Warrington Wolves’ Gareth Widdop reportedly linked with shock UK club – but not Castleford Tigers

Warrington Wolves’ Gareth Widdop is out of contract at the of the season.

It’s been no secret that he is leaving the Halliwell Jones Stadium as head coach Daryl Powell attempts to rejuvenate his squad ahead of 2023.

Widdop had been linked with a move to Castleford Tigers to solve their halfback problems, with Jake Trueman widely expected to move to Hull FC for next year.

However, a new club has reportedly come into the equation in an apparent bid to sign Widdop, according to Bradford Bulls reporter, The Game Caller.

He tweeted: “Hearing the Halifax Panthers are looking to bring Gareth Widdop in on a two year deal at the Shay for 2023 onwards.”

Hearing the Halifax Panthers are looking to bring Gareth Widdop in on a two year deal at the Shay for 2023 onwards. #RugbyLeague pic.twitter.com/xVv3L1iYWG

— The Game Caller 🗣🎙📻 (@TheGameCaller) June 23, 2022

Hailing from Halifax, it would be an incredible renaissance with the town of his birth after over two decades away.

Brought in as an experienced halfback for Warrington back i 2020, the experiment with Widdop and George Williams in the halves doesn’t seem to have paid off with the Wolves struggling for consistency in 2022 under new head coach Daryl Powell.

With Williams expected to stay at the Halliwell Jones in 2022, Widdop has seemingly been leaning towards the exit.

Some of those expected to join Powell’s revolution are Canterbury Bulldogs livewire Matt Dufty and St George Illawarra Dragons forward Josh McGuire.

Dufty’s teammate, Paul Vaughan, was announced earlier in the week as a Warrington player after being at Canterbury for just one season.

Meanwhile, McGuire began his career at Brisbane Broncos, registering almost 200 appearances before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys in 2019.

Another 38 appearances later and 32-year-old McGuire joined St George where he has been for two seasons, but he has been told that he should find another club for next year.

Dufty has perhaps had the most troubling year at the Bulldogs with a number of poor performances leading to his dropping by former boss Trent Barrett.

Of course, Dufty has long been touted for a move to the northern hemisphere and was linked with a move to St Helens last season but nothing came of that.