants to come back and it wouldn’t surprise me let’s hope it’s to Wigan

It would be awful to see George in a Leeds shirt.

He’ll go to the club that throws enough cash at him and who can blame him either? That might be us, it might not be. I hope it is us, a Smith/Williams HB combo is mouth watering!

Oh will he now
He may as well stay in Australia then?

The whole thing about George is that he is homesick so if he moved to another super league club it's a bit different than being in Australia isnt it?!

It’s a tough time to be away I suppose, I’m sure under normal circumstances he would have family visiting him fairly regularly but obviously that’s a no go now, same goes for the Ozzie lads over here and I know it’s easy to say with hindsight after winning but the club probably played a blinder letting Hastings and French have extended leave.

He’s homesick and wants to come back to the UK. He’ll sign for the club willing to give him the most cash in the UK.

I can’t even believe I’m having to explain such a simple point to you.

Is it?

Things have been back to normal in Australia for ages.

It’s more normal in Oz but it’s not the standard norm is it? You can’t come and go as you please, your family can’t come and go as they please and there have still been restrictions on crowd numbers and the like at times and various places have gone in to mini lockdowns at points.

I laughed reading people’s comments on the Total RL site about how Williams should man up and get on with it and not throw a great opportunity away, whilst saying how easy they found it being away from home or saying how much they loved it. None of them had done it in these particular circumstances, so how can they make comments like that? Williams and his missus are stuck 12,000 miles away from home in a great country but it’s a country they can’t freely go in and out of, their families and friends can’t either and they’re expecting their first child, which for his partner is probably exciting but quite daunting without her family around.

What will be will be for the lad. If he comes here or goes elsewhere or stays in Canberra then let’s just hope they’re all happy. He’s been a great player for us in the past and might just be again in the future.