I could understand all this hanging around for Eastwood if he was all that, he's not IMO. He's an interchange prop in the NRL and for New Zealand and there are dozens who do that job just as well in world rugby league. I don't think he'll ever pull on a Leeds shirt BTW, he's got a three year deal at the Bulldogs with an option, it doesn't mean he'll exercise it even if his Visa difficulties miraculously disappear.

If his possible recruitment for 2010, 2011 and 2012 is causing Leeds difficulties in sorting a much needed replacement in 2009 then Leeds should cut him adrift and get on with what's important now.

Did it? Link please.



Thanks for confirmation our recruitment for THIS season wasn't up to scratch.

Leeds wouldn't go broke if they spent the full salary cap either and might well be better placed to have a successful conclusion to this (so far disappointing) season although I'd personally stop well short of guaranteeing success as you appear to have stated in your post.

No CEO will be allowed to break the salary cap in future as it's now a live assessment and since it went live there has been no reported issues.

[url=http://www.visabureau.com/uk/news/16-02-2009/new-strict-uk-visa-rules-hopedf-to-change-behaviour-of-league-stars.aspxYes[/url

I agree with this on Eastwood. I've not seen taht much of him, but no player is worth potentially sacrificing the recruitment for 2 seasons for

Eastwood replaces Ellis

Buderus on a big contract

Upgrades for International Lee Smith and possibly Ryan Hall

Wheres this extra money for a word class centre, Its well known that
Scrutton was offered a contract but got a better deal from the Bulls (and rightly left)

To prove me wrong once and for all why don't you tell me what you would have done, not give Hall/Smith a rise?, offer Scrutton an improved 3 year deal?, not sign Buderus?, You have allready said you knew Eastwood wouldn't get a visa so theres no need to explain that one.

Back on subject, congrats to Saints on signing Soliola for NEXT year, does anyone know if saints will be losing and current players due to his signing/cap next year?.

Based on the contracts that are lodged with the RFL yes but there have been plenty of rumours of wives and image rights being paid which will not form paryt of the contract. These, if they are about, can only be uncovered in an audit.

It's still possible that payments may be made to players without affecting the clubs books and these would be extrewmely difficult to uncover.

The "live" salary cap is based on trust and previous agreements on overseas players and salary caps have shoewn that whilst CEO's are willing to agree to regulations they will then try their utmost to find loopholes to gain an advantage or blatantly attempt to cheat the regulation.

For that reason I take any "live" salary cap evaluations with a pinch of salt.

Where does it say the tightning of the visa process started after we had signed him?

I admit the last time i held a season ticket doug laughton was sat on the bench picking his nose. but i don't jump on the bandwaggon in october either, and i do love to see leeds doing well, but now A signing always seems imenant when season tickets go on sale, they don't always materialise, in fact not very often, but gary dangles the carrott by leaving a squad number that never gets filled. by which time the coffers are full but the squad isn't.

What's Smiths rise? When did he agree a new contract?

What about reductions? Surely Donald is on less than what he was when he signed 3 years ago in order to get his new deal? Peacock signed a reduced deal in order to get a longer contract. Senior if offered a new deal, will surely be on a reduced contract? Kylie is out of contract, and again you wont be paying him more on his next contract to what he got first time of signing.

FFS

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/leeds/7582562.stmLeeds sign Eastwood Aug 08[/url


[url=http://www.visabureau.com/uk/news/16-02-2009/new-strict-uk-visa-rules-hopedf-to-change-behaviour-of-league-stars.aspxFeb 09 NEW strict uk visa rules![/url

If the bureau give a press release saying today we have tightened the system then sorry I can't find a link to that, but I dont think they do.

You could have made a mint as a visa advisor to all the SL clubs, And I can't remember you voiceing any concerns about this during that period.

The RFL have successfully prosecuted salary cap breaches that were applied retrospectively at the season end. Adopting a live system merely shortens the then existing process.

I see the adopting of a franchise system beneficial to the RFL cap compliance team. A CEO would jepordise his clubs medium term future if discovered attempting to deliberately circumvent the cap. I'd like to think no CEO would consider taking that risk with a club I supported.

Enough said.

I thought with international honours came an automatic rise?

Not sure why Donald should take a pay cut

Kylie is out of contract next year, we don't know the full squad for next year yet

I'm aware of what your saying but just pointed out this years changes and asked what OTS would do to solve the problems he sees in the squad

When was it deemed not as neccessary? who is available?

Does Leeds' being knocked out of the Challenge Cup at the first hurdle in the fourth round now mean a sizeable chunk of player match payments/bonuses will no longer be required? Can these be added to the WCC winning bonusus that didn't need to be paid this season? Would these payments have needed to be estimated and counted within the cap calculations? Does their non payment now give Leeds a salary cap spend bonus in 2009? Or do the players get paid irrespective of appearances or performance with no bonuses these days?

Probably when the CEO publically stated that 'Leeds have assembled a squad capable of reaching the club's goals this season.'

Who is available? Who isn't? They are all full time professional players these days. Was Gareth Ellis available? Was Martin Gleeson available? The CEO will have access to all the other CEO's and once approved to all the player's agents. If there is a will, there is a way.

No idea but if the right player was available it would make a good case for front loading a big signing (is it called front loading?)

So were going to sign someone for six months and say we can pay you the going rate for this year but I don't know about next year until we've sorted out a few things. I can see the quality players that you're looking to sign queuing up for a slice of that, especially if they have to travel halfway round the world for it. Get real.

GH may think we can win the SL again with the current squad (same as the bookies did when he said it) but it doesn't mean he's not looking to replace Eastwoods position.

only if we sign them for more than a year

an unbalanced squad like one with 3 quality wingers but only 1 centre?

why not bring in a prop this year and let kylie go to make room for eastwood next year?

I agree the franchise system helps in this respect but in the past

CEO's have broken both the spirit and letter of the salary cap
CEO's have broken the spirit of the overseas quota restrictions.
CEO's have supported players in their legal claims, under the "federation" system for non federation players they released so that they could sign other non-federation players

The RFL has bottled fines for breaches of the salary cap.
The RFL has bottled enforcement of overseas quotas when threatened with legal action.
The RFL has bottled enforcement of "federation" quotas when threatened with legal action.

On this basis whilst I think the RFL is getting tighter in it's regulation I don't expect it to be perfect and I still expect CEO's to at least break the spirit of the regulation involved as long as they think they have the european courtson their side.

Got to admit, I'm glad I missed all this.

I've not seen really anything of Soliola to comment on Saints signing him, my ignorance seems like bliss in this case.

Saints recruited poorly for this year, this is a signing for next year and they may have some ageing players they would like to replace now stuck at the club for cap reasons. Might not be the great big thing for them some seem to think.

As for us, I think there are several of us who think we need some additions to replace the quality (note to Richie: not the actual physical bodies - we have those in abundance in the reserves, and even the fans can fill boots and shorts if required) we have lost over the last couple of seasons. The signing of Soliola by Saints really has nothing much to do with us.

IIRC, he made that statement after Eastwood was lost for this season. People are free to draw their own conclusions. I don't read it and think he is looking to replace Eastwood at all as he is comfortable with what he has assembled. Sinfield must have been off message when he commented on the squad depth recently in the YEP.

Hetherington claiming the squad already assembled was good enough has already been proved to be an overly optimistic position given that the WCC has not been retained, Leeds went out at home at the first attempt in the Challenge Cup and currently lay joint third on the competition ladder.

Surely those were not Leeds' aims for the season thus far.

Why has everyone suddenly accepted that signing players from without automatically improves the squad and guarantees success that cannot be acheived with a balanced squad with few alterations?