The one condition in Gareth Widdop's exit from Dragons
The Dragons have granted Gareth Widdop a release to return home to the UK, but there’s one big condition.
The St George Illawarra skipper will quit the NRL at the end of the 2019 season to return to his native England and join Super League side Warrington Wolves.
The Dragons have decided to allow the 29-year-old to walk away from the final two years of his contract on compassionate grounds.
Under the terms of the release, the Halifax-raised five-eighth must play for the Dragons if he were to return to the NRL.
The England international arrived at St George Illawarra from Melbourne in 2014.
He has played 115 NRL games for the club and is on track to become the Dragon’s record point-scorer this year.
“I’ve made a big decision in my career having decided to move back to England next year,” Widdop told the club’s website.
“It certainly hasn’t been the easiest decision but sometimes in life we have aspirations and playing in the Super League has been one of mine for a while now.
“I’ve been away from home for a long time now and, growing up in Halifax, I always had dreams of playing in Super League.”
After he emigrated to Australia with his family at the age of 16, Widdop made his NRL debut for the Storm in 2010 and won the premiership in 2012.
Something he is keen to do at the Dragons before his departure.
“I’ve been here a long time now and to get to where we have with the roster we’ve got, to leave it all behind especially being the captain will be difficult,” he said.
“I still have the 2019 season to come.
“The reason we play this game is to win premierships. We have the squad to win it this year and I’ll be doing everything possible to achieve that.”
Widdop has signed a three-year deal with Warrington and will link up with them for the 2020 Super League campaign.
“Warrington have given me the opportunity to come home and live out a childhood dream,” he said.
“I’m really excited for that. It’s a long way off yet but it’s something I’m looking forward to.”
He will be reunited with Warrington’s Australian coach Steve Price, who also signed him for the Dragons in 2014.
