As has long been rumoured, former Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves halfback Gareth Widdop has completed an amazing return to home town club Halifax Panthers.
Widdop was born and raised in Halifax both as a teenager moved down under. As a Victoria native, the future halfback had a trail at Melbourne Storm and was picked up by the club.
He would then go on to play alongside the likes of Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith as a key part of this spine and played against the likes of Leeds Rhinos in the World Club Challenge.
Sadly, his Melbourne career ended in horrific circumstances when he disclosed his hip. He would then joined St George Illawarra Dragons. He was their centre piece and would star as their number seven alongside star signing Benji Marshall.
It was during this period he would cement himself in the England set up. Widdop would play either at stand off or at fullback for England featuring in both the 2013 World Cup as well as the 2017 edition starting the final at fullback as England went close to victory.
Widdop’s long expected move to Super League was announced early in 2019 ahead of him joining Warrington Wolves in 2020.
He would struggle to live up to the hype in 2020 but in 2021 he scored tries for fun but the arrival of George Williams threw a spanner into the works as it broke up his pairing with Blake Austin.
Widdop and Williams would lead Warrington to their worst ever finish in Super League in 11th before he left the club. He was linked with a move to Halifax then but instead joined Castleford Tigers but has now left the Jungle and despite announcing his retirement has joined Halifax.
