He's a very good rugby league player. I can't see him getting near the England RU squad however, he doesn't quite have the pace for the wing, he looks like he can kick abit so may end up at full-back I suppose. IMO though it's a real shame because his game is suited to League, he's great returning the ball and also very dangerous from dummy half. He's safe under the high ball and not a bad defender.

Hes a good out and out player, but hes not irreplaceable, we have back up in the positions that he plays, so its not like we are missing out if we lose him.

Fullback - Brent Webb, Ben Jones Bishop
Wing - Scott Donald (providing he does not go to), Ashley Gibson, Kallum Watkins, Jody Broughton, Ryan Hall.
Centre - Keith Senior, Carl Ablett, Ashley Gibson, Kallum Watkins.

If anywhere were we miss out is if we lose Scott Donald and Lee Smith, and we will definatly need to bring a winger into the club.

Have you missed any wingers out there, do you think?

He is irreplaceaable currently in the club as utility value.

Yes we have wingers, yes we have centres, yes we have fullbacks. But only Webb comes close to him to be as good for versatility in all the back positions. Then the added kicking game, both place and touch.

Aye i did.

In the League Express Martyn Sadler says that he has been told that Lee Smith has already signed for Wasps for next year.

I think it's becoming more of a certainty each day, I'd seriously think about dropping him now and playing someone who actually wants to play for us

FFS. Should we have dropped Ellis last season when he announced he was leaving? Should the bulls have dropped Peacock for their 2005 GF win because he had signed for Leeds?

What a ridiculous statement. Dropping your best player of the season so far because he has not signed a new contract, and with no replacements anywhere close to him. Why would that be a good idea?

You obviously don't understand the meaning of the words "think about"

And you dont know the definition of seriously. You made an embarrasing statement.

Crazy - the form player of the season - drop him to the reserves - if you had said let him go now OK I could understand that but to pay his wages and not play him!!

Most of us have an extended notice period - six months in my case - I would expect to work that notice without any impairment to the level of work - why should we expect any less from Lee Smith?

I for one wish him all the success in the future whatever that brings - hopefully if he does go to union he will make a great success of it - which can only reflect positively on himself, the Rhinos and RL.

What would the point be in letting him go now?

To free up cap space if there was a replacement available al;though we seem to have plenty of cap space anyway.

I don't see any on field evidence of him not wanting to play for us, so can't see any reason as to why someone would seriously consider dropping him.

The fact that he's (probably) leaving suggests he doesn't want to play for us.

When it gets nearer the start of the RU preseason we will see how his performances hold up, if they don't drop then all credit to the lad.

I guess I'm old school, if a player wants to leave then I don't want them here.

I'd rather give Watkins games over a player who has no long term future with us, in the long run that will benefit the club far more.

And if Watkins develops into a world class centre in the next 12 months and is poached by Union you could say we have wasted 12 months developing him with no benefit to us.We can all play the hindsight game,I say if Smith is giving 100% and is one of our stand out players then play him until and if he does leave.

If he's doing the job then there is no reason to not play him. You want your strongest 17 out there week in week out. For past precedent see Scruton in the GF team ahead of Burgess

And that contract was signed four years ago when Smith had made only a handful of appearances in the first grade.



He's contracted for 2009 at Leeds. All that is happening is he is (probably) sorting out his plans for 2010 and beyond just the same as all the other players coming off contract this season will be doing.

There is an issue arising out of all this (if true) and that is, will Hetherington seek to cash in mid season by allowing Smith to leave for the RU pre season ala Vainikolo and Hape at Bradford?

Leeds' squad is already weaker (on numbers) this season than last as it is. If Smith were allowed to leave early then a bad situation gets worse without some much needed recruitment from somewhere.

I would hope that if he is leaving that we actually keep hold of him for the rest of the season. Getting compo from Wasps would be nice, but we'd miss him more than we could be compensated with at this stage. Long term I have no issue with him leaving if its what he thinks is best for his career

I assume that the contract had stipulations about various levels of representation and would have thought an increase would kick in when he was selected for GB.

If not his selection for GB should have meant a re-negotiation of his contract. GH seems to be a stickler for the salary grades.

I remember you calling for Gareth Ellis to be dropped when he announced that he had signed for west’s last February.......You did didn't you?



*Sorry DISA, only just read page 19*

If he goes he goes. But I think its seriously time for the RFL to sit down and think about how they can keep the best young RL players in RL.

Will we be due a fee if he goes?

No. that was a different situation, we knew he was staying till EoS and then had a decent break until he started his Aussie career.

Smith could well be off mid way through our season and if not he knows he will be beginning his new career straight after our season ..... he will do well not to let it effect him in any way.

England rather than GB but point taken otherwise. I still wonder if the upgrade would be a significant amount though with the salary cap making automatic upgrading difficult.

Bradford didn't cash on Hape. They released him early to save on the wage. Not sure whether they actually received an inducement for the Volcano either. It might have been reported as such, but no confirmation that it happend.

Only two that definately transfer fees were received for releasing early is Harris and Farrell. But maybe the Volcano also.

Cant see any logic in Leeds releasing Smith early this season, as cant see us receiving anything in exchange.

It didn't appear to effect Chev Walker's last season at Leeds.... ah I get your drift.