27/12/2025
Probably one of the best super subs in the NRL Era
The original Number 14 utility - Dean Widders.
Widders originally from Armidale, NSW, moved to Sydney as a 17 year old to play for the Roosters.
However, it was his time at the Eels that Widders became a house hold name.
Widders, who wasn’t an overly big bloke, would come on in the forwards normally after 20 minutes. He was deceptively quick and strong for his size and had a great dummy.
Widders was also a great ball player and even spent some time at five eight occasionally.
Widders played over 100 times for the Eels before joining the Bunnies for two years in 2007 and 2008.
He finished his career by spending 3 seasons at Castleford Tigers in the English Super League and retired after the 2011 season.
Overall Widders played 222 professional rugby league games including games for NSW Country, Prime Ministers XIII and the Aboriginal Dream Time team in 2008.