[urlhttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsrhinosnews/ExLeeds-Rhinos-ace-in-property.6690547.jp[/url

I find there's nothing more endearing to your new fans than getting a 2nd job as director of a property company before you've even played your first match!

[iThe 28-year-old might not need shin pads or a mouth guard for the office but he believes he can use the discipline he has gained on the field to good advantage when putting many a prop forward to new tenants.[/i

Sack that journalist now.

Somebody is getting the raw end of the deal, either this "fast growing company" has no intentions of growing any faster (with a part time Director), or Bradford have just signed someone who's mind would appear not to be on the job.

I'm not knocking Matt for trying to create a career for himself when his Rugby days are over, in fact, I think it should be applauded. I just can't help but feel a bit sorry for the Bradford fans. Imagine how you'd feel if we signed somebody, then before they'd even played it was announced they'd got a 2nd (quite demanding!) job.

Not only that but as a Director, the harder he works, the more money he makes, whereas at the Bulls I'm assuming he's salaried win or lose. Which job would you work harder at??

Putting aside commercial/community commitments, he's going to be working maybe three hours a day, six days a week with the Bulls.

Leaves him plenty of time to be the face of the business locally. As the director of what is basically a letting agent he'll be more involved in business development than the day to day grind I would imagine - going out to talk to potential new clients for example.

Plenty of time in the day of a professional sportsman these days to do both jobs IMO.

Nice advert for the company masquerading as a news report too

I agree, I'm a Company Director myself, if I wanted to spare 3 hours a day I could find a way around it. In fact, I have quite a demanding hobby (photography) and I'm often nipping out of work to do shoots. That's not my point though.

My point is how the Bradford fans must feel reading that their new signing has just accepted a high profile 2nd job. What players get up to in their spare time is nothing to do with fans, like you say, they only work 3/4/5 hours a day, Diskin was running a similar company whilst at the Rhinos, I just think it will hardly endear him to the fans will it! If he has a bad game, for all the reasons players normally have a bad game, it will be... "Must've had a late meeting last night!" etc etc, even if he hasn't. Just not sure it was a great move on his part giving them a news story out of it, when he could've just allowed it to go unnoticed (for the most part).

You're stirring up something that just isn't there and making yourself look silly.

Matt has been working in property development for quite some time, including during his Leeds career.

He was working in property in 2009 and that didn't interfere with his playing commitment to Leeds. The only thing that interfered with Matt's playing commitment was the clubs decision to sign an over the hill, injury prone expensive Aussie. Once that hindrance was out of the way in 2009 Matt was able to play a major role in our unbeaten run and 3rd consecutive GF.

HTH

Considering the state of Odsal, the Bulls need a property developer more than they need a hooker.

I cannot see it being a big issue for diskin, he has been into property for some time don't think it will effect his games training etc. When he didn't have a good game last year I didn't think it was because of his commitments away from the game

I think it's absolutely disgusting that Luke Burgess and Brett Delaney spend so much time at Costa and Nando's. They must stop immediately if they are committed to the Leeds club.

Tosh! It's a perfectly legitimate observation.

He's signed for a new club, and before playing a match publicly announced he's got a high profile, highly demanding 2nd job (in a bid to secure his new business a bit of free publicity). That WILL put some Bradford's fans backs up.

Just like when he wrote a letter to "Thank the Rhinos Fans" which, coincidently spent the last two paragraphs promoting his business.

The man is no stranger to using the media for free advertising, all I'm suggesting is that, given he has a new set of fans to impress, he should've perhaps held out a little while before attempting it this time. If you think that's a ridiculous comment that makes me look silly, so be it.

You're all forgetting that the man put 10+ years of hard work, commitment and service into our club, and we all totally loved (if not loved, certainly respected) him. Bradford fans don't yet.

My argument is not whether or not he should have a 2nd job, it's whether or not he should be shouting about it when he's yet to prove his commitment to the Bulls fans.

HTH.

I don't think you can accuse G1 of forgetting Diskin's input. And judging by comments on the Bulls' board they seem to hold him in pretty high regard (Diskin that is, not G1)

Good luck to Diskin in his property ventures. He's obviously an intelligent bloke and has spent a lot of time and effort up to now building this business up. What a great example he sets to players making their way in the game to invest their earnings wisely while they're doing well.

I happen to know Diskin left Leeds to get more game time and aim for an England shirt too - not the actions of someone looking to wind down a career on the field.

Can't wait to have him in the Bulls side.

This is getting silly, I still don't see what he has to prove. I'm sure that Bradford supporters understand that Matt is a professional rugby league player and that he has signed a contract which requires him to meet specified committments such as training, matches and community work. As long as he meets those obligations, why should Bradford fans give a stuff about what he does off the field?

If I were a Bradford fan, I'd care as much about Matt's job as I do about Lee Smith getting up to do night-feeds.

If his hunger's returned I wouldn't back against him getting that England shirt.

You don't think that was just a front?

I mean, he's got less chance of getting back into the international set up than I have of shagging Cheryl Cole.

Can't see him edging past Roby or Robinson.

To be fair, has Robinson played any rugby for England at hooker?

EDIT: Looks like he started against the Aussies. I was sure he spent most of his time in the halves.

EDIT: Duplicate post.

Or Lunt. Or Sinfield.

I'm going to stick my neck on the line and say that we'll be seeing Paul McShane in an England shirt before Matt Diskin wears one again.

Funny how a change of club changes people opinion's - I think it was last year that I was shot down on here for suggesting Roby was better than Diskin; now there are 4 hookers better!

Clearly G1 will not agree

Isn't he stuck behind Heath L'Estrange in the pecking order?

Didn't Lunt end up playing most of his rugby for Huddersfield in the back row last season? Faiumu and Robinson (and possibly even Grix) were there in front of him at times.

He looks a good player, but an international class hooker?

Nail...hammer...head

And when he runs out against us at Headingley, he'll get a good reception from the fans.

Indeed and you know what, during much of that time, he was working in property. So, I still don't understand your issue. You thought this was something new he was doing because of the wording of the article. It isn't.

Diskin HAS gone to the Bulls to increase his opportunity to play international rugby. Whilst he may or may not get selected his chances of doing so are far greater if playing longer stints as the main man at Bradford, rather than playing in 15 minute stints behind the Aussie crock. Good for him for having such ambition rather than coasting out his career at Leeds.