Leeds panicked IMO due to increased bleating by our fekkwitt majority (most on here). Watkins wasn't good enough, Gibson wasn't good enough, the club had no ambition etc etc. It was a weekly battle I fought with most.

It is a little disappointing but Leeds have a duty first and foremost to themselves and the Bulls are an example of how quickly a dynasty can be dismantled and the economic pressure that comes with that.

Three of our overseas players are in the threequarters where there is a dearth of English talent. In fairness to us, we've been a victim of cash rich clubs poaching our outside backs over the last three or four years losing Smith, Mark Calderwood and Chev Walker - three outside backs that have represented their country. We still have the emerging Watkins and (for now at least) Broughton and the project Coady.

I suspect Kylie will have 1 more year before Kirke and Amor take over.

The spine of our side are still the quality English lads like Diskin, Sinfield, McGuire and Burrow.

The only unnecessary overseas player is, IMO, Buderus.

Still, we're not at the level the Bulls were at during their heydey.

Ah, but that was because Bradford don't have the service area that Leeds do to recruit from, apparently. Least that's the excuse Bulls fans like to trot out for their reliance on imports (particularly in the back division) over recent years.

I'd say it's a pretty good excuse when you compare the amount of RL played in each service area.

Sorry I don't follow is this about disco and buderus? that is purley down to playing the 2 hooker thing which I'm not found of to be honest. I pretty sure when they were both fit they played. Never was one dropped.

Mcbanana has got round that one though by signing up as many as possible from our acadamy and scholarship teams!!

That Leeds romped to their third title in a row effectively without Buderus for most of the season shows how little they needed him.

Money better spent elsewhere on British talent? The reason I mention it is because it sticks out as such a non-Leeds type signing when you consider what the club has been built on recently.

So why did Leeds extend Leuluai's deal to the end of 2011?

Out of the goodness of their hearts.

Agreed! Especially with Bradford been so far away from Leeds, cas and wakey! it must be at least 35 mins on a good day To the lancs talent pool too?Oo sorry I forgot about fax hudds and keithley

If you're interested the sequence of Leeds' overseas signings (and extensions) for 2010 can be seen in the final post [url=http://viewtopic.php?t=434505&start=105here[/url when this was last discussed.

The shame is the re-signing of Donald may have now cost one or more of Jones-Bishop and Broughton their chance at Leeds.

You are of course spot on tvoc. But you wont convince the biggest hypocrite on these boards, as it does not fit the agenda.

The shame is really that the signing of Delaney HAS cost us Gibson and WILL cost Watkins game time.

A signing you craved.

I would suggest that a run of injuries and failure to particularly cement a place when he had the opportunity has cost Ashley Gibson and potentially forced Leeds to recruit in that area, rather than the other way around.

Now this us just my opinion, burderus was our best player last season, the freak leg brake put an end to that but he was awesome. he is truley world class still!

The Pennine ARLFC League is arguably one of the strongest amateur leagues in the country, yet I keep reading Bradford doesn't have the service area that Leeds does?

I would hazard there are more amateur clubs, with a decent youth set up, within a 5 minute drive from Odsal than there are from Headingley.

Gibson wasn't up to the required standard at Leeds after his injury problems as was evident from his 2009 appearances, a view seemingly supported by McClennan's selections. I wish him well at Salford.

Watkins wasn't ready to being over-exposed at 1st grade level in 2009, a view seemingly supported by McClennan's selections. I still think (as I've stated all along) that he is Senior's heir apparant over the course of the 2010 season if he continues to develope, keeps his feet on the ground and works on his game.

Delaney is Toopi's replacement at right centre and was a position Leeds needed to address sooner or later. I'll reserve judgement until I've seen him play unlike some.

Having signed him I would have not retained Donald, stayed within the spirit of the RFL's overseas trained quotas, saved the club some money and promoted one of Jones-Bishop/Broughton (or a combination of both) into the 1st grade squad for 2010.

I actual support the Academy players but they have to earn their chance and keep earning their place once given their chance.

Most of the clubs in that league are outside the Bradford service area

A five minute drive from Odsal takes you into the Halifax service area in one direction and the Hudders one in the other. A ten minute drive from Odsal takes you into the Leeds service area.

HTH.

Deacon to Wigan now confirmed.
[urlhttp://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=5296[/url

Great stats for Deacon on there. I always wondered how they stacked up.

McNamara removing a potential threat to his coaching position?

Looks like Bull-man and Bull-boy will be next then!

You are correct and actually 2 good set ups nearby, 1 across the car park (west Bowling)and other half a mile up road (wibsey) both have juniors at every age group.
As for Pennine league I play in it and only the premier and few teams in 1st are decent to be honest.

we would have been better placed dropping Donald and promoting Jones-bishop, Broughton, and Watkins to the wing and blooding them their than not signing Delany and hoping Watkins or Gibson could come through for a whole season imo

I think we have a much stronger squad this season than last

Watkins and Jones Bishop are not wingers and Broughton has looked anything but the part at Hull most of the time.

Personally, I'd have been happy had we not signed Delaney and played Watkins in the right centre until Senior retired. Or even Broughton. But most on here wouldn't. It wouldn't have taken long before they were baying for blood and calling for signings from the NRL.