Widders playing waiting game
Greg Prichard
June 19, 2006
PARRAMATTA forward Dean Widders says one half of his football future is clear - after five years with the Eels, he will finish at the club at the end of the season.
But as far as a destination for the classy second-rower is concerned, he can't make a decision until he either gets permission to negotiate with other clubs or the anti-tampering deadline passes on June 30.
South Sydney, in the middle of a recruitment drive that has already netted Cronulla centre Nigel Vagana and Melbourne second-rower David Kidwell, are waiting to talk to Widders when he becomes available and with some room to move under the salary cap, they are favourites to sign him.
When asked after the Eels' win over Souths on Saturday night whether the club planned to re-sign Widders, Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald replied: "No comment." Fitzgerald did say Widders did not have permission to talk to other clubs.
But, Widders, when asked what his future held, said he had learned Parramatta would not be re-signing him.
"Parramatta have pulled out of the race. They're going to let me go," Widders said. "[Eels general manager] Greg Mitchell spoke to my manager late in the week. Apparently, the salary cap has got something to do with it.
"I always thought it was heading in that direction. We had some negotiations, but they were trying to sign Jamie Lyon and when you're looking at other players you've got to make room for them somehow. It's disappointing, because I love playing here, but my understanding now is that I won't be here next year."
Widders, 26, has made his name as an interchange player since joining the Eels in 2002, but he would like to start more often. He would presumably get the chance to prove himself as a starter at Souths.
When asked if the club was interested in Widders, Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson said yesterday: "He is certainly a person of interest. If he became available we would like to talk to him."
Souths are also hot on the trail of Bulldogs prop Roy Asotasi, who has permission to talk to other clubs and has received an offer from Souths.
Widders said that he would have no qualms about joining Souths, even though they sit the bottom of the ladder with just one win this season.
"I'm very impressed with the way they are going about trying to make the club more professional and the players they are signing," he said. "I don't take any notice of where they are on the table."
