This is excellent news for the team a timely boost given recent results - it does show an on-going commitment to the current squad.

On Lee Smith - if union are chasing him and with Edwards being at Wasps I think would be well beyond anything Leeds could pay. There is also Verity to consider - she is currently working in London?

FWIW Lee would make a great union full back he running balance is untouched in RL and would be a distinct advantage in RU

For everyone that hopes donald will be switched back to the left

Scott has really strengthened our right side defence this season and we have been working on getting quality ball to give him opportunities to score. With Ryan Hall going well down the left, it means we have got plenty of options there. We have got a tight group of players and everyone is working hard to make sure we improve our performances.


Sounds like mclennan Is keeping him there!

Wingers aren't like centres, they can play either side. Whoever is going on about Donald being on the 'wrong side' needs to realise that the problem is that he isn't playing outside a centre who is experienced enough to work the space for him.

The fact that Donald has signed first doesn't actually indicate that he was given a higher priority though does it? It might well just indicate that the negotiations are more complicated with Smith. That is not inconceivable given the alleged interest from another club, even another sport, quite possibly capable of making larger offers than Leeds can.

The point here being that you are looking at the outcome and presuming that it gives you knowledge of the process. It doesn't.

Personally I don't think we're in a position to willingly sacrifice any of our backs at the moment. I think that is, in any event, an over-simplistic view of the situation. It seems to me that in reality the two contracts are unrelated, that priorities don't really enter into it and that Lee Smith effectively has nothing to do with this thread. We have retained the services of a very good player. The club is working on retaining the services, if possible, of another. If that doesn't work out, it will probably we more to the fact that Wasps' salary cap allowance is more than twice what Leeds have to play with, notwithstanding any other personal ambitions of the player. Nothing, in short, to do with ginger haired Australian wingers.

Great news for the club.

Ding! We have a winner.

Hence my comment earlier about whether what we have seen since his switch of wings is more reflective of his actual ability than the time he spent living on easy street outside Senior. Lest we forget Keith managed to make both Francis Cummins and Karl Pratt look like international quality wingers.

You have actually completely misinterpreted what I was saying, and jumping to assumptions.

I am not doubting the fact that Donald could have been happy with his offer, and therefore just agreed, whilst at the same time Smith might not be happy with his.

What I am saying is that Smiths contract should have been offered long ago before now. We should have been coming to some agreement with him (AGAIN subject to been on a par with other internationals), before allocating funds to others elsewhere. Why was it not a priority to offer Smith something earlier, but we offer Donald one now. Why did Donald need his resolving now? Its not as if he was going to get offers from the NRL or union. Other Super League clubs have to wait until a certain period before offering deals to OOC players. Therefore absolutely no need to offer this in April.

Lets not forget here, we put a deadline on Calderwood agreeing to a deal, to enable the club to know where they stood for what they could allocate to others/recruitment. Why did this not happen here in Smiths case.

Like me you do not not know how many top level players we can accomodate in the cap. All you and I know is that Leeds pay bigger salaries to current internationals. Hence why Smith would have to be offered a larger contract, and hence why it is probably more of an issue than it would have been had this been done last season. But my point was if we can not afford another international salary rate because of the players we currently have, then I would rather see an OOC winger leave than Smith not be accomodated.

Is that clearer?

surely every winger likes to play outside a top centre. every high scoring winger in recent memory has played outside a good centre

Thought they had split up or am I out of touch.

Do you know that Smith hasn't been offered a contract? It would be a funny sort of negotiation if no opening offers had been made.

Your entire point was "if" this that or the other happened. You do not know that we can't accomodate another international salary, nor do you know that an increased offer hasn't been made. All you know is that the 2 parties have not yet reached mutual agreement and concluded the signing. From that you have seen fit to draw conclusions about the club's priorities. On re-reading this latest post, and your earlier ones, if I am jumping to assumptions it is because you have been pretty explicit in leading me to them.

[uIF[/u it were a straight choice between Donald and Smith, I think I might go for Smith, but it isn't the case, so it's a pointless comparison to draw.

Rightly or wrongly having been resident for 3 years donald now qualifies for England. What's the chances of seeing him selected.

Excellent News.

DISA,donald is not an international so how will he be on more than smith?
surely they will be on the same

Once again, DISA is talking out of his bum.

Just so me and you can draw a line under this misreading.

Donald is out of contract at end of season. He is not going to get offers from the NRL and Union. He aint good enough for that. He can not be approached before a certain time by other super league clubs. (yes I know what happens in reality, but we still had time anyway). There was absolutely no need for the club to be offering him a new deal at this time. And if anything he should have been made to earn it more in relation to this seasons performances to date.

On the other hand. Smith established himself last season into the star that some of us more educated people on here, knew he would be. He took an honour that not many players can say they have earned, in a GF winning MOM. At that point our CEO said there is no chance of Smith leaving and we will set a priority in getting a new deal for him. That was announced to the media.

Up until a few weeks back, that had not happend. No offer had been made to Smith. This despite Wigan already announcing their interest last season, and speculation surrounding union clubs. Not only that but since that GF he also went on to become an International, which under Leeds own salary structure then entitles him to an increase.

Now, if you were a non biased CEO of any company in a similar situation to those scenarios above what would you have done? I would be suprised if you do not be honest and say that Smiths contract should have been discussed upon long before now. Therefore that is the point.

of course it should have been discussed.how do you know it wasn't? because smith said so?

Maybe they are sorting out players for next year on new deals so they know how much money they have in place for a new signing?

It wasn't.

Leeds have become a success on the field, and off it for that matter with regards to sticking to salary cap restrictions, by doing the exact opposite of what you keep suggesting

Your argument is full of so many contradictions and holes that it is no surprise people are getting frustrated with you

From what you are saying, in a nutshell, because Scott Donald isn't an International then he won't be on much money. Well, we have a proven winger who has scored a sackful of tries consistently for 3 seasons, so not signing him up for the buttons he will be on would be criminal. Wouldn't it?

On the other hand, Lee Smith, who I do rate and want to stay at the club, is now an International and so should be paid much more than Scott Donald. Despite him not being as consistent over such a period of time.

You'd do a good job of getting Leeds relegated if you were in charge, even in this day and age of no promotion and relegation

No.











































He asked Phil Daly.

How do you know this?

I would stick to your day job of been a thick s[ihi[/ittt If I was you. Because you certainly cant read, if you have come up with that poop.

I give up. Nearly. This whole conversation is now about Lee Smith. THe thread is about Scott Donald. Whatever is going on with Lee Smith's contract is NOTHING to do with Scott Donald's contract, unless we are operating considerably closer to the full salary cap than most seem to think. Frankly, if we can't afford 2 senior wingers (if we're still counting Smith as a winger) in the squad, then Lee Smith leaving is the least of our worries.

If you want a thread about Lee Smith and his contract, go ahead, I know nothing about his contractual situation or what point negotiations are up to, so I'd be unlikely to join in. I do know that I am pleased Scott Donald has signed an extension, and I am also fairly confident that this has nothing to do with Lee Smith or the club's priorities. Unless we can only afford one of them (which I doubt) or negotiations are only possible with one player at a time (which I seriously doubt).

Bit OTT innit.

Which is why I put at the very start of this thread



With the expectation of getting a reply from a certain poster, knowing it completely contradicts that posters previous arguments.

How many threads do you usually see on here that don't waver off into something else?