NRL Transfer Market: Wests Tigers sign England international Oliver Gildart
Michael Maguire is thrilled to land the 24-year-old attacking weapon — keep up to date with all the latest transfer news.
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England international Oliver Gildart can’t wait to test himself in the NRL after Wests Tigers confirmed he would join Wigan teammate Jackson Hastings on a two-year deal at the club next season.
The speedy centre and two-time Super League title winner is looking forward to the challenge awaiting him at Concord after the deal was made official on Saturday.
“Really excited to announce I’ll be joining @weststigers next season. Thanks to everyone for the messages. With that said, I’ve still got a job to do for @wiganwarriors this year and would love to leave a 3 x GF winner at the club,” he tweeted.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire was thrilled to land the 24-year-old attacking weapon Gildart who has scored 61 tries in 129 games for Wigan.
“Oliver is coming from a very strong and successful club in Wigan and has already played in a number of big matches throughout his career,” Maguire said.
“We’re looking forward to him bringing his experience and talents to our squad in 2022 and watching him take the next step forward in his rugby league career in a Wests Tigers jersey.”
Gildart’s signing follows that of Wigan playmaker Hastings who has also signed a two-year deal at the Tigers.
GRIFFIN REVEALS REASON FOR CUTTING DUFTY LOOSE
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has rubbished claims from his old sparring partner Phil Gould that fullback Matt Dufty was being released by St George Illawarra for off-field issues.
Gould said on Channel 9’s 100% Footy that the decision was not football related.
“Matt’s a good person,” Griffin said. “I’ve never had a problem with him.
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“We’ve got pressure around the salary cap and we’re going in a different direction.
“I’m not sure what the other stuff was about.
“He’s a good guy and I hope he gets picked up elsewhere.”
The Dragons’ long-term plan is to play rising star Cody Ramsey in the fullback role. He recently signed a new four-year contract with the Dragons.
Dufty didn’t have a great relationship with previous coach Paul McGregor.
The problems Griffin has identified are more around his defence, rather than his attitude.
The Dragons chose to tell him early to give his manager the opportunity to find a new deal.
HALFBACKS ON RAIDERS HIT LIST AFTER WILLIAMS’ EXIT
The Raiders have become the new $1 million heavyweight on the transfer market after revealing an “untenable” relationship led to the immediate release of halfback George Williams.
While Williams claimed the Raiders “kicked me out the door”, the club made the shock call to ensure they didn’t miss out on finding an able replacement for next year.
Williams had been angling for over a month for a release to return home to the UK “for family reasons” with the Raiders adamant they wanted the Englishman to stay until at least the remainder of this season.
However, when another request to be released at the end of this season arrived on Monday from the half-back’s management, it led the Raiders board to believe that Williams could hurt the club by executing his “release” by simply failing to return to Australia at the conclusion of this year’s World Cup, to be held in England in October-November.
Williams on Tuesday night hit back at reports a text message to the club’s welfare manager triggered his release.
“I text to explain my mental wellbeing to the welfare manager?” Williams tweeted.
“I asked for a release weeks ago for the end of the season … Not once did I ask for an immediate release but instead of supporting me the club kicked me out the door. Plus I’ve not even signed the release.”
The Raiders know that the list of quality half options that remain unsigned are dwindling rapidly and that by waiting to grant Williams his release at the end of the season — as opposed to on Tuesday — it could prove disastrous to their 2022 fortunes.
FALSE. I text to explain my mental well-being to the welfare manager? I asked for a release weeks ago for the end of the season... Not once did I ask for a immediate release but Instead of supporting me the club kicked me out the door.
— George Williams (@George7Williams) May 25, 2021
Plus I’ve not even signed the release 🤔 https://t.co/CeXBFkXWsA
Williams’ departure will free up $250,000 this year and $750,000 next year.
Melbourne’s Nicho Hynes, Cronulla duo Shaun Johnson and Matt Moylan, Brisbane’s Anthony Milford, St George Illawarra’s Corey Norman and the Gold Coast’s Ash Taylor head the list of high-profile playmakers without a contract next season.
Veteran half Sam Williams will be asked to guide the Green Machine this week against the Roosters following Williams’ sudden exit.
Williams has been linked to a move to English club Wigan. That has sparked suggestions Jackson Hastings could leave Wigan to join the Wests Tigers ahead of his contract start-date of next season.
The Raiders offered an explanation of how the club made the decision to release Williams via a club statement.
“The Canberra Raiders have agreed to release halfback George Williams from his current playing contract effective immediately,” the statement read.
“Williams and his management asked for a release on compassionate grounds for the end of the 2021 season, however the club has decided it is in the best interests of both parties to grant an immediate release to allow both parties to plan for their respective futures.”
Raiders CEO Don Furner added that the decision to release Williams was in the best interests for all parties.
“George and his partner have asked on a number of occasions for a release to return to England to be closer to their families and we’ve decided to grant their request,” Furner said.
“George withdrew from training today and from the game this weekend which highlighted to the club the seriousness of George’s request.
“Over the past several weeks we have supported George and provided him with the best welfare support we could, however as a club we felt that his position at the club moving forward became untenable.”
Broncos offload high-priced star
Broncos coach Kevin Walters will immediately explore the open market for a bargain front-row option as he prepares to authorise a mid-season transfer for Newcastle-bound prop Matt Lodge.
News Corp understands Lodge could be in Newcastle colours within a fortnight despite rumoured interest from the Roosters in the wake of the prop’s barnstorming display in Brisbane’s 34-16 boilover of the Bondi club last Saturday night.
Knights hierarchy have expressed interest in signing Lodge and are expected to up the ante with a formal offer in the next 24 hours pending discussions with the Broncos about the structure of a subsidised deal.
Lodge is contracted to the Broncos until the end of next year and has a further two-year option in his favour, meaning he can remain at Red Hill until the end of 2024 should he wish to stay.
But the 25-year-old enforcer is under no illusions about where he stands with Walters, who has told Lodge he is free to join another club to help ease salary-cap pressures on the Broncos.
Lodge is on almost $800,000 this season and the Broncos are prepared to contribute around $400,000 to broker a mid-season transfer to the Knights, who insist there will be no straight swap involving David Klemmer as was mooted last month.
While Walters rates Lodge’s ability, Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee are restructuring their salary cap and the prop’s imminent departure will enable the Broncos to chase a cheaper middle-forward replacement.
Ironically, Lodge’s final game for the Broncos could be next week against the Dragons at Kogarah — the very scene of his controversial debut for the Broncos in 2018 when he was booed by fans following his New York rampage.
Broncos teammate Tevita Pangai Jnr remains hopeful Lodge will stay with the club, although the Knights appear to be closing in on his signature.
“I would like to see ‘Lodgey’ stay,” Pangai Jnr said.
“Obviously it’s up to him and the club.
“I think he has improvement in him and he is one of the leaders in our team.
“He can be right up there with the best front-rowers in the game when he runs like he does on the weekend and competes.
“He has an awesome footy brain for a prop, he knows the game so well, so I really hope we can keep him.”
It is understood Lodge has told Broncos management to get a transfer deal done if Brisbane aren’t committed to him for the long term.
Last month, the NSW Origin hopeful vowed to give his all for the Broncos, but indicated he wanted to be with a club that valued his services.
“I want a connection with a club that wants me to do well for them, that’s a big thing for me,” he said.
“Every game I go into play I will go as hard as I can until the day I’m not here.
“I came here four years ago with pretty much nothing so whether I leave this week or in four years this club has done a lot for me and I’ve rebuilt my whole life here.
“I came here with a 20kg suitcase and would be leaving with a lot more than that.
“I could be here another four years so who knows.”
Dragons flyer Dufty faces exit
Matt Dufty is facing an uncertain future at the Dragons with the local product potentially on the move at season’s end.
St George Illawarra have been reluctant to commit to the injured 25-year-old whose contract expires at the end of the year.
Dufty has been linked to a possible move to Brisbane or Canterbury while reports suggest St George Illawarra are in the market for Melbourne utility Nicho Hynes.
The Broncos have also made a big play for the off-contract Hynes.
The Dragons have high hopes for Cody Ramsey as a long-term fullback option.
BRONCO LODGE EYES KNIGHTS MOVE
By Chris Honnery
Brisbane enforcer Matt Lodge nursed an ankle concern at Red Hill on Monday amid talk of an imminent signing with the Newcastle Knights.
Lodge proved to be a standout in Brisbane’s forward pack against the Roosters on Saturday night, with 203 running metres, five tackle busts and 18 tackles.
The firebrand forward has been suspended for the Storm showdown at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night following his careless high tackle charge on Victor Radley.
He sat out Broncos training on Monday morning to rest a sore ankle amid speculation the 25-year-old could be on his way toNewcastle as part of a mid-season NRL transfer merry-go-round.
The Broncos have remained tight-lipped on Lodge’s movements with several reports suggesting he could be headed for the Hunter region in the coming weeks.
The Knights are understood to be interested in signing Lodge but only if they can get him for half his $800,000 salary.
With Clifford reportedly set to take up his two-year deal with Newcastle shortly, the Cowboys are likely to cover themselves with the impending arrival of Brisbane halfback Tom Dearden.
The move is also set to open the door for Tigers utility Billy Walters to team up with his dad Kevvie at Red Hill.
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Originally published as NRL Transfer Market: Wests Tigers sign England international Oliver Gildart
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