Re: George Williams : Tue May 04, 2021 6:36 pm  

MattyB wrote:

I'm loving it to be honest. First Bateman now Williams, I really do hope it's starting to annoy Canberra (both staff and supporters). The more it happens the less chance NRL clubs will look to raid us on an annual basis.

Absolutely. Loving reading the Canberra fans moaning on social media about how these lads are breaking contracts. They have no issue with them tapping up these guys before the end of their deals in the UK or with them trying to hoover up young academy talent like Harry Rushton before they’ve even broke in to a first team, so it’s tough to feel sorry for them.

I really do hope Williams comes back because it’ll leave us in a fantastic position going forward regards the age of our spine combined with the chances of them heading for the NRL at the first chance. We’d have Hardaker around 29, Williams at 26/27, Sam Powell would be 29 and Bateman would be about 27. You’d think there’s a sniff of Harry Smith trying his hand there at some point but those other 4 I mention could well finish their careers here and play together for 4,5,6 seasons maybe.

Re: George Williams : Tue May 04, 2021 6:58 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Warrington will need to be a bit more savvy with their cap space going forward for me. I think they’ll get Trueman but he won’t be cheap and at the minute they probably don’t know for sure what’s happening with Widdop. If nothing lands in Oz for him then that’ll be two halves (with Trueman) tied up for next season on very good money. One worry we could have on the Wire score is if Canberra thought Widdop would be a viable replacement for Williams this season. The Canberra statement made it sound like George is quite keen to get home ASAP to me but they’ve asked him to stick it out. A swap deal this season could scupper us but that’s probably a long shot.

If Trueman does go to Wire I can’t see GW going there too. They’re too similar HB to make a decent partnership, both creative and go off and do their own thing. You need one creative HB and one organisational HB, the latter suits neither GW nor Trueman. That’s not to say the organisational one doesn’t be creative occasionally mind

Re: George Williams : Wed May 05, 2021 7:51 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Absolutely. Loving reading the Canberra fans moaning on social media about how these lads are breaking contracts. They have no issue with them tapping up these guys before the end of their deals in the UK or with them trying to hoover up young academy talent like Harry Rushton before they’ve even broke in to a first team, so it’s tough to feel sorry for them.

We shouldn't feel sorry for them at all. Jealous maybe ... because their game is at the zenith of sport in their country, whereas ours is at the nadir.

In fact they have so much talent in Aus, it's pretty despicable that they also come to pinch the little actual talent we have.

It's not like we can afford to see our domestic game continually stripped of its stars. We struggle to sell ourselves in the home market as it is.

Every time one of these defection to Aus stories goes wrong, while I'm sorry for the player, I'm glad to see the NRL club so peeved. It's exactly what they deserve and might even make them think twice before pouncing again.

Re: George Williams : Wed May 05, 2021 9:43 am  

Looks a safe bet that he'll be back in England in either 2022 or 2023. Some settle, some don't and that's always the risk clubs take. On the Fox League show this week one of the pundits claimed that Warrington have already shown an interest.

Re: George Williams : Wed May 05, 2021 10:15 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Absolutely. Loving reading the Canberra fans moaning on social media about how these lads are breaking contracts. They have no issue with them tapping up these guys before the end of their deals in the UK or with them trying to hoover up young academy talent like Harry Rushton before they’ve even broke in to a first team, so it’s tough to feel sorry for them.

I really do hope Williams comes back because it’ll leave us in a fantastic position going forward regards the age of our spine combined with the chances of them heading for the NRL at the first chance. We’d have Hardaker around 29, Williams at 26/27, Sam Powell would be 29 and Bateman would be about 27. You’d think there’s a sniff of Harry Smith trying his hand there at some point but those other 4 I mention could well finish their careers here and play together for 4,5,6 seasons maybe.

Re: George Williams : Wed May 05, 2021 8:50 pm  

When I first heard this I though it was someone pulling my leg.

The more I read and hear about this and the current situation at the Raiders and now Lam mentioning it publicly I actually think it is highly likely to happen.

Amazing how some things, possibly, work out.

Re: George Williams : Wed May 05, 2021 10:04 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

We shouldn't feel sorry for them at all. Jealous maybe ... because their game is at the zenith of sport in their country, whereas ours is at the nadir.

In fact they have so much talent in Aus, it's pretty despicable that they also come to pinch the little actual talent we have.

It's not like we can afford to see our domestic game continually stripped of its stars. We struggle to sell ourselves in the home market as it is.

Every time one of these defection to Aus stories goes wrong, while I'm sorry for the player, I'm glad to see the NRL club so peeved. It's exactly what they deserve and might even make them think twice before pouncing again.

Here here..... I'll drink to that!

Re: George Williams : Thu May 06, 2021 12:01 pm  

WWste wrote:

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?

My initial thought was I'd love Williams back as I think he's a great player (not sure that he's as influential as Hastings) and a Williams & Smith partnership sounds fantastic.

On reflection I'm not entirely certain if overall that it would be a great aquisition particularly if it meant we couldn't also significantly improve the front row. Also what do we do with Field??
A difficult one for IL and KR. Will get blasted if he ended up with say Wire but if their hands are tied from a finance perspective and it's Williams or a new prop a very difficult choice.

I think the squad is a little out of balance at the moment so IL and KR have some difficult decisions to make over the next couple of years. With the odd exception they generally get it right and I'd like to think they will get it right again particularly for the historic 2022 season.

Re: George Williams : Thu May 06, 2021 12:05 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

My initial thought was I'd love Williams back as I think he's a great player (not sure that he's as influential as Hastings) and a Williams & Smith partnership sounds fantastic.

On reflection I'm not entirely certain if overall that it would be a great aquisition particularly if it meant we couldn't also significantly improve the front row. Also what do we do with Field??
A difficult one for IL and KR. Will get blasted if he ended up with say Wire but if their hands are tied from a finance perspective and it's Williams or a new prop a very difficult choice.

I think the squad is a little out of balance at the moment so IL and KR have some difficult decisions to make over the next couple of years. With the odd exception they generally get it right and I'd like to think they will get it right again particularly for the historic 2022 season.

Must admit I did wonder about Field. If Williams were to come back I can’t see a future here for him which is a great shame as we’ve barely seen him play. There are some real tough choices ahead.

Re: George Williams : Thu May 06, 2021 12:13 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Must admit I did wonder about Field. If Williams were to come back I can’t see a future here for him which is a great shame as we’ve barely seen him play. There are some real tough choices ahead.

There are but still it's better to have difficult choices but still have choices rather than just sign whoever is available irrespective of their qualities.

IL is no mug and I'm quite sure that next year's squad will have better balance across the varying positions for a big push to land at least one of the 2 major trophies available.
As well as a prop we are also light in the threequarters which needs to be addressed particularly so if Gildart also departs.

If we were to resign Williams I think that we will hear about it sooner rather than later.