Are you achin.........for some Bacon...........I'm a big pig.............you can be a big pig too.

I am back. Plenty of caffeine, some bill-able work done and ready to take on the challenge of educating the unwashed masses of Southstander.

Just till lunchtime that is, then I am off for some pies.

Thank you all for your kind words.

Which is your opinion (although stated as if it's fact).

Because its' mine...........it is.

I don't want to take everyone's attention away from the mass exodus of players to Union or even G1's impending nervous breakdown.... but there's a little typo there and the fateful day is actually in 2012 not 2102....

As you were.

Really?

That explains a lot.

Have you seen a psychiatrist lately?

Which one?

You tell me.

Erm.......Lee Smith and erm.....Lee Smith this year.

Chris Ashton, Chev Walker, Iestyn Harris, Stephen Myler in other years although how far back do we go. Harris was ages ago. Walker nearly 4 years.

Cant think of anymore off the top of my head but there arent all that many. Certainly not enough for the massive over reaction on here.

If Lee Smith wants to go at the end of his contract then he will do and good luck to him.

The only question appears to be whether Leeds should release him early to have a pre season elsewhere.

I guess that depends on the compensation that is offered for the remainder of his Leeds contract.

Despite anything that emanates from Leeds that will be the bottom line.

I don't believe in 'club England' payments being introduced by the RFL as all it will do is inflate wages generally within the game when the salary cap is actually producing a more level game overall albeit at the expense of some quality, but that could be a price worth paying.

A small percentage disregard within the cap for Academy produced players would be something I'd look towards though, at say 5%.

Forgot about him, how's he getting on in RU does anyone know ?

Been pretty much a regular on the wing at Northampton, 11 tries in 17 games this season in all competitions. 39 tries in the league last season when they were head and shoulders above everyone else in National One.

The one getting all the plaudits at Northampton is Myler, who has swapped around between fly-half, centre and full-back a bit this year with 232 points in 24 games.

True ewnough. I don't recall anyone being all that excited about him in RL. I think he may be genuinely just better suited to the other code.

Didn't he (Myler) unseat Carlos Spencer there as well?

Aye, he might not have the flair of Spencer but he's certainly better at managing a game and in the English Premiership that counts for a lot.

Lack of pace off the mark made him pretty limited as a league half-back, plus probably the strongest individual aspect of his game is his kicking.

well after an enjoyable evening last night and a nice lie in this morning i've come on here to read this crap! its no wonder Gareth's little vein is pumping away!

Thanks......



So Lee Smith but as yet unconfirmed.

and from the above perhaps only 2 would fit the recent depatures/young and SL nutured ie from the academy structure.

Methinks LS16 is over reacting....again.

Danny Williams would be another. Currently holding down a 1st team place @ Newcastle and seemingly doing well.

Mmmmmmm Fair enough I suppose but he was never going to break into to the top echelons of the game IMHO.

Cream always rises to the top...and water will always find its own level.

Hardly the catastrophic loss of a star player though was it?

Andy Farrell as well..

Oh pleaseeeeeee

No, not really. Just hadn't seen his name mentioned in the thread so thought I'd flag him up. A couple of mates who watch the falcons regularly rate him pretty highly, so best of luck to him.

Now now old fella you are obviously getting my words all mixed up… again... bless.

Where have I said that our players are being poached ‘in their droves’?

Where do I say ‘in recent times’?

Where have I mentioned Smith?

That’s right – I didn’t, but once again your petty attempts to have a personal dig at me leaves you looking a little sore don’t you think?

It es me off that the RFU can take whoever they like when they like and there’s nothing that the RFL can do to stop them.