PRICE KNOCKS BACK WIDDOP MOVE RUMOUR

WARRINGTON coach Steve Price has poured cold water on suggestions that Gareth Widdop could head home to Australia less than a year into his Wolves contract.

Reports from Down Under linked the England international with a rapid return to his former club St George Illawarra, claiming Widdop’s wife is homesick.

They also said it could be part of a straight swap with Dragons playmaker Corey Norman.

But Price says that is no chance of that happening and insists the stories were news to both him and Widdop.

Price said: “I was totally blindsided by it and he was surprised by it all as well.

“He’s extremely happy here and is contracted to Warrington Wolves for a number of years.

“I’m really comfortable with Gareth and he is with us.

“And the player linked to us will definitely not be happening – he’s not even come into my thought process.”

Price also dismissed suggestions from Down Under that the club’s star 2021 signing Greg Inglis could be thrown straight into this year’s State of Origin series for Queensland – despite not having played since April 2019.

Maroons coach Kevin Walters said he would consider selecting the 33-year-old, who has represented his state 32 times.

Walters said: “I know he is playing with Warrington next year and is a great pick-up for Warrington so he may be available for Queensland at the end of the year.”

But Price responded: “I’m most probably not in favour of it.

“Greg’s still got a bit of work to do with his body, he’s been out of the game for quite a bit. We feel he needs that extra work.

“Going into an Origin series having not played for 12-18 months – it’s a difficult task if you’ve not played rugby all season.”