Dragons Could Chase Shaun Johnson As Gareth Widdop Requests Release

English star Gareth Widdop has stunned the Dragons by requesting an immediate release from the final three years of his NRL contract, Fairfax Media reports.

Widdop, who is on about $1 million a season and is contracted until 2021, is understood to be homesick and wishes to return to England.

The Dragons are set to deny Widdop’s request due to his importance to the club, and the limited options they would have to replace him for 2019 given the timing of his request.

It is another off-season setback for the Dragons who were targeting out of contract star Jarryd Hayne before he was charged with aggravated sexual assault earlier this month.

According to Fairfax, a number of English Super League clubs are interested in Widdop, among them Huddersfield.

Widdop has played 185 NRL matches for the Dragons and Storm but has repeatedly stated since making his debut with Melbourne in 2010 that he wanted to play in Super League and told reporters while in England for the 2015 Test series against the Kiwis that it would be a “fairy tale to end my career here”.

The news of Widdop’s request comes just a day after it was revealed star Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has demanded a release from his contract as uncertainty surrounding his playing future continues.

According to the NZ Herald, Johnson approached Warriors CEO Cameron George and coach Stephen Kearney on Tuesday about wanting out of the final year of his contract.

“Yesterday (head coach) Stephen Kearney, (recruitment manager) Peter O’Sullivan and I met with Shaun and his manager Peter Brown,” George said.

“During the meeting Shaun clearly demonstrated to us that he didn’t want to be at the club in 2019.

“On the basis of what Shaun told us, we are not going to compromise our culture on and off the field with people who do not wish to represent our club, members and fans in the way we expect.

“Everything we do is about the club being first and what’s best for our future, our development and ultimately our results.

Johnson granted immediate release.

📰 https://t.co/qCUa7Ofv1y pic.twitter.com/hC4RY5bq1v

— One NZ Warriors (@NZWarriors) November 27, 2018

The departure opens the door for NRL rivals to circle, with Cronulla reportedly in the box seat to secure the star playmaker’s signature following the departure of Valentine Holmes.

Should the Dragons feel that it wouldn’t be in the best interest of the club to keep Widdop around, they would have to move quickly on securing Johnson.

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