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Immortal Andrew Johns has blamed the rise of social media for the ugly, public divorce between the Canberra Raiders and their English import, George Williams.
A report earlier this week claimed that Williams sent a text message to the Raiders welfare manager to inform them he would not be attending training, however the Brit sensationally refuted the report via Twitter, and slammed suggestions he agitated Canberra CEO Don Furner and coach Ricky Stuart into granting him an immediate release, stating he only ever requested a release for the end of the season on compassionate grounds.
The back and forth in the media between homesick Williams and the club has been raised as one of the reasons the Raiders have been struggling on the field, with the 2019 grand finalists slipping well out of title contention after starting the season as top four fancies.
Canberra CEO Don Furner has revealed the Raiders had been so determined to convince George Williams to stay they had refused to consider other playmakers on the market until Tuesday’s decision to release the English halfback.
Former Dragons captain Gareth Widdop, who plays for Warrington, is understood to have been offered as a replacement if Canberra agreed to Williams’s request for a release at the end of the season.
However, the Raiders believed they could help Williams overcome his homesickness.
The dispute has now escalated into a legal stand-off as Williams insisted he wanted to play out this season but the Raiders felt that after telling them he was unable to attend training on Tuesday or play this weekend he should return home immediately.
I have rarely, if ever, seen such a good team as the 2021 Penrith Panthers. The 1983 Eels, 1985 Bulldogs, 1991 Panthers, 1993 Raiders, 1998 Broncos and the 2007 Storm are probably the best, most complete sides I’ve seen in my lifetime. I’d put Ivan Cleary’s 2021 Panthers right among those sides. They are a […]
Shaun Johnson
Following the quick exit of Georg Williams, the Raiders need a new playmaker to join Jack Wighton in the halves. I was so tempted to put Anthony Milford here for the romance but Johnson fits the role far better.
Wighton is an elite runner of the ball and has a decent kicking game but he is not the organiser. Shaun Johnson, whether playing six or seven, is capable of running a side.
We haven’t seen it so much at the Sharks but I guarantee now that he is paired with Matt Moylan, this will become the SJ show in the Shire.