Dean Widders?

[Bicey_18]

Dunno if this has been posted or seen by anyone but I was looking thru the Fox Sports archives and stumbled along this from March 06..
Widders ready to follow Brian
By Peter Badel

PARRAMATTA interchange dynamo Dean Widders fears he is unwanted by the Eels and is considering quitting the club to join departing coach Brian Smith at Newcastle next season.

In the first sign that the fallout from the coaching merry-go-round has hit the playing ranks, Widders said he might follow Smith to the Knights after receiving "mixed messages" in contract talks with the Eels.

Widders is one of 14 Parramatta players off contract at the end of this season - the most of any NRL club.
While the back rower insists he is happy at Parramatta, he concedes he is no certainty to wear the blue and gold in 2007.
That prospect would come as a blow to the Eels because the game-breaking ability of Widders has stamped him as the most devastating interchange weapon in the code.
"There's a stack of us off contract this season and Parra probably won't be able to keep us all. I may be one who has to go," Widders said.
"From what I've heard, they aren't overly keen to keep me.
"My manager (Darryl Mather) sent a letter to them to gauge their interest and the message back was they aren't ready to sign me.
"At this stage it looks like I'm heading to the open market.


"I'm not sure what Parramatta's intentions are - it's still early in the season - but I'm willing to look at other options.
"It might be time for a change. I've been here five years."
Widders, 26, said if he did not strike a new deal with the Eels, he would relish an opportunity at the Knights under Smith.
While not concerned with the credentials of Michael Hagan, who will coach Parramatta in 2007, Widders believes Smith has taken his game to another level.
"I love playing under Smitty and I'd like to keep that relationship going," Widders said.
"If Brian would like to have me at Newcastle, I'd love it. He lets me play my natural game and he has brought out the best in me. He knows what buttons to push.
"That's not having a go at Michael Hagan. I think he's a good bloke and a good coach, but I like Smitty's training schedules and the freedom he gives me.
"I've played at other clubs. I'd have no problem moving to Newcastle."
With a glut of talent unsigned for 2007, the Eels are sure to face difficulties retaining their off-contract stars under the $3.36 million salary cap.
They include Widders, Wade McKinnon, Aaron Cannings, Ben Smith, Paul Stringer, Ashley Graham, John Morris, Luke Burt, Brett Delaney, Henry Perenara, Adam Peek, Fuifui Moimoi, Jack Afamasaga and Chad Robinson.
Fitzgerald did not return calls. But with the dust having settled on the coaching merry-go-round, the club has shifted its focus to player retention and Widders is understood to be a priority signing.
Widders says the coach-swapping saga has been a distraction.
"It hasn't been ideal," he said. "It's hard to think Hages or Smitty won't be looking at the team they will coach next year and think a few things. "But we are professionals, so we just have to get on with the job now."

Dunno what to make of that but it seems as though Dean wants to follow Smith to Newcastle Next Year....

Also in the Telegraph today I think, it mentions .. John Morris may be looking to follow as well .. though i think he will go 2 Gold Coast

Luke Burt is a "favourite" of Smith as well... Carney has gone to the Coast in 07.. leaving a wing spot free... You dont think that Burt will be his replacement?

 

[thuganomics]

Give me Widders any day of the week.

 

[RABK]

I personally don't think we'll sign anyone, we are deadset chocker block full of talent in all grades.

Hopefully Smith see's this and comes here with the intention to continue the development of all that talent and not to sweep a broom through the club, it's not like we need it.

Even with Carney departing we have Seage, Tighe, Cooper etc ready to step up. No need to sign Widders IMO.

 

[Yosh]

nah i rekon having widders at the club will hurt at all. i know there is a bit of a problem with the staying under the cap but if widders is only 26 i rekon he still has plenty of good footy left in him. and if he wants to come and try his heart out im sure we can find a way to fit him in somewhere.

 

[Stranger]

Dont want him personally.

Lets keep the squad we have.

 

[strewth_mate]

Don't mind the idea of having him here to play, and Smith knows how to use him, but the problem I see is in the possibility of some of the juniors getting a bit upset. Having a player or two follow a new coach is all but expected, but it could seem like a slap in the face to some juniors just as we're starting to get back to the old days of producing real talent.

But in any case, if we can fit him in without putting too many noses out of joint, I'd be interested to see how he goes, he's shown to be a class player. At least he wouldn't be able to wreak havoc on us again.

 

[cram]

Look i think the whole thing with this is the salary cap like pointed out by RBK.

Secondly I think for next year u will see little change because I think Smith will need to sus out who is who in the zoo before making changes or additions.

The biggest change i can see is that i reckon Gidley, K will move on...

 

[benno]

We buy Widders we lose some damn good talent comin thru Flegg Mainly and we ALL know how good they are going!!

He's a bloody good player..but we pride ourselves on keeping a strong knit team..no need to change it

 

[knights9]

We dont need him but if he comes i wont be arguing.

 

[Alex28]

If we lose Kurt and gain Dean then I think we get the better end of the deal - we get Mullen at 5/8 and we get a bloke who won't bitch about coming off the bench.

As for the juniors - they'll get their shot in first grade if they play well enough. I can't believe people don't want better depth in the club in case a few juniors get upset - did we not learn anything from last year?

 

[KniGhTs BaTTLeR]

It wouldn't hurt to have him. I think we have enough impact anyway. But why not?

 

[RABK]

If we lose Kurt and gain Dean then I think we get the better end of the deal - we get Mullen at 5/8 and we get a bloke who won't bitch about coming off the bench.

As for the juniors - they'll get their shot in first grade if they play well enough. I can't believe people don't want better depth in the club in case a few juniors get upset - did we not learn anything from last year?

You obviously have no idea about the emmense depth we do have in this club.

You normally talk a bit of sense but that post is just ignorant dribble. Signing players when we have so many future stars in our ranks is stupid.

Great way to piss them off, why not allow them the time to develop into first graders. We do not need to sign anyone.

 

[KniGhTs BaTTLeR]

You obviously have no idea about the emmense depth we do have in this club.

You normally talk a bit of sense but that post is just ignorant dribble. Signing players when we have so many future stars in our ranks is stupid.

Great way to piss them off, why not allow them the time to develop into first graders. We do not need to sign anyone.

I think his trying to say that if the juniours are good enough they will get through widders or not. Which they think they will do anyway give them a few years and the mullens tighes campbells will sh*t all over widders.

 

[Misanthrope]

I don't see why we wouldn't want Widders? This "keep the side we have" argument is all well and good as long as Joey is on the field, but it's yet to be proven that the side we have can cut it when he's not. A few of our players are made to look a lot better in Joey's presence, as evidenced by last year and 2004, and it would be insane to stop recruiting just because we've got a fit Johns.

 

[RABK]

I think his trying to say that if the juniours are good enough they will get through widders or not. Which they think they will do anyway give them a few years and the mullens tighes campbells will sh*t all over widders.

They might not want to stick around and wait ay?

CWB, perhaps Widders but i would not go on a spree, we just don't need it.

All very well and true to say we are made to look better without Johns but that's exactly it, we will rebuild after him and we have the cattle to do it already in the club.

 

[benno]

id like to see kids stay cause i think smith will bring best out of him..but i wreckon within a 2-3yrs he'll move kids to backline or bench to makeway for Walsh and Mullen Combo...from wat ive heard he watches our juniors closely (even more now)

Actually i shouldnt say "i wreckon" cause i got sh*t all idea wat he has planned..but that would be pritty sweet if he did that n it would make sense if he did...im open for suggestions or to be carved up again

 

[Alex28]

You obviously have no idea about the emmense depth we do have in this club.

You normally talk a bit of sense but that post is just ignorant dribble. Signing players when we have so many future stars in our ranks is stupid.

Great way to piss them off, why not allow them the time to develop into first graders. We do not need to sign anyone.

It's been a while since we've seen the High & Mighty R&BK - welcome back.

All this depth we have. How did they go the first 13 rounds of last year when we needed them? How many NRL teams rely on local talent only and not sign decent players when available? How have we gone when we have let talent go without trying to replace them with a quality first-grade-ready replacement?

I don't see how we have money under our salary cap to keep Kurt. If we have, and he's prepared to give up 5/8 - then brilliant. Who do we have who has the skills to replace Kurt NOW - not in a few years, right now? Do we have a player down there with the quality and experience that Dean Widders has?

I look forward to your response oh wise one...

 

[Alex28]

They might not want to stick around and wait ay?

CWB, perhaps Widders but i would not go on a spree, we just don't need it.

All very well and true to say we are made to look better without Johns but that's exactly it, we will rebuild after him and we have the cattle to do it already in the club.

We are made to look better with Johns on the field - lets face it, when he isn't there, they can not win. The stats are there for everyone to see and all the depth in the world does not seem to help this problem.

I didn't suggest a "spree" either. For one we don't have enough cash under the salary cap to go on a "spree", secondly we do have a decent squad that can work with Johns. However we are going to have to prepare for life without him and we should start now, not in 2008 when we know he's going. If we want to win premierships after this time, we may need to look outside the club.

You don't agree?

 

[RABK]

It's been a while since we've seen the High & Mighty R&BK - welcome back.

All this depth we have. How did they go the first 13 rounds of last year when we needed them? How many NRL teams rely on local talent only and not sign decent players when available? How have we gone when we have let talent go without trying to replace them with a quality first-grade-ready replacement?

I don't see how we have money under our salary cap to keep Kurt. If we have, and he's prepared to give up 5/8 - then brilliant. Who do we have who has the skills to replace Kurt NOW - not in a few years, right now? Do we have a player down there with the quality and experience that Dean Widders has?

I look forward to your response oh wise one...

Yup, because i disagree with you i'm all high and mighty. Who's on a high horse?

Why are you talking about Kurt, where did i mention anything about Kurt? IMO Kurt won't be a Knight in 07. I wouldn't mind the one signing of Widders with the departure of Carney and Kidley.

I'm tlaking about signing players, we don't need to do that. If you would follow our juniors, which you probably most definetly do not, you would have a lot more faith in the current crop baout to emmerge.

Yeh throw them in the deep end in first grade with a bunch of blokes who they've never trained or played with and who are already on minus 100 in the confidence factor, let's judge them on that... :roll:

Players aren't made over night, Johns, Buderus, Simpson, Newton....they were nothing flash hot until they were given a decent run in first grade.

We'll need some patience and timing to ensure we do get some decent first graders from our juniors, glad your not coach.

 

[RABK]

We are made to look better with Johns on the field - lets face it, when he isn't there, they can not win. The stats are there for everyone to see and all the depth in the world does not seem to help this problem.

I didn't suggest a "spree" either. For one we don't have enough cash under the salary cap to go on a "spree", secondly we do have a decent squad that can work with Johns. However we are going to have to prepare for life without him and we should start now, not in 2008 when we know he's going. If we want to win premierships after this time, we may need to look outside the club.

You don't agree?

No i don't. I think Mullen and Walsh will be ready to lead the side around the park. I'm of the believe the club thinks this as well. Most of our forward pack is young and still got years ahead of them and Bedsy and Simmo still have a good 5 years in them.

We may have to prepare for a lean year or two as players like Walsh, Uate, McManus, Hinton, Natusch, Snowden etc find their feet in first grade but if we stick with them they'll prove themselves.