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.

I would expect it to be quite significant compared with a junior contract that Smith signed four years ago.

It may be a case that the upgrade come in the following season or that the contract is renegotiated following his elevation to [iEngland[/i

status.

You didn't attach those T&C's to this

Do we drop Donald, Kylie, Ablett & Senior aswel?

IIRC, It was reported at the time that Bradford received money for Vainikolo from Gloucester. I wasn't aware that Wigan received any money for Farrell, I thought he was out of contract and left when it ended.

There will be no logic but there maybe £signs.



Thinking about it, I'd imagine it to work along those lines in which case I agree that his current contract should look significantly different to the one he signed in '05.

[i"The RFU, who have identified Farrell as a potential England player, agreed a deal with Farrell's engage Super League club, Wigan, earlier this month. They had since been in negotiations to place the 29-year-old with a Zurich Premiership club"[/i

[urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/mar/23/rugbyunion.saracens[/url

Sounds like he was under contract at the time.

If we agreed his mind was elsewhere - like Chev in his last season - then better to let him go than play him in the reserves. I am not for one minute suggesting that this is the case

This is an interesting point - if the grades are to be maintained it would put Smith in the same bracket as Peacock, McGuire, Webb, Burrow etc - not sure GH would stomach paying Lee that kind of money?

Why, are they all signing for Wasps aswell?

I have no idea, but at this moment in time they are in exactly the same situation as Lee Smith, although Smith has been in better form than any of them.

I'd bet any amount of money Smith won't be a Leeds player next season, the others we don't know yet

My guess is that there is a wage band for each level. Ie internationals £100k - £150k. If Lee qualified he would start at the bottom of that band. Others would be higher up the band.

Fair enough. DISA was correct. Who'd have thunk it.



There are some prophetic words in that article.

Wasps have signed two outside backs in Steve Kefu and Tom Varndell today. Given they also agreed contract extensions with a number of other players earlier in the season, I'd be surprised if they were prepared to splash out on another one.

Plus they've signed dan ward-smith!!

Ward-Smith is a replacement for Haskell, Kefu for Flutey and Varndell for Tom Voyce.

I'd agree with that. Probably involving age, experience, number of GB caps, time at Leeds etc

I was just showing another example of them spending plenty of money!!