Jeez, his 7th season, cant believe he's been at the Rhinos that long.

Awesome player.

or a case for peacock being the greater signing leading onto the treble?

Mr Hetherington, being very astute, decided early on that the spine of the team was critical and has a full back, stand-off, scrum-half, loose forward, hooker on long term deals. The rest have been carefully fitted in around that. Fitted-in meaning to keep or to let go when neccessary to maintain the integrity and performance of the entire team.

Hmm

Deffo a major catalyst for the successes we have enjoyed since his tenure began at HQ, a good shout on your point squire, one i would indeed concur with.

Ali is simply one of the best players i have seen, with ball in hand.

ever.

FACT.

He also seems to have been completly refreshed with Blueys arrival too. so heres to Ali

Hooker meaning Paul McShane, because Matt Diskin and Danny Buderus both OOC end of next season?

Crikey 2 good posts one after another

have i wandered off onto another site?

Wouldn't have expected it at the time of his signing either.

Back then he seemed a freakishly gifted player but there were plenty of doubts over his commitment to the game from when he was cut by the Warriors. Though it looks more like that said more about their management at the time than the big fella.

there was a time when he looked like it wouldn't work out.

in 2005/2006 smith was using him up the middle as a battering ram, he looked fat, and had stupid hair

Since then he's stepped it up a few gears

I think you give him too much credit.

They're doing our jobs. Not taking them, DOING them!

did any one notice there was a welsh version on that web site? poses an interesting few questions about the number of immigrants who come to the UK and decide I won't learn english I'll learn welsh?

I thought it was the Stretford end on a saturday afternoon

I don't think that it is a coincidence that the centre(s) and wingers playing outside Ali have done well - usually better than the ones on the other side of the field.

I am hoping that Greg Eastwood might offer a second creative outlet and even up our attack - especially if Brett Delaney is more defensive than attack minded - as per some of the descriptions of his time in the Titans - he might need some spark on his inside shoulder.

More of Ali's pre-season thoughts and an interview with jay pitts watch out for him taking his eye off the ball www.therhinos.co.uk/news/9007.php www.therhinos.co.uk/news/9006.php

More of Ali's pre-season thoughts and an interview with jay pitts watch out for him taking his eye off the ball www.therhinos.co.uk/news/9007.php www.therhinos.co.uk/news/9006.php

does this make ali eligible for England?

I dont think so because he's recently played for Samoa which I think means you cant play for another international side for another 2 years.

If Eastwood lives up to his potential having him and Ali on the pitch at the same time will be spectacle worth watching.

Yup with JJB and Ablett to do the hard work in the opening 25 mins and Eastwood and Ali to come on to attack the tiring defences

That’s exactly what I had in mind, both of them coming off the bench as impact players for a tiring defence.

The little I’ve seen of Eastwood he’s always come off the bench and made an instant impact, I expect Bluey to play him in much the same way.

this was posted/updated on the 22nd Nov on the NZ website Stuff www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/308 ... pen-sesame "His Samoan passport has previously kept him off the Super League's overseas quota, but with constantly shifting rules, residency would certainly help the administrators at Leeds Rhinos..."

this was posted/updated on the 22nd Nov on the NZ website Stuff www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/308 ... pen-sesame "His Samoan passport has previously kept him off the Super League's overseas quota, but with constantly shifting rules, residency would certainly help the administrators at Leeds Rhinos..."

Quote ="down South"this was posted/updated on the 22nd Nov on the NZ website Stuff www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/308 ... pen-sesame "His Samoan passport has previously kept him off the Super League's overseas quota, but with constantly shifting rules, residency would certainly help the administrators at Leeds Rhinos..."'" not really, considering that all 'quota players' that were playing in super league prior to the quota coming in are exempt from the quota itself.

Quote ="down South"this was posted/updated on the 22nd Nov on the NZ website Stuff www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/308 ... pen-sesame "His Samoan passport has previously kept him off the Super League's overseas quota, but with constantly shifting rules, residency would certainly help the administrators at Leeds Rhinos..."'" not really, considering that all 'quota players' that were playing in super league prior to the quota coming in are exempt from the quota itself.

Top lad is Ali .
During a recent conversation with one of my brothers the chat got onto the 'my dad is bigger than your dad' subject .

I warned him to be very careful if his lad comes home saying things along those lines .
The name on the next peg to his coat in the cloakroom is Ali's kid .

On two other pegs hang the coats of the twins that play the child MD or whatever in the bog roll advert . Bet their dad aint half as hard as Ali .

Diskin's is the final year of a 4 year contract. I'd call that long term. Buderus is at the back end of his career so it makes sense to only offer him 2.

I think the empahsis is more on the changing rules - so by having British citizenship, other passports or potential registrations cease to be relevant.

Relevance?