I can't post the link but there is an interview with baldwinson in todays yep. He says he was offered a disappointing contract by Leeds before NZ warriors made an offer. Leeds then offered him a better deal but still poor in his opinion compared to what other players his age are earning.

Im a big fan of Jordans, not only his playing potential but his attitude and im pleased for him. On the above statement though G1 i'd agree, I was there and remember thinking whats going on Jordan!... Never let that get in the way of a good BM/GH bashing though!

I love the smell of burning bridges in the morning...

[urlhttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos/leeds-rhinos-offer-too-good-to-refuse-baldwinson-1-5857600[/url

The way that reads is that Leeds dropped the ball a bit and if they'd been quicker with a counter offer then he wouldn't have asked his agent to tout him to other clubs and would have signed for Leeds.

So, should Leeds immediately counter with a higher offer every time a player turns down a contract offer?

The game was lost by the time Baldwinson got on - everyone keeps telling me McDermott is all about striving through adversity and the benefits to mental toughness of doing so. How will young players learn to deal with this if as soon as they get into a bit of a spot they get hauled off?

There are plenty of players in the Leeds team - including all three half backs - that have had shockers this season yet they manage to stay on the field?

Absolutely no way should you have the audacity to question the Rhinos club when it comes to contract negotiations and which players to retain or release. The Rhinos club are perfectly run in every way shape and form as evidenced by 6 Ringed Bailey and 5 Ringed Kirke's recent contract extensions.

In GH we trust... etc

And add to that, a young player. We clearly have our set starting salaries for young players - I think we've offered more in this case to try and keep Baldwinson because of the NZ interest but even that wasn't enough.

[iATEOTD [/iwe can speculate all day about how Leeds could have handled it better, but it won't change anything.

Hopefully the club will learn from losing him and hopefully we can continue building the young lads that are staying and wanting to ply a part in the next Rhinos dynasty.

Steady on William , any questioning of the rhinos coaching staff or management on this site will be subject to the hard core of the thought police who dominate this site. Must dash as the clock is striking thirteen .

...and conversely I'm not a huge fan of McDermott's use of forwards and substitutions generally but given you're the second fair minded person to make such comments I'll readily accept the coaches decision to sub him in that game was the right one and not some plan to unsettle the lad.

The initial contract offer achieved that.

It's a puzzle why slight innocent or even mild criticism of GH and BM on this site is immediately howled down.
Some of the clubs signings in recent months have been poor, this is a matter of concern to me, at the end of this season I expect to see a clear out of some players. If we do this and sign some reasonable players to supplement some of our up and coming youngsters we could be at the start of a new era.
If we don't get this right we could end up like saints who have failed to replace some of the quality players who had some success with them.
Looking at some of the sub-standard games I have seen recently, it should be quite within the clubs capabilities to keep on winning silverware .
Just remember any club or organization who will not accept any kind of criticism or questioning will eventually struggle.

Either you're reading a different forum to me, or you are seriously uncomfortable with having an opinion questioned or challenged.

what i dont get is why people think BM is beyond criticism, when pretty much everyone criticises him for something?

It's called an agenda.

I mean look at how certain high-profile howlers on here were keen as mustard to criticise the proposed changes to the SL structure and criticise those who are behind it, only to quickly STFU about it all once they realised that 1) GH himself has been instrumental and a key player in the proposals for structural change, and... 2) Sir Kev himself coming out in support of the changes.

Don't let the bullies get you down, just laugh at them instead

On the contrary I welcome it.

No - silly question really don't you think?

The real puzzle is the obsessive, personal contempt for McDermott some posters display on here.

Not in light of your response to the article

I have no "personal contempt" for McDermott, I trust that he is doing what he thinks is best.
I do reserve certain criticisms for him though, largely in terms of game plan, the persistent deconstruction of roles, persistent redistribution of the tasks in those roles, lousy use of substitutes and not knowing what a hooker is for.

I am certain mr Mc Dermott is paid a sufficient sum of money as a reward for being in the hot seat .
As a former royal marine I am certain he is no shrinking violet, so on balance he probably does not give a tinkers cuss for any verbal barbs fired his way.
So spare me the crocodile tears.

Must resist..............

If they want to keep them then it will help - money is not the only thing but its importance should never be overlooked.

Leeds are perhaps not in position going forward to guarantee CC finals, GF on a regular basis until this team is dismantled and re-built.

Langley unfortunately suffered at the hands of Noble's coaching - noble only wanted huge players so he turned a very talented centre into a bulked up biff/baff merchant who never got to use the handling skills he had.