So do you remember any alternatives?

IIRC, Leeds and Wakefield had agreed a fee for Ellis (who had one year remaining on his contract at Belle Vue) but the player turned down Leeds' contract offer. Leeds withdrew their cash only offer to Wakefield at that point.

When Jamie Langley wasn't prepared to join Wakefield as part of Bradford's proposed player + cash deal, Leeds made an enquiry for Langley although Bradford publically stated no such enquiry was ever received. Then Ellis came back to Leeds and accepted their original offer or so Leeds claimed in the press at the time.

Quote ="rhinoms"Confirmed fella spot on!! www.therhinos.co.uk/news/7302.php'" Cheers, but i honestly didn't think that the news would be released so soon, at least it proves that the scource is credible, and that i was told a whole 6 days before the club announced it! Quote ="The Biffs Back"Keith will sign a one year contract extension without doubt! This has already been discussed and agreed by both parties, it is going to happen, but when his "new one year contract extension" announcement will be made public is anyone's guess? Scource: An ex Sheffield Eagles collegue and close friend of Keith's, who i just happened to be out and in the company of last saturday night '"

Quote ="rhinoms"Confirmed fella spot on!! www.therhinos.co.uk/news/7302.php'" Cheers, but i honestly didn't think that the news would be released so soon, at least it proves that the scource is credible, and that i was told a whole 6 days before the club announced it! Quote ="The Biffs Back"Keith will sign a one year contract extension without doubt! This has already been discussed and agreed by both parties, it is going to happen, but when his "new one year contract extension" announcement will be made public is anyone's guess? Scource: An ex Sheffield Eagles collegue and close friend of Keith's, who i just happened to be out and in the company of last saturday night '"

Your quite right he did re-sign over a month ago

To be fair Ryan Hall does strike me as that type of person...

So what's you point?

Are you suggesting we shouldn't sign him because he's so important that if he gets injured he'd be irreplaceable?

I remember the above well but I thought Disa was on about Ellis stalling on the contact extension offer from Leeds.

Thats what I thought too, but then it is DISA who isnb't always clear

Fair enough if that is what DISA was referring to, I got the wrong end of the stick. The only stalling I associated with Ellis was when he initially joined the club.

Ellis' decision to go to the NRL was an early announcement (Feb/March 200icon_cool.gif giving Leeds plenty of warning and opportunity to source a suitable replacement. GH flew straight to Australia and secured Buderus' signature IIRC, explaining that one world class player in the squad was being replaced by another.

Which either he or Bluey confirmed in later interviews was done specifically at Bluey's request.

It was an early announcement. But he should have had his contract sorted before it got to that situation. The NRL clubs tend to their recruiting for the next season early, and had we done that with Ellis before they started circling he would have still been here.

Which is pretty silly, considering your statement above on the dallying when he signed his initial deal at Leed. Not really dallying. He agreed verbally with Leeds a 3 year deal early the season before signing, and when it got to end of season Leeds wanted him on a 5 year deal, hence the breakdown in contract signing. He eventually compromised on a 4 year deal. Strange that Leeds wanted him for that extra but did not resolve it early enough, when he had completed 3 years of his contract.

Also we didn't go out and sign Buderus once Ellis announced he was going. We agreed terms with Buderus 5 months before Ellis announced (despite not released to media). Eastwood was Ellis's supposed replacement.

Ellis announced he was going to the NRL, GH went out to Australia and Leeds announced the capture of Buderus on his return as one world class signing replacing another.

Actually GH agreed initial terms with Buderus the last time he went to Aus. Gareth was still willing to sign a new deal with Leeds at start of last year. Buderus was already signed.

Unless you are telling me now you really believe Keith Senior signed his new deal on Thursday.

Ellis left, Buderus arrived.

I believe only when the announcements are made.

Eastwood was intended to be Scruton's replacement, Ellis has not been replaced by an external signing, he has been replaced internally by Ablett.

If Ellis had been willing to sign a new deal with Leeds he'd have signed it.

By Who?

Yeoman who plays for 6th placed side in super league?

Or maybe we should resort to either of the centres that play for 7th and 8th respectively.

Senior was the best Centre in super league tonight FACT.

indeed, smithy had a good game too

Excellent game.

He is more than capable of playing centre. Brent Webb at fullback is definitely our best option!

aye, brent webb of old seemed to be back tonight

leeds certainly look to be getting back to their best, good in attack & defence. couple of their tries where next to impossible to defend against, and a good crowd for a tuesday

Ryan Hall getting better week on week. Tonight we looked like the team that was preparing for last years world club challenge. First thing I said to myself after twenty minutes is this is the Leeds we all love to watch.

The break I feel has done us a world of good and has best prepared us to be at our best in the second half of the season.

Keith showed those doubters tonight why he i worthy of another year. Fantastic performance down the left.

Senior was a pleasure to watch tonight

brilliant

Thought him and smith looked good tonight

But we need a new centre NOW! In fact given the chances of injury, I suggest we sign three, just in case.

No they needed one in the off season which is probably why they targetted Soliola.

Smith will give his usual 100% so there are few worries there if he gets a decent run at it and isn't dragged away to cover injuries elsewhere in the backline.

Just a word of caution though, Hull were not very good tonight and they'll be tougher tests to come.

One other thing, did my eyes deceive me or was Donald's first pass from a centre supplied by Keith Senior?

Senior looked quite at home in the second row last night.