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?

I agree they have a way to go re quotas but that is a seperate issue to the salary cap. All I'll say there is that they got off to a bad start but the rules will eventually produce the mix within the squads they are looking for. Not even young Stanley can play forever.

The rules are the rules and the law is the law. The RFL have successfully fined and deducted points in accordance with the rules. It's fair to say soom poorly drafted rules have been challenged but I trust those rules have been re-drafted and adopted. The salary cap is (for me) now a comparitive non issue outside of the current (on-going) image rights re-classification.

im sure we could have got say Adam Mcdougal for a year on a decent contract, id certainly be surprised if he is currently on close to what we offered Soliola, newcastle seem to be packed with 3/4ers as well

maybe see how fit vagana or wiki have kept themselves, we have a good relationship with souths, who have just brought in croker, why not have a look at pettybourne

Players are out there

No acceptance from me. I'm just merely pointing out that if the club wanted to sign players it has to do a lot more than pick a player and the signing is done.

who has

Why are you so sure?

This isn't fantasy football you know? Does he currently have a contract?

How old is he? Why do you think he would automatically improve the squad?

Where would Lee Smith play and, if dropped for an Antipodean, how would that help our chances of retaining Smith in the face of some stiff competition for a player most on here had crowned the greatest thing since sliced bread just a month ago?

You're "sure" of nothing. You have your view but, in reality its' not well thought out or informed.

Agreed. Though the bar room experts on here would have you think it is that easy and if it isn't then Heads should roll.

read the thread.

Which idiot has said that?

common sense

yes a year long rolling one if im not mistaken, and he was available in the offseason

33 i think, and because he is better than what we have at RC


i would hope wing, filling in at FB when needed, and moving to fb in a couple of years replacing webb

you seem to be mistaken on what the word 'sure' means

i have, its not there

:3bs3ytmaSo you're not sure.


:3bs3ytma"If I am not mistaken". I thought you were sure?
:3bs3ytmaAh, a 33 year Aussie centre is really the direction our club should be heading in. I see.

:3bs3ytmaI see. Who will he displace on the wing? After his displays in the much more pivotal full back position will he stay and be happy with a wing place and "filling in" at full back "when needed"? Not an attractive proposition when you consider what is rumoured to be on the table.

as im sure you would call it pointless fog knitting



for a year why not?

donald. has been very good for us, but smith could be better, smith+hall isnt weak on the wings

and compared to where he was 10-15 games ago its not bad

Smith "could" be better at centre than Soliola or McDougall.

What has made you think Smith could be a better winger than Donald? In the 50+ games he's played there he's played well most of the time but has never reached the heights Donald has.

Why are you all panicking anyway. You arent Bradford or Wigan, so you will have something planned and it wont be a random second tier player

Not all of us are.

But we have a much higher proportion of know nowt knee jerking fekkwitts in our fan base than most other teams.

Personally I think Donald & Hall is a good pairing. One is a speed merchant, the other is a powerful type. Simailar to Bai and Calders in 04&05

I do and I think if Smith is going to cement a starting position it will have to be in the centres so the pressure is on.

Considering the adulation many poured on him at the start of the season I am surprised there is such little faith in him doing it.