Toopi will be virtually irreplaceable in your revisionist ideal of what he meant to the team.

For me, he flitted between being weak defensively, and being weak in attack. Never seemed to have a game where both got put together

...add in injured a lot in his final season and you wonder how big his boots really are to fill?

The one who has played in SL this season.

The outgoing International class centre was an ever present for Leeds during their championship winning season of 2007 and continued up to his injury in the WCC winning team in 2008. Missed more since he left than appreciated by the (what's that word you use) when he was here.



And the players that have filled in at three since have been superior in which way?

I don't recall Tony Rea making a deal out of where you could get to Leeds on the right edge when Toopi was playing or the Leeds coach feeling the need to switch his most dangerous attacking threat for 2009 to bolster the defence on that side, much to the detriment of that particular player's performances this season.

And while Smith settles into the role will we have to suffer [url=http://viewtopic.php?t=412998&start=0tackling stats[/urllike those he produced V Hull?

I can't help but think the signing of an established right centre would have been the obvious solution but nevermind.

heard is little brother has just signed for leeds tho ! had trails in the 16s foundation and if im correct in saying think he was the only trialist signed !but could b wrong , so there you have it !

If you saw his face on the screen he had taken a knock and could hardly see out of one eye. Some would have declined even playing any more game time. Check out McLennan's quote in YEP.

whos left too sign then?

Gibson, Worrall, Smith?

All leaving imo.

And ablett but when you hear bluey describing kirke and ablett as part of "the glue" of the team i'd expect an announcement ablett has re-signed very soon.
As for the other 3 lets hope we can keep smith at least.

I am not saying it is - although results this season would suggest it is at least on a par!! - what I am saying is if spent correctly overseas backrow forwards can add a lot to a side.

Fair enough, and completely agree. The likes of Lyon, Lauiti'iiti and Gidley are the sorts of player that should be brought over. THe likes of Sam Moa, Mark O'Neill etc are no better tahn what we can produce, but an easier option than developing and scouting fresh talent

Agreed which category of excellence would you put Kirke - the question is his suitability to this standard of rugby - on this season's performances he doesn't justify his contract extension IMO

I would guess that GH didn't renew his contract on the basis of a few bad games this year but more likely on the fantastic value for money he's given Leeds since joining from the national league, we wouldn't have a team to play if that was the case, see my earlier post.

He's not a great player. He is a good SL level player, who does a job. But every squad needs them, and its better that they come through the ranks at a british club, than from the NRL as a quick fix.

As JJB has shown, you can quickly go from average & effective joe at a big club to England / GB capped player. I still think Kirke can improve, although I am not sure he has got international honours ahead of him.

Good squad player who adds size and looks like he might have a little bit more in his locker than he's shown so far.

I think he's a decent squad signing, depending on wages (which I assume are minimal).

exactly. However it says something about our squad strength that he is a week in week out first team regular instead of a pitch hitter

Good to see Kirkey stay on.