Canberra Raiders and George Williams agree to release

It's believed Williams will receive two months' pay, which would be about $100,000 if his reported $600,000 contract was correct.

Williams asked for a release at the end of the 2021 NRL season so he could return home one year before the end of his three-year contract.

He and his pregnant partner struggled to deal with the separation from family and friends.

The coronavirus pandemic meant they were unable to return home or have visitors since arriving in Canberra at the beginning of 2020.

But the Raiders decided to release him immediately so they could begin the search for their next halfback.

Now Williams' contract has been finalised they're free to do that.

It's expected Williams will head home in three-to-four weeks.

It'll take more than the return of a homesick halfback for Raiders recruitment guru Peter Mulholland to stop targeting English players.

Mulholland's happy with the talent he's lured Down Under and will continue to scour the English Super League for potential recruits.

He felt it was only unforeseen circumstances that led to Williams leaving early.

Williams had looked at home in the NRL, scoring 10 tries in his 32 Raiders games.

Defensively he was rock solid and his running and kicking games were both threats that complimented halves partner Jack Wighton perfectly.

The 26-year-old helped lead an injury decimated Green Machine to last year's preliminary final.

"You've got to keep pursuing it. At the end of the day it's one person and there are extenuating circumstances," Mulholland said of his English recruiting raids.

"I don't think [Williams] anticipated his girlfriend falling pregnant and no one anticipated COVID so things are going to happen aren't they."

Mulholland and Raiders coach Ricky Stuart met on Tuesday to begin their search for William's replacement.

In the meantime, they'll put their faith in Sam Williams, Matt Frawley and youngster Brad Schneider to cover his absence.

Mulholland pointed to the Raiders' English success stories as proof the Old Dart was a fertile hunting ground.

"[Josh] Hodgson's been good, [Elliott] Whitehead's been good, [Harry] Rushton's going great, [Ryan] Sutton's been good, George Williams was alright until family and homesickness has cut in," he said.

"It's not a bad strike rate - four out of five. Sutton was conceivably one of our best again [against the Roosters]. Those sorts of blokes are holding their own.

"It doesn't deter me at all. You've got to go where the best are and you fish where the fish are don't you.

"Hopefully we'll get something locally which will give us the opportunity to be back where we need to be."