Why has GH gone public with this (YEP today)? Trying to force a deal through quickly? Very un-Hetherington like!

Entirely designed to hurry Souths into doing a deal that they can't structure under the cap for 2016, meaning they need somewhere to take him for a season.

Would his coming here when his real desire's to be at Souths be very different to his staying at Bath when he no longer wants to be there? I see several posters claiming the latter scenario's untenable due to his heart not being in it yet strangely many folk seem quite excited by the former.

More a case of would Bath want him hanging around until February 2017 if he can agree a deal to go to Souths. He'll be chewing up a chunk of their cap playing in their development squad for the next 16 months otherwise. Probably in their interest to get rid ASAP if he wants to go

Because he would be playing the game he loves. He's never won anything in the super league and Tom burgess said on Twitter last week that the brothers all had season tickets for Leeds when they were growing up. Sam would more than likely see it as a season to play for a team he once supported and give it his all to win a super league title or a challenge cup, something he's never done. But more importantly play a game he loves and is loved by.

I would like it to happen just to see Burgess in SL, amazing player, but the drop from one of the best players in nrl/ england rugby union international to SL is huge. SL is very much a second rate competition these days sadly. The only reason I could see it happening is if he doesn't want to play for another nrl club except souths and they cannot fit him under the cap. But if thats the case, I think its more likely he just spends another season at Bath.

How much realistically could you see Hetherington paying him per year to tempt him, looking at around 400k?

Some horse manure here. Our team would do ok in NRL thanks. Yours, admittedly, would be horrendous.

Leeds are ready for Burgess if he's ready for us.

Well because Leeds has been run with financial prudence and good management bringing the rewards of extra income you can be sure we will have the funds to make a competitive bid for Burgess.

We also have a very good relationship with the South's club therefore I am not sure we will be choosing to go head to head with them on this. What is more likely is that South's have some problem in doing the deal now and Leeds are willing to fill a short term gap to enable the long term deal to go ahead.

We do not know yet what Sam really wants. Of course there is a big pull back to South's because of family but we should not forget that this situation has occurred by the appalling was he has been treated by the Union media and former players only over the last few weeks. So the urge to leave Union and return to League and be among friends may be the main driving force at the moment rather the sunshine down under.

So he may choose the deal that gets him out quicker and be happy with a year with Leeds.

SB could of course stay with Bath to see if he can get back into the national squad as a 6 which is what Ford will be trying to achieve this week.

PS: Leeds showing interest in the national press is a big PR plus for SL showing we have the resources to compete in the transfer market at the highest level and not be the poor relations. Well done Garry

Exactly this, it's not like they've only thrown their hat into the ring today. It's probably already a done deal with Souths, pending Burgess' decision.

"Mike Ford says Leeds Rhinos HAVEN'T made contact about Sam Burgess - more "speculation""

Yeah because we just say we have for the Laugh.

It would be different. Stuck in RU with the possibility of another 2 and half years there and probably no Internationals to boot. Yes Souths would be his preferred choice but a year at Leeds KNOWING he'll be back at Souths for 2017 I think he'll be ok with. Let's not forget he's from this part of England too so he'll have many other family and friends here unlike at Bath. Also gets him back playing RL in time to get back into the England squad for a 4 Nations and then the World Cup. Also I'm sure he wouldn't mind one stab at a Wembley and Old Trafford final and English silver wear to add to his Aussie collection. He'd also be appreciated back in RL instead of the criticism he faced in RU.

Mike Ford was saying a few days ago that it was nailed on that Burgess would return to Bath and was happy there and looking at getting into the 6 Nations squad.

He might be best to not speak, the end result has the potential to make him and what he's been saying the last week or two about it look very silly.

Well Ford knows now even if only through the national press. GH made it clear that Sam knows of Leeds's interest too!

I hope we get him,if only for a year. We would have a beast of a pack and a good bench/ fight for places which can only be even better. Just having him back in RL would be a massive boost.

I thought the very same!

I think Ford finds himself being backed into a corner as Bath have had a poor start to the season and he will not want an unsettled player in the squad and will need to recruit a replacement quickly so he will have to be sensible about the transfer fee. I guess the Bath chairman is holding out for his money back which will include all the under the table part of the deal.

I'm sure a Combination of Leeds and Souths would be able to complete a deal if they are open to it.

GH says he would bid if Burgess was available, that reads to me like GH has found that he is not available.
Ruins his negotiating position to say we want him, doesn't really fit with our normal transfer strategy. Just another case of trying to look like we are in for the big names when we aren't. Has Gary booked his annual "recruitment" trip down under?

If that's the case, then GH has made himself look a right t*t. Can't see why he would do that. We're in for SB I reckon

The name Leeds Rhinos is currently all over the News and the Internet. I think we have approached and this is putting us on the International Map.

Either way, excellent Media Coverage and Exposure.

But I don't think Gawwy would come out and say it if it wasn't in the balance.

Being 'in' for him is very subjective though. If he is available for the right price, at the right wage and he is interested then yes, I'm sure we are in for him. Though every club with ambition will be too.

The test of how much we really want him is if one or more of those points isn't lined up. All Gary has done so far is up the ante a little to see what happens. We have nothing to lose at the moment and maybe, just maybe, a very talented player on a short term contract to gain.

Headlines coming out "Mike Ford insists Burgess will see out his Bath Contract".

But the real question is, has Sam Burgess said that?

If Bath seek to keep him there against his wishes for the remainder of his contract I can't see that going well for them. Would make more sense to try cut their losses with some cash back in a transfer fee and play the " RL players can't handle union" card to save face.

LOL at Mike Ford.