I know, what were they thinking asking Toopi to play left centre. Such shocking management almost took the gloss off the two championshis we won in Toopi's two full years at the club.

Except they didn't ask him to play left centre.



IIRC Toopi unexpectedly became available late in 2006 and Leeds took a punt on an out of sorts, out of favour player.

It wasn't a disaster by any means but he wasn't an improvemnt on the outgoing player either, who had also run aground in his final season at Headingley. Shame.

Gosh you're right. They asked him to play right centre. A really disastrous calamity. Almost ruined that 2007 and 2008 season for me did that decision!

Toopi wasn't a right centre. Had he have been then perhaps Leeds would have done even better, in a St Helens or Bradford type dominant season.

What's the obsession with turning centres into second rowers & wingers into centres?

How about players like Pitts & Ambler playing second row?

Either way... it's hardly an uncommon situation for the notorious spin machine at Headingley to trumpet a signing as a natural and direct (left ot right sided - whichever happens to be applicable at the time) replacement for the outgoing player. Scott Donald replacing Mark Calderwood was an earlier example.

That is unfair Keith.

As you know Mr Hetherington has a fantastic record of signing versatile players. Look at the masterstroke he pulled off with Peacock. Signed to replace Mckenna in the 2nd row he's become the best prop in the game.

Nothing ! But a little imagination sometimes works a treat.

Did some of today's greats start off in the same position that they are [unow[/u better renowned for ?

Looks like we could be hearing of a deal. www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5906580626

Looks like we could be hearing of a deal. www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5906580626

Cheers Rhinoms, seems like Canterbury really want Eastwood and the issue is only over the transfer fee, which I'm sure they'll negotiate. Be interesting to see who we get to replace him.

updated news
[url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/10/09/11/RUGBYL_Eastwood.htmlEastwood to Bulldogs[/url

A joint venture between Canterbury and ourselves it says.

Dont think Russell Crowe will be too happy with that arrangement!




(And that isn't a photo of Gregory either-far too slim!!!)

Is that Ambler or Pitts they look the same to me?!?

The picture is Jay Pitts.

These joint ventures with NRL clubs have yielded what exactly in the past?

I think we should be looking at a swap deal, or the money, since all that seemed to come out of the Souths partneship was us beating them in Florida.
I would take Ben Hannant
But i think as stated by the YEP, we will sign Jason Chan

Hopefully it can be confirmed asap and we can move on.

Given that Brisbane Broncos signed Ben Hannant on a four year deal several months ago, I doubt it's a realistic option.

Leeds need to get rid of Eastwood sharpish, cut their losses and move on.

There used to be a poster on this board who also had an extensive knowledge of both the Australian and European players/game – just like yourself, but he was banned and swore never to return to these boards.

Hes always on redvee.net

anyone else think this is a convenient smokescreen to hide the fact that the Doggies are going to get Eastwood for nowt?

Doggies appease their fans by not having to pay a £100,000 transfer fee and Leeds TRY and appease their fans by being able to say/claim,''Well we are not getting a transfer fee,but we will have the potential choice of player(s) from them in the next couple of years'' only for this cosy little 'arrangement' to end up being no different to the 'arrangement' we had with the Bunnies?

Seems to me like a very good piece of business by the Doggies??

I don't think GH will walk away from this transfer "empty handed" mate keep the faith in the "Sleeve".
Just to add iirc the link up with the Bunnies was 90% a business partnership with the "possibility" of younger players doing exchange trips etc etc.

lets hope so

According to the Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg - [i''We've been having some broader discussions about having a relationship between clubs, so there's an opportunity for the Bulldogs and Leeds to ALMOST have some sort of joint venture arrangement where we'd swap some concepts and ideas going forward"[/i

All that has gotta be worth more than an £100K transfer fee!

Well done Hetherington

says concepts and ideas though.... not players?

Greenberg also mentions the potential of a doorway opening up which may help facilitate a relatively unhindered gateway for smoother player transfers in the future.