This is the nearest to a sacking that I've ever seen amongst playing staff. Whatever is said in public.

That’s true

Hardaker in 2016?

Can’t quite remember the details.

Post season 2002 clear out?

I hope not!

If Powell came in as coach id consider not renewing my ST!

This season has been an unmitigated disaster, now compounded by our only dynamic player leaving the club. I think he has been the most exciting player to watch, and would have fared even better with more quality around him. Three of our new signings are deemed not good enough to get in a poor team (Hooley, Roberts and Olpherts), and you would say Mcdonell has been the only true success out of the seven new faces this year. That is disgraceful for a club of Leeds stature. I won’t be renewing our season tickets next year, not because of our poor team or the shambolic way the club is run, but because of the way the game has morphed into a contest decided by the subjective views of a referee who has to make four or five decisions every tackle/play the ball. It may be be a fortunate time to be bailing out.

Having seen him in the Long Bar post-game this season he's never looked happy even picking up the MOM award. Maybe that's his personality but he just seemed lethargic to the extent he rolled up with trackie bottoms tucked in his socks and a body-warmer on most of the time whilst the rest of the team seemed to be in smart polo shirts etc. Not that bothered if he goes for good TBH.

Correct, we don’t know the background to this scenario. No doubt the rumour machine will be in overdrive, whatever has caused the situation it looks like it’s been badly handled. No doubt both parties the club and player have to accept some responsibility for this outcome. Maybe Austin was frustrated at not being offered a new contract. He virtually asked on sky for a new contract without any response from the club. As another poster mentioned leeming leaves the club, no replacement found and then joins one of our main rivals. Walters signs for Wigan ,club claims he wanted to go back to Lancashire . Was enough done money wise to keep him. On top of that we sign several players obviously bargain basement products who have failed spectacularly.

Hetherington saying it’s nothing to do with the SM stuff and it was Austin and his manager in Australia who initiated it on Wednesday night, he says it came out of the blue.

So now it transpires GH first heard about this on Wednesday, yet still RS was told nothing.

If that’s the case it’s probably a result of not being offered a new contract. Not a good way to leave the club, obviously it leaves us in a bad position in the half back position.

The podcast Austin was on has been online for weeks, so if the club were annoyed by it then I doubt they would have waited until now to take action. Players have done far worse over the years, and stayed at the club, so perhaps Austin just wanted out.

Didn't RS say in his press conference he was told on Thursday morning and the deal was done late on Wednesday/early Thursday?

Yes GH saying he found out Wednesday Night, which tallies with what RS said.

Not sur how GH could tell RS before he himself knew.

That’s how it reads if we’re to believe GH.

Wednesday night Seth, he informed RS first thing Thursday morning.

However you spin this it doesn't show the club in a great light. Austin seems a difficult individual to manage but maybe the frustrations of dealing with a club who seem to have a skewed value structure has come to the fore.

This is yet another example of a club not fully in control of the playing side of the business. Poor recruitment - only 2 out 7 is a pretty poor hit rate - retention - Walters leaving, youth development etc.

I agree with Chris that given what had happened Austin's position was untenable and he probably knew that - hence the need for a move. No doubt he will be looking for a move back to Aus next season give the money disparity.

Can’t see him getting a gig in the NRL, hell end up staying with Cas if they stay up

Reynolds has a gig in the NRL and Austin has more to offer than him. Even poor players earn more in the NRL than the better players do here. There does seem to be move in the NRL to a running style of half back - Austin is that kind of half back

He is a big mate of Gary's

And either Smith keeps telling mistruths or he is being undermined by the powers that be , which has only one outcome .

What mistruth did Smith tell?

I did not say he had , i said EITHER

I would imagine that Cas have agreed to give him a deal for next season if they stay up

Jrrhino who is usually spot on has said he has signed for Featherstone for 2024 and 2025.