I'm guessing its the negotiations re. whoever is leaving to get him in. One OUT + One IN ...multiple contracts to sort out takes time...especially when dealing with agents and parties on the other side of the world....during a global pandemic with significant travel restrictions.

The longer this goes on points to one outcome.... he's a Warrington player.

It's clear he's coming to us. When do we ever announce a player immediately after signing them? The Holmes and Mata'utia deals had obviously been done a while ago, only announced yesterday.

This was in the MEN:

When asked about Williams' status, Lam said: "No doubt you'll hear something in the next week about whatever club he's going to, whoever it is, but it's the time of year where there's a handful of things going on, " he said. "I'm not too sure where it all is.

"It wouldn't be a great thought, George going to another club given he's a Wigan junior, but that's the bridge we'll cross if that's the outcome. Until there's any further news there's no real comment to make about that.

It's the way of the world these days, isn't it? Everything is leaked on social media and known about weeks or months in advance of official announcements. When was the last time the Warrington Guardian had big Wire news that came completely out of the blue?

I just assumed that was a paul Cullen thing that the guardian would have the exclusive. I always thought that was just phased out.

So according to Jenna Brooks just now Williams is due back in the country on Saturday but as she understands Williams is yet to sign on the dotted line. The other thing is Widdop to Canberra before the end of season.

Widdops last game in a Wire shirt tomorrow we reckon?

As much as I want Williams to sign, losing Widdop ends our season. Nothing we can do though, he was always on the way home after COVID hit.

Maybe Austin will have some sort of renaissance and go out with a bang. Can’t see it though.

Hope not.

Everything points that way, will be a shame to see him go as he’s been a step above every other half back in the league this year.

If Widdop is going and the move happening is dependent on him going, would you play him tomorrow? It's a pretty meaningless game in the grand scheme of things.

Just to add, although I was off the blocks to hear Williams to Wire agreed, I’ve heard nothing about Widdop going mid season.

Well, as long as you haven't.

So for half a dozen games Widdop has been great, don't think it really defines our season though, I recall Austin once being fantastic for half a dozen games too - there's no guarantee come Sep/Oct they'll sustain it.

I guess we'll just hope for the best, and maybe Williams and a returning Inglis, and even Price himself, will all have a point to prove come the business end of the season.

You mean you hoped and guessed possibly correctly on Williams and are now hoping Widdop stays?

You ain't the chronicle, you're a taxi driver...

Williams has tweeted recently thank to canberra, the fans and players and that he is on his way back to family. Hopefully get an announcement soon wherever he is going.

Widdop is in a different class to Blake as demonstrated through their respective careers.

More just a case that the club simply don't need the Guardian as much these days. Before the times of social media, it was a symbiotic relationship - the club needed the Guardian for publicity, and the Guardian needed the club to boost its sales. Now, clubs have their own media platforms and can make announcements on their own terms, without needing the local press to do it for them. That shift in the balance of power is why you now tend to get bland press conferences with journos afraid to ask difficult questions that might upset the club.

It should be an easy enough ride for Saints with Widdop in our side.

Gareth Widdop will NOT be leaving Warrington Wolves to make way for George Williams.

The in-form halfback is being intensely linked with a return to the NRL in a move that would pave the way for Warrington to secure Williams immediately.

Williams will return to the UK over the weekend and is expected to sign for the Wolves, though they will have to free up some room on the salary cap to make the move come to fruition for the remainder of the year.

That has coincided with the latest wave of rumours surrounding Widdop, who is the subject of reported interest from Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors.

One report even suggested that Warrington would be willing to part ways with the former St George Illawarra Dragons playmaker if he was offered a return down under.

However, this has been strongly denied by Wolves CEO Karl Fitzpatrick, who insists Widdop is settled at the club and they have no intentions of releasing him from his contract.

"The reports are way off the mark," he told Rugby League Live.

"Gareth is currently very happy at the club and I think this shows in his performances

"If we did get approached from the NRL we'd have no intention to release him early."

Widdop has been in sensational form for the Wolves so far this season, with his performances earning him a recall to the England setup.

But rumours surrounding his future have never been far away. His family has returned to Australia, which has resulted in constant talk that he is pursuing a return down under too.

With Williams now almost certain to join Warrington, it remains to be seen how they intend to free up the salary cap space to finalise the move.

But Widdop will not come into the equation.

Can only think its Inglis/Austin and Maybe 1 other making way for Williams then?

As much as preference for it to be Austin he does not have to go, he as every right to see out his current contract. Speculation as been Leeds for him but what’s the point when they clearly prefer postponing matches.

I'm getting a little worried now. D Clark has been off his game for a couple of weeks looking distracted, and at the same time we're being linked with finding ways to fit Williams in. I hope I'm just jumping to conclusions.

so while all the posts say Williams is going Pies or Leeds, rather than Wire.
Then when all the posts now are excepting Williams is going Wire with Widdop going imminently, I say I haven’t heard that...it comes to light Widdop isn’t.
I keep getting lucky then.

I’m saving you the biggest piece of pie to eat, but you’d still moan. That is a guess btw.

Inglis would need to be signed by somebody, he can't just retire for salary cap purposes. Austin would need to find another club transferring immediately which is highly unlikely. I'm not sure who the 'one other' would be. Which of our players would be snapped up half way through the season? Lineham maybe? Which clubs also have space on the cap?

I think it's more likely that Williams will sign for next season on a substantial 3-year deal, part of which is a clause to not play again this season for another club. He has two months salary from Canberra and Warrington can factor his loss of money this season into a higher salary over the next 3 years.