Whilst some don`t want improvements to their team to make them better and stronger.
You seem to miss the point.
I am saying I am delighted we might win something
What I want is to strengthen and the might may be more a given.

So you think Burrow Sinfield and McGuire have been on top of their game all season?

Says it all now.
Bet you would have got rid of Barrie Mac when he used to give so many penalties away and then get himself binned or sent off ?

Alot of leeds fans are stupid.

Just saying!

Everybody wants improvements despite what some might think, but the chance of snapping up players who'd improve your squad has been a lot tougher the last few years with good NRL signings a rarity nowadays. Add to it the financial strength that has come along in the shape of Warrington and Salford, with ourselves sticking to our well known more sensible dishing out of wages compared to others who'll offer more.

Despite this we've made some of the most impressive post season signings in recent years
2010 - Hardaker
2012 - Moon
2013 - Briscoe

That's big of you to admit that Flex

Would have preferred Charnley instead of Briscoe or kept BJB on the wing and signed a decent half back.
But yes Hardaker and Moon were good signings.
Sometimes a team like Leeds with the fan base it has must also dip into the coffers to make more than 3 decent signings over the last 4 years though.
Like I said I would be delighted if we do win something this year with the team we have.
All I want is for us to stay at the top and I'm not convinced this is sustainable with both Sinfield and McGuire as the pivots next year.

Don't recall Charnley being available unlike Briscoe. What 'decent' halfback btw.



It's not like football, we don't have mega funds to go splash about on transfer fees. We've also got to think about how much money it's going to take to keep the ones we have. Watkins and Hardaker are going to require big contracts, if the likes of Sutcliffe, Ward and Singleton become the players we hope then that's another big chunk to keep them. Add to it the likes of players who still have a decent few years in them that are key like Hall, Ablett, Delaney and Moon. Then what if the likes of Minchella, England, R.Ward, Walters become first teamers and the young lad called Cameron Smith who some of the guys on here are saying will be a big deal.



It might not be but as pointed out we are and have been in a tougher transfer era. During Tony Smith's time we brought in Lauitiiti, Webb, Peacock, Ellis, Donald, Leuluai, Toopi, Bai......if the same settings of today were in place back then with the financial gap between the NRL ever increasing and some SL clubs having a bit more financial weight to throw around then how many of those signings do you think we'd have made?

Just for balance, we also signed Thackray, Millard and Mark O'Neill in 2006 under Tony Smith - none were particularly thrilling even at the time. Buderus in 2009 and Brent Webb in 2007 were our last 'star' signings from the NRL.

Having said that the overall quality of NRL signings has diminished significantly across SL. We've signed Cuthbertson for next year, and he wouldn't even rate as highly here as Mark O'Neill did at the time he was signed. The only real quality NRL players to be likely to move now are due to exceptional circumstances such as the Storm salary cap (Finch et al to Wigan) or Locke getting upset at the Warriors. Mind you, Lauti'iti was in the latter boat as well.

I'm not that upset re the number of players going to SL from the NRL - it was at ridiculous levels previously, and allowed teams quick fixes to problem positions. But it is a bit sad that more of the better quality players are unlikely to play in SL nowadays.

There is a difference between quality signings, and signings from the NRL. Every quality signing doesn't have to be from there. Some of the biggest dissapointments have been from the NRL.

Take Leeds over last 15 years from over here external to club, some of our best, Harris, Senior, Peacock, Ellis, Hardacker. Only one of those was actually available.

In same period, only really Lauititi and Buderus can be classed as super star signings from across the pond. The rest were just your average player who turned out to have some quality, much like the picture BrisbaneRhino paints of Cuthbertson.

Webb wasn't exactly average before he came.

Webb would be classed as a super signing when we got hold of him. He was NZ's fullback at that time and in his best form was magical.

Your absolutely right.

But not many we sign from NRL in that time are big fish, which is what I was saying. Even Webb would have probably being something like 5th or 6th in the pecking order of best fullbacks at the time.

Yes Webb can be added to that list and even though I don't think he ever really shone here Toopi was a NZ international at the time. Whilst not big names the likes of Donald, Leuluai and Bai were still above an unknown like Achurch.

And granted not all the signings have to come from the NRL (that's why I listed the likes of Peacock and Ellis). But how many players out there in SL right now is there that you think "wow we should really go get him"......Clark is an obvious one but looks Warrington bound. Also the point I was making it that around 8-10 years we would've probably ended up with Clark, Warrington have since come along and snapped up a lot of guys though that could've ended up at other clubs (but I suppose after losing the likes of Harris and Sculthorpe it's there turn back).

Also when considering who we'd might/could manage to sign from other SL clubs, those ones we did make were from clubs lower down or not at great financial strength. Ellis (Wakefield) Senior (Sheffield) Harris (Warrington) and Peacock was one of many top names that departed the on the slide Bulls along with Pryce, Fielden, Vainokolo etc.

So it's not like we were taking from our nearest challengers (with the Peacock being noted for an exception) then so I can't see it happening now with any players from Wigan, Saints, Wire would be unlikely. With perhaps the exception of Brett Hodgson have any of those taken a player from another challenger at the top of the table in the last few years? Not really so it does kind of leave you looking at what's available from the other 7/8 clubs in SL and it's not a lot to be honest.

How do you know for sure Charnleywas not available Printer.
Players are nearly always available for the right price.
Like I said I would have stuck with BJB if Charnley was not available.

Briscoe is better than both players by some distance, and he was available.

I agree however on your comment of "not available" is never a situation if you want someone.

That seems a wee bit arrogant if you dont mind me saying so ???

Its a bit more complicated than that IMO. Players under contract. Illegal approach rules. Etc.

Briscoe clearly wanted out from Hull FC in my view. I dont recall Charnley ever giving any indications he was thinking likewise.

Just to get back OT First or Second.

5th or 4th if we beat Cas

??????? if we beat them

I can see that if we lose.

Can see us potentially losing two games so my guess will be 2nd or 3rd

Either way its how many fit players that we have will dictate how well we do in the play offs and not what position we end up in (obvious I know)

Well didn't hear him being out of contract last year. Whilst that doesn't technically stop him being available we all know that's how a large portion of transfers happen in SL. Would you really have Charnley at a large transfer fee or Briscoe OOC?

Or player exchange and a small cash adjustment with BjB going the other way.
Of course that would depend on Wigan wanting him and releasing Charnley.
All if`s and but`s that wont ever happen.
Still think 5th or 4th btw.

Wigan
Hull H
Bulls A
Reds H
HullKR.
Widnes A
Leeds H
Wire H

Wire
Vikings A
Wakefield H
Dragons A
Tigers H
Giants H
Saints A
Wigan A

Saints
Broncos A
Vikings H
Hull A
Wildcats H
Leeds A
Wolves H
Giants A

Leeds
Tigers H
Reds A
Bulls H
Broncos A
Saints H
Warriors A
Hull A

Hudds
Bull H
Dragons H
Wildcats A
Vikings H
Wolves A
Hull H
Saints H

Tigers
Leeds A
Hull A
Broncos H
Wire A
Bulls H
Wildcats H
Dragons A


I suppose it depends on challenge cup but looking at fixtures, I would expect leeds to finish in top four if they win tomorrow, saints look favourites to finish top with Wigan if leeds slip.

A lot really does depend if we make the final or not.I think it will be too much to get anything from fresh and motivated saints and wigan sides back to back after the final.

After last nights performance and the RFL book poised to be thrown at Kev it looks like the coverted 5th spot looms.This season has a deja vu feel to it; 2006 at this time of year,we were I think 2nd in the league and in tthe CC cup semi final,and look what happen then.GH said after Danny Buderus left we were in transition, is that still the case?I have not seen transition for the better in the last couple of years.