Yes. Othrwise, teams could just pay off a load of lesser players towards the run in and sign a couple of big names short term.

I hope thats your back line for the QF to be honest.

Senior, Paul Johnson and Sean Long were the last three to have played all 16 SL seasons.

I'm sure big Keith will want to return and make it 17...but can he at 35 ?

No idea but I do recall (I think) the time he bought £75K of Woolworth shares when the price had fallen to £0.03p each.

That was 3p a share more than they were worth a couple of months later mind.

He'd have been better advised to invest in some Leeds training gear off E-Bay.

Sad end if it is in fact the end. I'm sure he wont want to go out like that

Or maybe he doesn't hang on every word written in RLW

But somewhat better than yours nonetheless (see TVOCs thread. Played 6 for GB before Leeds and 6 for Leeds before Ward was coach.

Some rumours going around we want to sign Matt Cooper from St George, anyone head anything about this? I thought he was signing on with St George

Believable, and I'd definitely be happy with that. He looks like he's still got a few years in him. It depends what our plans for Watkins are really though. Is he ready for a regular centre berth or do we see him more as a winger in the short term? There comes a time where he's going to have to make a position his own.

Gutted for Keith on a personal level but the team has to move on. when I saw the news I felt bad for the big man but think in the long term it will be best for the team.

Blessing in disguise. He has been dreadful this season and if he had gone on he would have not have been remembered as a bloody good centre (when he wanted). The coach was reluctant to drop him but now his hand has been forced, Ablett and/or Clarkson would be infinitely better and neither are centres.

Oopps

....best not believe everything I read I guess. I have much more faith in TVOC that's for sure.

Funny it was actually meant to be a direct quote from Schofield ....maybe his own memory is somewhat impaired ???

Bring back Godden!

Sad for Senior. If he misses the rest of the season I can't see him being any better next year than he has been this year, as even though he'll have had a rest he's likely to be even slower when he gets back.

The club also has to decide at some stage if we want to back Watkins as the long-term left centre or not. Having Senior return next year would probably again mean Watkins moving round the backs as injuries hit and failing to get a regular runout anywhere.

FWIW I reckon he'll be back next season.

Dont agree with all this "we're better off without him" nonsense - especially when we're light in the three-quarters. Whilst this season has not been his best (that can be said for the majority of the team) he still poses enough of a threat to concern the opposition.

It certainly means its now or never time for Watkins though (once fit). If he has a decent run at left centre then he can make the shirt his own for next season

I for one hope we see Keith in blue & amber again though - in some capacity!

Absolutely agree! Honestly, how many better centres in SL are there than Keith? In SL, who would you replace him with?

It has not been his best season, but he is still a quality player! There are quite a few players in blue and amber that I would first get rid of over Keith!

His defence has been a disgrace. In how many other seasons have team targeted him because he's a weak link in D. Defence wins the biggest games.

If were relying on the defensive capabilities of our centres to win our big games it doesnt say much for the pack? Are you confident that Smith/Watkins can improve this perceived problem?

Maybe? but to be honest I would be looking at ablett/Clarkson.

But if it's Watkins he can't be worse than senior and he can learn a lot. Same with smith he can't be any worse than Keith. But what Keith was offering was simply not good enough and certainly not befitting of the best centre sl has seen.

Fair do's.
I think we'll miss him more than we think. Time will tell

We won't have long to wait to see whether the alternatives to Senior are able to even half fill those shoes.

It's going to be interesting to see how long it is before those posters relieved to see Senior unavailable for selection will be wishing for his speedy recovery.

i would have thought everyone would wish a speedy recovery.
had senior not been given a contract at the end of last year leeds could have prepared with watkins there or brought somebody in.
of course we will struggle without him and such short notice but i suspect you knew that already

I think Senior even on this seasons is a better option than Ablett or Smith in the centres.

Tad mate seniors defensive contribution this year has been woeful at best. Sad but true! Massive love for the bloke but it looked a season well too far for me.

Defensive better than ablett? The problem with Leeds is soft points against. Senior whilst not only to blame has looked at sea too often.