Revitalised Souths halfback Joe Williams might enter his first finals series with his NRL future secured, after Penrith officials yesterday made major strides towards securing his signature.
Penrith general manager Michael Leary yesterday held talks with Williams's manager, Wayne Beavis, and said he hoped a deal could be done within days.
While Williams is unlikely to make a decision before the Rabbitohs' final-round game against the Sydney Roosters, he may sign with Penrith shortly afterwards.
The 23-year-old had agreed to play with French club Toulouse next season but can escape the deal should he secure a contract with another NRL club.
Williams signed a one-year deal with second-tier Toulouse while he was languishing in premier league with North Sydney but he desperately wants to stay in Australia.
"As far as I know, I'm still going [to France]," Williams said last night. "I'm just worried about this weekend at the moment, but obviously I'd love to stay in the NRL."
Even though Williams would be free to return to the NRL when his contact with Toulouse expires midway through next season, Leary said he would want Williams for the full season. "If we do a deal, he'll be here starting pre-season training in November," he said.
Leary admitted the club would have to "scringe and scrounge" to find enough money under the salary cap to sign Williams, after spending a significant amount on Brisbane prop Petero Civoniceva and upgrading the contracts of several exciting youngsters.
"It'll basically come down to whether we've got enough for him to accept," Leary said. "[Halfback is] a position we're short on with the departure of Gowie [Craig Gower]. He'd be a great addition for us."
Williams was recalled to first grade by Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor for the round-22 match against the Dragons, and the side has since won three straight and is on the brink of the finals.
Beavis was cautious when discussing a potential deal with the Panthers. "He's got a deal in France, so we've got to be fair to them," he said. "I'm not about to rattle any cages until such time as we've got some evidence of what they are offering."
There is no doubt the Panthers are keen, however. With Gower and Peter Wallace leaving the club, coach Matt Elliott has said he would be prepared to bank on the largely untried Maurice Blair, Richie Williams or their signing from Canberra, Josh McCrone, at halfback.
"We don't have an established half, so if there was an opportunity there, we'd be interested," Elliott said. "But it's a matter of what we can afford, which hopefully is attractive to him.
Revitalised Souths halfback Joe Williams might enter his first finals series with his NRL future secured, after Penrith officials yesterday made major strides towards securing his signature.
Penrith general manager Michael Leary yesterday held talks with Williams's manager, Wayne Beavis, and said he hoped a deal could be done within days.
While Williams is unlikely to make a decision before the Rabbitohs' final-round game against the Sydney Roosters, he may sign with Penrith shortly afterwards.
The 23-year-old had agreed to play with French club Toulouse next season but can escape the deal should he secure a contract with another NRL club.
Williams signed a one-year deal with second-tier Toulouse while he was languishing in premier league with North Sydney but he desperately wants to stay in Australia.
"As far as I know, I'm still going [to France]," Williams said last night. "I'm just worried about this weekend at the moment, but obviously I'd love to stay in the NRL."
Even though Williams would be free to return to the NRL when his contact with Toulouse expires midway through next season, Leary said he would want Williams for the full season. "If we do a deal, he'll be here starting pre-season training in November," he said.
Leary admitted the club would have to "scringe and scrounge" to find enough money under the salary cap to sign Williams, after spending a significant amount on Brisbane prop Petero Civoniceva and upgrading the contracts of several exciting youngsters.
"It'll basically come down to whether we've got enough for him to accept," Leary said. "[Halfback is] a position we're short on with the departure of Gowie [Craig Gower]. He'd be a great addition for us."
Williams was recalled to first grade by Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor for the round-22 match against the Dragons, and the side has since won three straight and is on the brink of the finals.
Beavis was cautious when discussing a potential deal with the Panthers. "He's got a deal in France, so we've got to be fair to them," he said. "I'm not about to rattle any cages until such time as we've got some evidence of what they are offering."
There is no doubt the Panthers are keen, however. With Gower and Peter Wallace leaving the club, coach Matt Elliott has said he would be prepared to bank on the largely untried Maurice Blair, Richie Williams or their signing from Canberra, Josh McCrone, at halfback.
"We don't have an established half, so if there was an opportunity there, we'd be interested," Elliott said. "But it's a matter of what we can afford, which hopefully is attractive to him.
"We're down to the back end of what we've got available. If it's top-tier money, it would be the bottom of that, or the top of the second-tier stuff."
While Williams may not be Europe-bound next season, two more players yesterday joined the northern exodus. Gold Coast's New Zealand centre Jake Webster will take up a three-year deal with Hull KR, and Warriors hooker George Gatis will link with Huddersfield on a two-year deal.
Source: LeagueHQ
