Mark Gasnier admits Gareth Widdop is the hardest player for the Dragons to replace
NRL Premiership
Gareth Widdop and Dragons coach Paul McGregor at training.Source: AAP
Gareth Widdop’s reported request for a release from the Dragons is a bitter blow to Paul McGregor’s premiership plans for 2019.
Club great Mark Gasnier admits Widdop’s is the hardest position to fill given the skipper’s influence on the team.
“He is a hard one to replace because in the past two or three years he has taken control of the team,” Gasnier told Foxsports.com.au.
Widdop requests release
“I think it showed this year that when he didn’t play there ... the Dragons weren’t the same team.
“There are a few options already within the roster that could step up, but it is not just a little change, you are talking about the captain of your club and your chief playmaker.
“If there is a position or a player on the Dragons’ roster that you don’t want to lose, well this holds the most disruption to the squad.”
Gasnier said he was shocked by the reports given his experiences with Widdop over the past few seasons.
However, he conceded if the release has been offered, the club needs to act fast, with the 2019 campaign just around the corner.
Widdop is on a deal reportedly worth around $1 million a season, which would free up a lot of cap space to chase a star like Shaun Johnson, who has been released by the Warriors.
However, Gasnier does not believe Widdop would leave the club without the Dragons being able to secure a suitable replacement.
“I don’t think he would leave the club in a position where he packs up and goes and leaves the Dragons with a big hole in their cap,” he said.
“There is so much expectation from the players within the club. I know they really believe they have the roster to do some damage in 2019, so I don’t think he would want to bring that all undone.
“I don’t think he would say, give me a release or I’m not going to play anyway.”
Johnson has been linked to a number of clubs including the Sharks, Roosters and the Raiders.
However if he were to be interested in joining the Dragons, Gasnier believes Johnson would be an ideal fit.
Gareth Widdop in action against Manly last season.Source: Getty Images
“Without a doubt Johnson would do well,” Gasnier said.
“I think Johnson’s game would be very well suited because there is some structure at the Dragons, but McGregor would give him a free licence.
“The Dragons do have a really good pack and with good back-rowers next to him in Tariq Sims and Tyson Frizell, there are two players that have played Origin.
“That would really play into his hands and I think that is someone they would have a look at and see what sort of money and terms he is after.”
If the Dragons fail to secure a player of the calibre of Johnson to replace Widdop, it would put extra pressure on million-dollar man Ben Hunt to direct the team.
Hunt struggled last season in games where Widdop was forced out through injury, but Gasnier thinks he has the potential to step up if he has the right support.
“Sometimes it can make someone like Benny Hunt’s game go to the next level, but it could go either way,” Gasnier admitted.
“It could affect him or he could go to another level and really take hold of the team, but it depends on the replacements.
“I would still have them up in my top eight, but you have to be brutally honest and if you take Widdop out of that team, their attack is nowhere near as good.”
Should the Dragons lose Widdop and miss out on signing Johnson, Gasnier warns the club should take their time to sign the right player.
However, Gasnier said he sympathised with Widdop, having spent time playing rugby union in France before returning to of home.
“I definitely know what it is like to get homesick having lived overseas and it was not as long as him,” Gasnier said.
“You can never put yourself in someone’s shoes and living overseas gets hard at times.
“Anytime I have spoken to Gareth, I was always of the assumption that even when he retires he would be staying around in Australia.
“He is on the Northern Beaches of Wollongong and he has always loved it, so it does come as a surprise, but you never know.
“He has come back from a tour with the England side, with the Test series against New Zealand, so that probably sparked the homesickness.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...k=d7caa449b124d062748b51baf2788fab-1543378529
NRL Premiership
- November 28, 2018 2:28pm
- Mark St John@markdfstjohn
- Source: FOX SPORTS
Gareth Widdop and Dragons coach Paul McGregor at training.Source: AAP
Gareth Widdop’s reported request for a release from the Dragons is a bitter blow to Paul McGregor’s premiership plans for 2019.
Club great Mark Gasnier admits Widdop’s is the hardest position to fill given the skipper’s influence on the team.
“He is a hard one to replace because in the past two or three years he has taken control of the team,” Gasnier told Foxsports.com.au.
Widdop requests release
“I think it showed this year that when he didn’t play there ... the Dragons weren’t the same team.
“There are a few options already within the roster that could step up, but it is not just a little change, you are talking about the captain of your club and your chief playmaker.
“If there is a position or a player on the Dragons’ roster that you don’t want to lose, well this holds the most disruption to the squad.”
Gasnier said he was shocked by the reports given his experiences with Widdop over the past few seasons.
However, he conceded if the release has been offered, the club needs to act fast, with the 2019 campaign just around the corner.
Widdop is on a deal reportedly worth around $1 million a season, which would free up a lot of cap space to chase a star like Shaun Johnson, who has been released by the Warriors.
However, Gasnier does not believe Widdop would leave the club without the Dragons being able to secure a suitable replacement.
“I don’t think he would leave the club in a position where he packs up and goes and leaves the Dragons with a big hole in their cap,” he said.
“There is so much expectation from the players within the club. I know they really believe they have the roster to do some damage in 2019, so I don’t think he would want to bring that all undone.
“I don’t think he would say, give me a release or I’m not going to play anyway.”
Johnson has been linked to a number of clubs including the Sharks, Roosters and the Raiders.
However if he were to be interested in joining the Dragons, Gasnier believes Johnson would be an ideal fit.
Gareth Widdop in action against Manly last season.Source: Getty Images
“Without a doubt Johnson would do well,” Gasnier said.
“I think Johnson’s game would be very well suited because there is some structure at the Dragons, but McGregor would give him a free licence.
“The Dragons do have a really good pack and with good back-rowers next to him in Tariq Sims and Tyson Frizell, there are two players that have played Origin.
“That would really play into his hands and I think that is someone they would have a look at and see what sort of money and terms he is after.”
If the Dragons fail to secure a player of the calibre of Johnson to replace Widdop, it would put extra pressure on million-dollar man Ben Hunt to direct the team.
Hunt struggled last season in games where Widdop was forced out through injury, but Gasnier thinks he has the potential to step up if he has the right support.
“Sometimes it can make someone like Benny Hunt’s game go to the next level, but it could go either way,” Gasnier admitted.
“It could affect him or he could go to another level and really take hold of the team, but it depends on the replacements.
“I would still have them up in my top eight, but you have to be brutally honest and if you take Widdop out of that team, their attack is nowhere near as good.”
Should the Dragons lose Widdop and miss out on signing Johnson, Gasnier warns the club should take their time to sign the right player.
However, Gasnier said he sympathised with Widdop, having spent time playing rugby union in France before returning to of home.
“I definitely know what it is like to get homesick having lived overseas and it was not as long as him,” Gasnier said.
“You can never put yourself in someone’s shoes and living overseas gets hard at times.
“Anytime I have spoken to Gareth, I was always of the assumption that even when he retires he would be staying around in Australia.
“He is on the Northern Beaches of Wollongong and he has always loved it, so it does come as a surprise, but you never know.
“He has come back from a tour with the England side, with the Test series against New Zealand, so that probably sparked the homesickness.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...k=d7caa449b124d062748b51baf2788fab-1543378529
