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!!

Providing Smith is prepared to give his all for the Leeds cause while still here then he should be picked.There is no point in weakening the team this season by not playing him.

Does [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/london_wasps/7961172.stmthis[/url make a difference to the rumours?

lots of people setting themselves up to look rather silly

Hope so, don't mind looking silly on an internet message board if it all turns out to be rubbish and he stays ........ really can't see it though.

I hope he stays in league. Not sure why some would want to continue picking him if he were to leave in June though. Since he'd not be around to help us in any of the games at the pointy end of the season I'd far rather perservere with Gibson, Watkins et al.

It would appear at this stage Watkins has possible defensive weaknesses.In close games that could mean the difference between losing and winning.He probably needs to be brought along in the "easier " games to develop,whilst Smith plays in the "tougher" ones.If as a result of playing Watkins all of the time and excluding Smith means we finish out of the top 2 then winning the GF becomes more difficult.

Can't see Wasps going for him while he's injured

I heard he's out for 4 weeks and misses cup match.