I agree mate you can only have one of those half backs other clubs sign Sneyd , sheff keep Abdul and we are chasing average halfbacks , may as well offer Richardson a job as well as a player and offer him the project to stay
Owens has to go as he hasn't really got a position anymore and will want to much as a squad member
@7-vikingnomad that totally depends on who we sign to replace them, thats if they are leaving and going to Salford.
2 rumoured players at half back are Else, aged 26 previous clubs Swinton and Rochdale currently at Midlands and Hansen, will be 30 in Jan, previous clubs Swinton, Sheffield, North Wales and Halifax now at Rochdale.
If as stated Richardson wants another go at SL and we sign both of the above I would keep Gilmore. Or sign another half back with a mixture of SL/top end Championship experience.
Midlands are currently 8th and Rochdale 15th, but for the re-structure they would both be playing in League 1. If we want to be consistently top 4, I think we could maybe only sign 1 of those 2 in a 24 man squad that would include 3 half backs.
I would 100% keep Lawton as he offers attributes in terms of size and a threat outwide/close to the line that no one else in the squad currently offers in the same way.
At the moment its only rumours, but at this stage of the season its interesting to speculate on who is coming in/going out, all part of being a fan.
I would 100% keep Lawton as he offers attributes in terms of size and a threat outwide/close to the line that no one else in the squad currently offers in the same way.
Lawton is an interesting case....he has been in the game for about 14 years but has only just about 100 apps...and consider how much game time on the field he has actually had in those games and it doesn`t amount to that much ....yes his size and threat...OK ..but defence ?.
....is he an expensive luxury?.....and when he does get involved in escape sets his error rate is high....
Nope not for me.....if as a player saw him coming on my thought would be as a forward...oh dear more work for me to do.
I agree mate you can only have one of those half backs other clubs sign Sneyd , sheff keep Abdul and we are chasing average halfbacks , may as well offer Richardson a job as well as a player and offer him the project to stay
Owens has to go as he hasn't really got a position anymore and will want to much as a squad member
It depends what money they offer him and I would not offer him too much though. His only position for me is centre and again if wanted better they will cost money, and we are hardly flushed as a club with rich owners. I agree we need to look at a few new centres, possibly this Aussie on the board can help? I would like Richardson to stay if someone at the club can find a community job, or one of the board members with there company to boost his salary?
I agree mate you can only have one of those half backs other clubs sign Sneyd , sheff keep Abdul and we are chasing average halfbacks , may as well offer Richardson a job as well as a player and offer him the project to stay
Owens has to go as he hasn't really got a position anymore and will want to much as a squad member
It depends what money they offer him and I would not offer him too much though. His only position for me is centre and again if wanted better they will cost money, and we are hardly flushed as a club with rich owners. I agree we need to look at a few new centres, possibly this Aussie on the board can help? I would like Richardson to stay if someone at the club can find a community job, or one of the board members with there company to boost his salary?
Richardson would be good to keep......maybe he does want SL but has made no impact at York and if he can't make their team ..where else? The incoming team?..London..don't think so looking at the halfs on Sun.
He needs to settle for part time ,and show he is better than that and he would be picked up....atm there is no evidence is SL standard
Any news on Gilmore and Owens staying beyond end of this season?
To re-phrase your question, is there any news on them leaving at the end of the season?
Every post on this subject is conjecture, even Widiot admits his detailed information is hearsay.
@sunny Players like Edge, Ince and Johnstone have all been announced as signing 2 year deals earlier this year. Fozzard was a 3 year deal last season from 2025 to 2028.
The way it works with contracts these days and talking to other clubs, if they are moving on they will most likely already be signed elsewhere by now. In his interview SM said we wouldnt announce players moving on until the last home game of the season. So we dont know anything concrete but the fact no contract renewal deals have been announced this far into the season combined with rumours of 2/3 Widnes players signing for Salford is more than nothing. Im not sure Salford would sign Gilmore and Snyed as similar players, but Mike Butt is Manchester based so could be in the frame?
We will just have to wait and see, if any are leaving they deserve a good send off. I wonder if we will find out at the Workington game?
Think we'll find out soon enough as the deadline is approaching for when clubs have to notify a player whether their being retained/offered new contract or not ...think the fact Gilly and jack were already rumoured to be leaving before Brierly did his interview stating "they've signed 2 or 3 players that are about to play the 1895 final " has added smoke to the fire ....backhouse being involved there may be a factor aswel ....heard midlands have made a play for Gilmore additionally....butt is off to Salford nixon his replacement ...facts are either the club think their surplus to requirements or they've turned down any offer that may or may not have been made but word is they as of now aren't in board for 27 ...quite ironic Gilly has never been seen as a running half but if recent weeks has bagged a few meat pies ....I know some won't agree but I see jack as a player that can be very easily replaced on current ability...maybe not as a reported influence he has in the dressing room ... personally won't lose any sleep in him moving on...can't say I'd be happy if Gilly does ....life's all about opinions and if it was me there'd be others I'd move on before those two ...namely being bent ..gregson...Fleming ...there can't be sentiment in rugby league it's increasingly becoming a younger man's sport and jack and tom are no spring chickens ....said it a thousand times ...it ain't all about who leaves ...it's more who you replace them with
Think we'll find out soon enough as the deadline is approaching for when clubs have to notify a player whether their being retained/offered new contract or not ...think the fact Gilly and jack were already rumoured to be leaving before Brierly did his interview stating "they've signed 2 or 3 players that are about to play the 1895 final " has added smoke to the fire ....backhouse being involved there may be a factor aswel ....heard midlands have made a play for Gilmore additionally....butt is off to Salford nixon his replacement ...facts are either the club think their surplus to requirements or they've turned down any offer that may or may not have been made but word is they as of now aren't in board for 27 ...quite ironic Gilly has never been seen as a running half but if recent weeks has bagged a few meat pies ....I know some won't agree but I see jack as a player that can be very easily replaced on current ability...maybe not as a reported influence he has in the dressing room ... personally won't lose any sleep in him moving on...can't say I'd be happy if Gilly does ....life's all about opinions and if it was me there'd be others I'd move on before those two ...namely being bent ..gregson...Fleming ...there can't be sentiment in rugby league it's increasingly becoming a younger man's sport and jack and tom are no spring chickens ....said it a thousand times ...it ain't all about who leaves ...it's more who you replace them with
I was talking to Benty and Lawton they are definitely here next season. Personally i would not be bothered if Jack Owens went he is around 32/33 years old and i think only centre he can play now.Easily replace with similar standard and younger, but the only one i keep is Gilly because 2 halfbacks of similar standard not so easy on the money we will be offering. Fleming and Gregson i would definitely get rid of now. Shame about Butt because been a good signing, and still giving his best efforts. Hope his replacement is as good and younger.
@owl Agree 100% a few fans have home town player syndrome, they never earned there silly long term contracts in the past. Their contracts caused stagnancy at the club. Change has been needed for years but never happened. We play players out of position all the time instead of recruiting players for those positions.
Not strictly true. Signed Maizen to play full-back, he did a runner. Signed Connell to play full-back, he looks like a good long-term option.
Struggled to find someone to play alongside Gilmore, let alone someone to replace him as well. Patton and Abdull won't have been cheap either, so it's not like it was being short of cash that was the problem.
Think the reality is there just aren't many options out there.
The Academy is great in theory, the theory being that it could produce both players that end up in our team and end up being sold to SL teams. The reality is the better players will go to SL clubs without us receiving much in the way of recompense. The days of meaningful transfer fees are over. How much did we receive in transfer fees for the numerous Widnes-born players currently plying their trade in SL? The Academy has to be successful financially otherwise it's another overhead we can't afford.
How many of those came through the Widnes academy though?
Most of them have done so via the Saints academy. Living/playing for a Widnes academy team doesn't mean WV deserve a fee!
The Academy is great in theory, the theory being that it could produce both players that end up in our team and end up being sold to SL teams. The reality is the better players will go to SL clubs without us receiving much in the way of recompense. The days of meaningful transfer fees are over. How much did we receive in transfer fees for the numerous Widnes-born players currently plying their trade in SL? The Academy has to be successful financially otherwise it's another overhead we can't afford.
How many of those came through the Widnes academy though?
Most of them have done so via the Saints academy. Living/playing for a Widnes academy team doesn't mean WV deserve a fee!
None came through the Widnes Academy, as we don't have one. You could make a case for Walters & O'Connor, but they were looked after by Tez & Baz getting them a gig at Leeds. All the other SL Widnesians signed from HFH/WB/Moorfield Community Clubs, and are still doing so.
We've had no Academy since 2018 administration, and still don't. There are some good lads in the U19s training squad, but none have been signed. They won't hang around forever, so will probably get games at NWC, Rochdale etc.
Paulie xx
Are you not going to mention playing second rowers and LF's at prop instead of recruiting and playing centers in the pack. A few player where ruined playing prop Kenny Baker been a prime example.@owl Agree 100% a few fans have home town player syndrome, they never earned there silly long term contracts in the past. Their contracts caused stagnancy at the club. Change has been needed for years but never happened. We play players out of position all the time instead of recruiting players for those positions.
Not strictly true. Signed Maizen to play full-back, he did a runner. Signed Connell to play full-back, he looks like a good long-term option.
Struggled to find someone to play alongside Gilmore, let alone someone to replace him as well. Patton and Abdull won't have been cheap either, so it's not like it was being short of cash that was the problem.
Think the reality is there just aren't many options out there.
Successful clubs keep a hardcore squad but when you aint successful there is no point of doing that players are just happy getting another contract year after year. To make things worse we let players go then a few seasons down the line we sign them up again.
