playoffs 2003

Shenton has already been offered to Leeds who turned him down - not sure how much of that was because of his agent

Welbeck is coming through UNDER rooney, tevez, berbatov et al. He is been given targeted games in order to aid development and see if he cuts the mustard.

Now imagine Man U with JUST Rooney & Welbeck. I don't think welbeck would be putting in the same performances if asked to play week in week out.

Some people think juniors do not develop unless they're put in sink or swim scenarios playing week in week out.

Dominant teams don't last forever in Rugby. Just ask Wigan, Bradford the Saints in recent years. We need to do everything possible to make this run of success last. If that means admitting we're short in the centres and getting someone in then so be it. Deny that fact all you want and mix it up with senitments of youth development but the fact remains.

If gibson and Watkins were first teams players they would have played last year WHEN WE HAD 1 FIRST TEAM CENTRE. All we've done is carry over the same squad weakness with no improvements.

fwiw the most impressive youngster this season (early as it is) has been McShane for me and look who he has infront of him.

Wasn't Gidley in the 2006 Saints side that won the treble and was he also in the CC semi and final side in 2008 - not sure who Saints beat in the 2007 CC semi? So I think Gidley record stands up to anyone in the Leeds side Peacock apart. I think he has 3 CC winners medals and a GF winners medal!!!

As am aside top centres are the most exciting players on the field to watch - they have the handling skills of a half back with more pace and power - to simply disregard them as unnecessary does them a great injustice

Except of course that Gibson wasn't able to play as he was injured for most of the season, and Watkins was barely turned 17 and while talented, physically underdeveloped to play at SL level week in, week out.

So if we had just Diskin and McShane available to play 9, you think McShane would be up to playing every game? What happens if Diskin for example then got a long-term injury and McShane was having to play 65-70 minutes every week?

Anyone who can't see the potential benefits to McShane from having someone like Buderus at the club is failing to see the wood for the trees.

I think Lyon was at Saints in 2006. Gidley doesn't have a GF ring. Carl Ablett has 2.

Who has dis-regarded centres?

I am simply pointing out the really important spine of the team.

The one true quality centre in the league (Gidley - your words) hasn't delivered a championship for his team.

What fact? You haven't posted any facts?

Gibson and Watkins did play last year didn't they?

Matt Diskin. A product of our youth policy. The ageing import we've signed hasn't done much yet. hardly a glowing endorsement for doing the same with the is it?

How do you know when the only games you see are on sky?

If he considers a squad that won a WCC and Championship as full of weakness then as well has being a part timer watching on Sky he must also be a newbie glory hunter.

I have just been told this very morning that we will be without Lee Smith next season, as he has signed for a London based Union team.
Personally I think this will be a big loss as he has been magnificent this last year.

This year is only 4 games in and I'm sure we'll replace him adequately.

10 games ago Leeds fans opinions would likely have been very different as regards Lee smith

I am not disagreeing with your comments abouts the importance of 1, 6,7,9,13 but it would appear from your comments that as long as you have good players in those positions the rest are an irrelevance any anyone can play there - not sure I agree with that.

One of the reasons the Aussies bash us every time is the respective quality of the two countries centres. Whilst you may be in denial as to Gidley impact in the Saints side no one could be in denial as to Lyon's impact.

I am not in denial at all about the impact of Gidley or Lyon. Either would be a tremendous addition to our right centre.

there's no a cat in hell's chance of us getting either though. And if we don't it doesn't bar us from our 3rd successive championship.

Could not agree more and in Watkins we have a potential England centre every bit as good anyone as the likes of Hodges, Folau etc

If true, that was a big mistake by the Leeds management. He is clearly a great prospect and one of the few to trouble Senior last season.

I see from this morning's NRL coverage that Shannon Hegarty was available in January. Could have done a good job at Headingley this season if he was up for coming over.

Big mistake by smithy if true and will have the same impact as walker and pryce imo.
Money isn't everything!!

Perhaps not but when you're already a double champion (including a MOTM) and a current full international with an International hat trick to your name (and still unable to secure a permanent position with your club side despite all that) then I can't imagine a much better time to 'cash in' and accept a new challenge.

A new challenge which (I believe) will be a big disappointment both for the player and his new club if he goes to Union.

Edit: Internet playing up in the sticks today.

I'd agree with all of that. The one negative for Smith is that he is still relatively young and he is a 1st team squad player with the Champions. In fairness he probbly would hold down the wing position as long as he stayed injury free but there would always be the spectre of a bad game letting Hall in . If he does fail in Union - which is not guaranteed - but very possible, then he could end up in a worse position than Walker (who's actually fairly lucky to go to HKR IMO). Still with several years playing left in him, but dumped, out of confidence and unwanted.

One of my teammates down here is a big Wasps fan. I have already promised him that I'll be holding him personally accountable if they nick Lee Smith off us. Although he reckons they're likely to still be short of cash even with Haskell, Flutey and Palmer go. THey have a £4M salary cap in the Premiership, but the word among Wasps fans is that they won't be in a position to spend anything close to it next year.

I wait to see if this rumour is true, but I am a little sceptical. It would be a big risk for Wasps too, having parted with 3 international players, none of whom could be credibly replaced by Lee Smith.

Saracens paid for a 32 year old RL prop forward with dodgy knees and a dodgy back to solve their centre problem. Anything is possible mate.

Meh, if he goes it just frees up more space for Ben Jones-Bishop to come through and play more first team rugby - no great loss.

As Gareth says, prior to last year's Grand Final there would have been much apathy at the prospect of Lee Smith leaving. All of a sudden on the basis of half a dozen games it becomes a major loss?

True. Didn't work too well though did it? I'm not ruling it out, I just think it'd be a bit of a surprise.

That would depend who you asked with regards Lee Smith.

If you want to canvas the opinion of know-nowts (where's G1 with his word when you need him) and take note of what they have to say then that's up to you.