George Williams has accused the Canberra Raiders of "kicking" him out of the club after a drama-filled Tuesday exposed more cracks in the Green Machine.
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The Raiders terminated Williams' contract effective immediately, saying the relationship between club and player had become untenable after the halfback started agitating for a release at the end of the year.
Williams cited homesickness and his pregnant partner as the reasons for wanting to return to England.
He didn't attend training on Tuesday and there were reports it led to the Raiders' swift action to release him from the remaining 18 months of his deal.
But Williams rejected that version of events, accusing the Raiders of letting him down.
"False. I text to explain my mental well-being to the welfare manager? I asked for a release weeks ago for the end of the season," Williams said on Twitter.
"Not once did I ask for a (sic) immediate release but Instead of supporting me the club kicked me out the door.
"Plus I've not even signed the release."
It was thought that both parties had verbally agreed that Williams will leave the club immediately, and Raiders officials were in the process of contacting the player's English management team to finalise the agreement.
The Raiders had been providing off-field support to Williams and his partner, after it emerged during the club's recent five-match losing run that the international half was homesick.
And while knocking back Williams' request for an early release, the club had indicated it would consider that possibility at the end of 2021.
Following Tuesday's developments, it is believed Williams will look to head back to England as soon as possible - a place he has been unable to visit since moving to Canberra due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Williams signed a three-year deal with Canberra to replace Aidan Sezer, following the club's 2019 grand final loss, and was a key cog of the side's run to last season's preliminary final.
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His sudden departure leaves a gaping hole in the Raiders' halves, although veteran Sam Williams offers a ready-made replacement for the foreseeable future and will wear the number seven on Saturday.
Recruiting staff will ramp up their scouring of a depleted NRL halves market during the bye week following the Roosters game.
"We'll get this week's game out of the road, we've got a bye next week, that'll probably be the best time to sit down and look at things," Raiders chief Don Furner said.
"Over the past several weeks we have supported George and provided him with the best welfare support we could, however as a club we felt that his position at the club moving forward became untenable.
"George and his partner have asked on a number of occasions for a release to return to England to be closer to their families.
"George withdrew from training today and from the game this weekend which highlighted to the club the seriousness of George's request."
Williams' shock exit is the latest in a series of blows the club has suffered in recent times, and comes after the Raiders' sixth loss in seven matches which dropped them to 11th in the NRL.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
