Gareth Widdop is reportedly on his way back to the NRL after a less-than-stellar Super League stint, and a number of suitors are already lining up for his signature; who will win the race for the Englishman?
In 2019, star playmaker Gareth Widdop warned the Dragons — with whom he had just signed a lengthy deal — he would be heading to the Super League the following year. The reason? He was “homesick,” and wanted to play out his final days in England. St George agreed, and he left for Warrington.
Things didn’t go so well for the international star after his continental shift.
Widdop, 31, made just a dozen appearances for the club. His 2020 season ended at the hands of Hull, in a 27-14 loss at Halliwell Jones Stadium. The Englishman even lost the ball over the line to give up a try.
The 31-year-old’s ‘fairytale’ return home simmered, boiled, but never really fired. Widdop was good, but not great, and he was dubbed “lukewarm” throughout 2020. Now he’s eyeing an NRL return; but where could he land heading into 2021, and who actually needs the halfback?
There are a few options. Reports suggest Widdop is chasing a “huge downgrade” on his deal, in a bid to get back to Australia.
Right now, the Englishman is reportedly making $900,000 with Warrington. He’s willing to drop down to as little as $300,000 to rejoin the NRL with a potential finals contender. That’s as good a deal as you’d get on the market heading into 2021. But who pays it?
Back to the Red V?
The obvious choice right off the bat would be the Dragons. Widdop played 125 games in the Red V between 2014 and 2019, before breaking his contract early to head home to England.
When he left, Widdop and St George agreed Kogarah would be his first and only port of call if he did end up returning to the NRL. That plan appears to have been torpedoed, however, by the Dragons themselves. They’re loaded with halves — under fire combo Ben Hunt and Corey Norman among them — and may not have space for their beloved Englishman.
Incoming head coach Anthony Griffin may also be keener to splash out on the open market for other roles. Hunt, Norman, Adam Clune, and Jayden Sullivan are all battling for the 6 and 7 jumpers, but the Red V’s forward pack is low on big hitters.
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There’s also Junior Amone, a Wollongong youngster who will join the club’s top 30 in the 2022 season. Simply put, Widdop would add to an already piled-on war for the halves roles.
Possible northern switch
The club looming largest for Widdop is the Cowboys. The North Queensland outfit just signed and stamped a deal to send Jake Clifford south to Newcastle in 2022, and may jump at the chance to hustle him out the door early if they can scoop up Widdop.
The $300,000 price tag should be mouthwatering for the club too.
Widdop may face the same issue there, however. The Cowboys are shipping out players to begin a reshuffle, and a 31-year-old player that simmered in the Super League may clock up their plans.
Clifford’s earnings shifting off the pay packet in 2021 may be the solution they need though. The 2017 young player of the year has made his interest in swapping to the Novocastrian red and blue early no secret, so both sides may be in agreement.
Reports suggest the Cowboys have yet to officially table a deal for Widdop though.
For now, Widdop is in Sydney, in hotel quarantine. The Sporting Base understands he may be contacted while awaiting release there, but whether the Cowboys pull the trigger is a different story.
Other potential Widdop suitors
The Dragons and the Cowboys sit highest in the race for Widdop’s sliced-down signature, but there have been other clubs swirling too.
The main two in the conversation are the Sharks and Roosters, reports have suggested.
Widdop’s agent has been busy in the offseason, News Corp reported earlier this week. He’s been dialling the tricolours, and St George’s local arch-rivals Cronulla, in a bid to find his English star a home for 2021.
The Sporting Base understands both the Sharks and Roosters will turn the deal down, due to salary cap issues.
The clubs also boast halves combos that have already been set for some time too. The Sharks will play with Shaun Johnson leading their team, and the Roosters obviously boast Luke Keary.
The Sydney champions did dump Shane Flanagan’s son Kyle at the end of the year, but it’s expected rising star Lachlan Lam will step in to fill his place in the heart of the Roosters’ team alongside Keary for 2021 and well into the future.
The bottom line is, Gareth Widdop may struggle to find a spot in the NRL heading into 2021. The Sporting Base will keep you in the loop for all developments on the Englishman’s rugby league future.
