I think he'd have been good enough off the bench next season, but we need a new centre, and can manage without him.

This.

I would just add that he has been a great addition to the team and we will miss his skills but we need to start revamping the squad so kudos to him for stepping aside rather than standing in the way.

Good luck to Matt Prior had a great career apart from the last 9 months.
Hope he finds a role in retirement that suits him.

Not sure he deserves 'kudos for stepping aside'? Its a lot more like Smith told him he was unlikely to feature much next year, and then the club negotiated an exit deal. He was always going to return to Australia, so now he can start his post-playing life a year earlier and with a lump sum to get him started. He's likely to be better off financially in the long-term, assuming he negotiated a decent package.

I’m wondering if we will be a bit short of being able to use full cap next year ? If we are part paying for Walker say £30k, my understanding of the cap was that any Prior settlement say £50k would count as well. However, I could very well be wrong as cap rules seem quite opaque.

ways and means.
perhaps caddicks given him a 'job'.
perhaps he is leeds australian 'scout'

Why not? He had a contact in place non? He didnt have to retire if he didnt / wasnt offered something. Couldve kicked his heels playing out on loan at a champ club / academy etc.
Yes he's not exactly going to be leaving without a payoff at least hes gone and gone early not disappeared back to Aus, gone off grid and dragged this out.

Far as I can tell it's been sorted correctly and with respect on both sides. As it should be. So good luck Matt and thanks.

Yeah I’m sure he has had a golden goodbye.

I'm not saying Prior did anything wrong at all. I hope he got a decent wedge. Just that his retirement wasn't just some saintly act to help Leeds - and nor should it be.

Regardless of the circumstances, I'm sure we can all agree to wish him the best.
A great player who played at the very top level in world rugby.
Once a Rhino, always a Rhino.
All the best Matt.