ST George Illawarra five-eighth Gareth Widdop is off to England but Dragons fans can rest easy - he has every intention of coming back.
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There can be no doubt about just how highly Widdop is valued by the Red V faithful after he picked up the member’s choice player of the year award for the second straight season on Sunday.
He also finished the year as the club’s leading points-scorer but his future has been subject to persistent speculation with rumours linking him to a move to the English Super League before his current deal with the Dragons expires at the end of 2017.
Widdop is certain to be part of Steve McNamara’s Test squad that will host New Zealand in a three-Test series in England in November.
A month-long stint in the UK would open the door for Super League clubs to court the 26-year-old with Challenge Cup champions Leeds - based barely 20 kilometres from his childhood home of Halifax - reportedly keen to lure him home.
Widdop makes no secret of his desire to one day play in the UK but said he remains fully committed to his deal with the Dragons.
‘‘There’s no question about it I certainly want to go over there and play at some stage of my career but when that will be I’m not sure,’’ Widdop said.
‘‘Being born and raised over there and as a young kid going to Wembley to watch Challenge Cup finals... I’ve always wanted to do that.
‘‘I’m fortunate enough to play in the NRL but there’s still a bit of a drive to play [in the Super League] and experience living over there at some stage.
“People hear me talk about that and next minute I’m [supposedly] going there next year. That’s just what happens.
‘‘The media speculate quite a lot and obviously having grown up there and wanting to [one day] go over there it’s been well spoken about.
‘‘It’s not my focus now and I’ll be concentrating on playing for England and nothing else while I’m over there.’’
The Kiwis will arrive in England as the world’s number one Test team having wrested the mantle away from Australia last year.
Widdop said he was glad to see the three-match series go ahead after Australia’s decision not to play any Tests at season’s end raised doubts over whether International rugby league would be played at all following the NRL season.
‘‘Us and the Kiwis don’t have the Origins like Australia do so for us not to have a tour at the end of the year would have been disappointing,” Widdop said.
‘‘We don’t want to miss out so it’s great both parties have committed to playing International football.
“It’s a great spectacle. I know the English people love it and it’s great for England rugby league.
‘‘The way they’ve performed over the last few years and obviously being number one in the world at the moment it’s going to be a big challenge for us.
“But we’ve improved a lot and we’re still striving to be the best team in the world.”