Just so everyones clear on exactly whats going on with Canberra Raiders halfback George Williams being granted an immediate release from the Green Machine.
Heres the timeline of events.
The facts.
On Monday night Williams agent Andy Clarke from England approached the Raiders for the THIRD time this month to ask for a release at the end of the season.
Lets remember, Williams is only in the second season of a three-year contract worth just under the $2 million mark and the Raiders paid Wigan a $200,000 release fee to fast-track his arrival into the NRL.
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Canberra CEO Don Furner denied the request.
On Tuesday morning, Williams sent the clubs welfare manager a text message saying he had a bit going on and was unable to attend training.
This prompted Raiders coach Ricky Stuart to immediately pick up the phone and check in on Williams.
In the course of that conversation Williams told Stuart he was also unable to play the round 12 match against the Roosters on Saturday.
Lets remember, the Raiders have lost six of their last seven games and the clubs season is at stake.
Stuart hung up the phone and walked into Furners office and the pair made the decision that it would be in everyones best interests the player and the club – to grant Williams his wish for a release.
This time Furner picked up the phone to Williams and told him the club had decided to grant him his release.
The only catch was the Raiders were granting Williams an immediate release, not at the end of the season as Williams had requested so he and his pregnant partner could get back to their families in the UK.
The Raiders also wanted to move on from Williams as quickly as possible.
Come in and sign the release papers today George, were granting you your wish, Furner told him.
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We reported this on NRL 360 on Tuesday night.
This prompted Williams to take to Twitter claiming our information was false.
Really George? The above version of events is word for word how the Raiders view his untidy exit.
Where Williams started to hit reverse was when the Raiders told him to come in and sign the paperwork immediately.
Hold on, what does this mean in terms of his contract?
Does he still get paid? Williams didnt want to play but he still wanted to get paid.
Wed love to know what some of the champion players whove won premierships with the Raiders over the years think of that.
If any of this is sounding familiar its because its not the Raiders first rodeo with an Englishman agitating for an early release.
John Bateman went down a similar road last year before signing a five-year deal with Wigan in the UK Super League then finishing 80 minutes short of the NRL grand final with Canberra.
Bateman takes great delight in calling me Baldy and using turd emojis on Twitter to try to deflect from his own disastrous early departure from Canberra. But if we just stick to the facts its black and white for Canberras legion of fans.
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Remember when Bateman falsely claimed his Twitter account was hacked last year after being caught calling the NRLs longest serving club CEO Don Furner a d***head? Bateman called me Cue Ball in the same tweet but proved yet again why hes as sharp as a bowling ball. Its no surprise hes popped up in defence of George Williams.
The Raiders paid Wigan $400,000 in total to get Bateman and Williams to Australia in good faith for the pair to both wear the lime green jumper for three years.
In reality the English pair gave them 12 good months one season and then the agitation and manipulation started behind the scenes, before both were granted early releases.
Weve had some champion English players take the NRL by storm in the last 20 years.
Adrian Morley, Sam Burgess, James Graham, Gareth Ellis.
These blokes played the game as hard as anyone and are loved and celebrated everywhere they go.
I dont believe the Raiders fans feel the same way about Williams and Bateman.
Heres a fresh question for George Williams to respond to on Twitter today.
If youre so homesick George, then why did your agent contact rival NRL clubs over summer suggesting you were keen on getting the full Australian experience and living closer to the beach?
And you know as well as I do youve told your mates you didnt like living in Canberra.
Over to you, George.