Not at all – I know there is nothing we can do to prevent RL players getting nicked and it’s annoying to say the least.

But thats my point ...they arent currently being nicked poached bribed......as we have clearly established.....

I know this… I know that we haven’t had any players plundered (as yet) this season but history has taught us that if the RFU fancy having a punt on any player they choose then they can.

OK but I cant bring to mind any huge RU successes in that respect nor any huge outcry from RL clubs

surely you dont include Harris or Farrell.

From what I remember the Harris situation was that for the 800K Leeds received it was just good business.

Farrell IIRC was perceived has just cashing in for his pension.

Walker was generally acknowledged as a huge mistake.

Yes it may be seen as unfair but in general the RL game as been well compensated for any loss as I presume will also be the case with Smith IF it turns out to be true.

It would be a wee bit hypocritical of RL to complain too loudly given the imbalance in the overall situation ie RU stars to RL in the past.

If the boots on the other foot now we can hardly maon can we ????

Yes it is.

What do you want, the kind of under-hand, immoral and possibly illegal acts the RU used to employ before professionalism to prevent young players the freedom to choose their sport?

I don't see that we currently have a problem than needs any action whatsoever.

still lacking a bit in the centre......

[iChampions Leeds Rhinos are bracing themselves to lose England star Lee Smith at the end of the year.

Last season's Grand Final man of the match is out of contract and has been linked with a move to rugby union.

Wasps, coached by RL legend Shaun Edwards, are favourites to sign the versatile 22-year-old full-back.

"It's too early to discuss where Lee might be next season," said his agent Andy Clarke last night. [/i

Well all i can say if he does go to union it's not just a big blow to Leeds but its a big blow to SL and England.

I don't think you'll see any more players centrally funded by the RFU to go from League to Union. If Smith goes it will be Wasps spending the money they've made/saved from the Haskell/Palmer/Flutey departures.

I am sure I read a few weeks ago that Wasps would still be not that well off financially even with their departures.Also as they are not one of the better supported clubs crowd wise I doubt Smith wouild be offered that good a deal,allied to the fact they also have larger pool of players than in league.

I have been told (not by anyone more connected than a Wasps season ticket holder, so I have no inside knowledge) that it's fairly widely believed that Wasps can't afford to spend the full salary cap, which makes me slightly dubious about this whole rumour. As you say, it seems unlikely that Wasps have silly money to be chucking around. In either event, wherever the money comes from, it won't be the RFU, who have had their fingers burned quite often enough lately.

Where is that from?

=red[size=150Newsflash[/size

Player coming out of contract is linked with another club shocker




In next week's episode:

Man sells his own property shocker, we talk to Keith Senior about buying Bra's on ebay.

Also doesn't the pope $hit in the woods?

No, he $hits on bears. Get it right.

[urlhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/2009/03/19/smith-a-stinger-115875-21209615/[/url

I know it's only the mirror

Haven't they also signed a load of players to new contracts, including Cipriani? I imagine that will have swallowed up a wedge of that cash as well.

If Smith goes to Wasps at all......Who's to say he will be leaving for more money than on offer at Leeds anyway and even if true it could be marginal as was the case with Chev Walker. He could even be off for less for all we know and he might just fancy a crack at Union, a move to London or whatever his motivation..... why does it automatically have to be money.

It's not something that has ever motivated me.

They've extended or renewed the contracts of 13 players. I suspect some of that may be "contract restructuring" - in other words players being asked to take pay cuts or freezes rather than increases.

Saracens on the flip-side are releasing 14(?) players at the end of the season in a bid to slash their wage bill. Good to see the positive work of Agent Farrell continuing apace.

Saracens are releasing those players so they can sign up a load of South Africans, given that their new owners also have a stake in some of the Super 14 franchises down there. It may well help reduce the wage bill, but I don't think that was the primary consideration.

Players who leave Leeds only ever leave for money. People who leave other clubs to come to Leeds do so for a variety of reasons.

HTH

True, I suppose one of the big lures of playing RU in this country is getting a chance to be part of the England RU side, who do have a big profile, I'm sure that if the international side wasn't as high profile as it is most of the recent 'code switcher's' wouldnt have gone.

Think Cipriani has only added one year to his contract so maybe less expensive than it might first appear.

What do u lot on here think of Smith?
Good player
Good player to fully develop
I used to like him and think he was a good player but i dont now since he is probably moving to the other code.

Just because he's moving doesn't make him any worse a Rugby League player.....I Rate him, although I'm sure he can improve further. He's done a brilliant job filling in for Webb, almost faultless and I hope we hang on to him because if you can have that talent as your 2nd choice fullback, it can't be a bad thing.