Dragons shock swap deal for Widdop

Plans are in place for former skipper Gareth Widdop to make a shock St George Illawarra homecoming.

Gareth Widdop, right, has inquired about a return to the Dragons Picture: Getty Images

Plans are in place for former skipper Gareth Widdop to make a shock St George Illawarra homecoming just 12 months after leaving the club in a mooted player swap with out-of-favour five-eighth Corey Norman.

Widdop has reached out to Dragons officials in recent weeks flagging the potential of returning to the club next season because of personal reasons just one year into a four-year deal at Warrington.

That has paved the way for the Dragons to offload Norman in a direct player swap with the English club coached by ex-St George Illawarra mentor Steve Price.

Widdop was released from the final two years of his Dragons contract worth about $1.8m at the end of last year. As part of the early exit, St George Illawarra received first rights on Widdop‘s services should the 31-year-old opt to return to Australia. It seems that move could happen sooner than either party envisaged.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Widdop is expected to explore other options in Australia if the Dragons are unable to move on Norman.

It is understood Warrington are lukewarm to the proposal. Norman has dramatically fallen out of favour with the Dragons. Just 12 months after making his Origin debut for Queensland he was sensationally axed in favour of rookie half Adam Clune by Dragons coach Paul McGregor ahead of the club’s must-win game against the Roosters on Thursday.

The Dragons could also lose boom young winger Jason Saab at season’s end after his manager and the club met on Tuesday.

St George Illawarra will give the 19-year-old permission to negotiate with rival clubs with Manly, Wests Tigers and Canterbury set to make a play. The Dragons are seeking a player in return.

Saab is contracted until the end of 2022 but has agitated for a release on multiple occasions this year. The club denied him a mid-season exit. Saab has grown tired of the commute from Merrylands to Wollongong for training.

The Daily Telegraph