Over that period of time did we ever sell anyone?

No as far as I know they were all out of contract when they joined us so didn't need a fee.

Harris (who we managed to sell twice, once to Welsh union, and again, sort of, to Bradford).
Also Hardaker. And I think we got a fee for Graham Holroyd, although I think Fax may have never actually paid it.

No all off contract or released.

He's a look of Harris about him has Croft, physically and in some of his play...

I just hope we get to see the best version of Croft. Likewise, I am hoping Newman's call up and getting to play alongside Ackers, Croft, Miller, Momorovski and Frawley helps get the best out of him.

I see Brodies agent is effectively shopping him around 24hrs after he's signed with us, If the article I read is true. Basically saying he wants an NRL return at some point and he has a NRL clause in his Rhinos contract.

Was it a Callum Walker article?

Yes but it looks like he's claimed it from a another article that Orr has done with Zero Tackle down under.

The Mole reported he turned down 3 NRL clubs were after him for next season. So cant be that desperate to leave if true.

Isn’t his partner British and they have children? (I could be wrong?)

Anyway he’s on a massive whack at Leeds so he would need sn NRL club to offer a big wage and a fee, if he hangs around for 2 years id probably happy with that.

350k according to Matt Shaw. There are a lot of half backs in the NRL first grade who are not on anywhere near that. These types of story are just something we'll have to get used to. Inevitable side effect of having a really good player.

Wow thats some salary for Leeds and SL.Croft had a NRL clause £78K you would presume that has increased so Leeds can protect their investment.

I'd hope at the very least that any agreed clause could only come into effect after 2 years. Otherwise it's hell of an investment to lose after only a season.

Intrigued how much the likes of Shaun Johnson is on or for that matter Mikey Lewis.
And if we offered £250k plus £200k wages to Mikey Lewis could we have got him instead?
Don`t get me wrong I`m happy with Croft but it`s a hell of a lot of money both in transfer fee and salary.
A CC and a GF win would pay back the investment for sure.

Top echelon halves like Johnson, Cleary etc are on twice that. Personally I don't think Lewis is anywhere near the player Croft is at present. In my opinion we've got the right man and shouldn't get too hung up on the wages.

Croft is definitely better than Lewis.

Croft may go back to the NRL. If after 2 years I could live with that. Having said that, if you look at what NRL clubs are after, I'd guess its halfbacks that are organisers/kickers. Its no coincidence that the top two in this regard made the GF. It also explains why - to us bizarrely - Wests wanted Sezer. Croft isn't that kind of halfback, and when he was asked to play that role at the Broncos he folded. Clubs will also remember that, and even if he does go back to the NRL it wouldn't be as a superstar, it would be similar to Cogger.

Is Lewis even that good? He looks more of a Luke Robinson level half, than a Danny McGuire level half.

I like Lewis and think he has the potential to go far but DM is/was different gravy.
Lewis will have to go some to have half the career Maggsy did.

McGuire was insane. You see it more as time passes. His ability to read the game was unrivalled.

I quite like Lewis as he`s a niggly little get and has the x factor to turn a game.
His defence isn`t brilliant and needs working on and I agree he is not as good as Croft.
I`m amazed at the amount we are paying Croft and hope it doesn`t affect the dressing room.
I suppose if we are winning nobody will care.

I’ll stick my neck out and say we’ll get better value for money from Croft than from Tetevano or some other high-profile signings…

At last sanity prevails, we have signed a tried and tested player. Obviously paid a large sum of money, in the current super league climate there isn’t much talent about so top players command a premium. I also like some of the other signings, if Smith can’t bring about a top four spot with the strengthened squad something will be radically wrong. Hopefully some of the younger members of the squad will blossom in the new season.

Lewis looked good today JB and if as everyone is saying that Croft is better, then we have got one hell of a player.
I personally would have preferred Lewis on much less money, less of a transfer fee and wouldn`t have taken an overseas spot.
I must admit that I have not seen much of Croft but have seen a dozen or so games with Lewis playing.