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.

a) Read the quote below "back on thread" the thread tile is Lee Smith ????

b) "petty attempts" "having a dig" ....pot kettle black.... [iAgain[/i

c) Your earlier post also refers to "players" [ipsst in the plural[/i and is a clear knee jerk over reaction to Smiths unsubstantiated article.

We have established NO PLAYERS have left to the RU yet this season and in recent times its limited to only one or two up and coming players at most.

Just been offered a new 2 year contract by the Falcons so obviously doing well there & well thought of.
Good luck to him & to us since it has allowed Hall to develop.
That is what will happen if Smith goes, someone else will step up to the mark.

Once again for the hard of reading

WHERE DID I SAY RECENT TIMES?

So in your opinion it is perfectly acceptable for the RFU to plunder our player pool?

P.S. download Firefox, it has a spell-checker.

VERY WELL THEN GIVE DETAILS OF ALL THE RL PLAYERS POACHED ???
TO RU.

In comparison I am confident the RL game is the true poacher.


Your question is irrelevant

RU is an open pro game and perfectly entitled to seek players from whatever source.

Personally I think its a generally a huge mistake for "younger" players.

My question is relevant – so I’ll re-ask it “So in your opinion it is perfectly acceptable for the RFU to plunder our player pool?”



Finally we agree on something

I suppose the answer has to be YES but my arguement is its a purely hypothetical situation ATM anyway.

Smith nor anyone else have gone yet this season nor has there been a huge exodus in previous years so my question is why the over reaction???

The RU has a huge pool of young players and would be welladvised to us this resource. Attempting to buy instant success with RL players is usually a receipe for failure IMHO.

a al..... Harris and Farrell

It’s immaterial over what time period we are talking about – the suggestion that another RL prodigy can be blatantly poached just because the RFU has a virtually bottomless purse provoked my ‘over reaction’.

In the market sector I work in head-hunting happens frequently but in most cases the current employer can make a contra-offer to retain the services of the potential poachee. This happens because the poachers can’t offer preposterously over the market rate wages to tempt away staff.

The RFL can’t afford to make equal contra-offers and the RFU know it.

This is what es me off.

In am not convinced that statement is true but I assume they have more sense than to venture down that particualr raod anyway.

So are you arguing we (RL) should enter into a wages spiral competition that the game cant afford anyway ???