That sounds like some sort of challenge. Shall I start things off?

Colin Cambell, Paul Prendiville, Pat Mitchell.

As the master of the critique on here I thought you of all posters would appreciate the removing of the blue and amber goggles and calling it for what it was, 'an excellently crafted team try with a top class finish by a speedy winger.' Only a deeply cynical poster could find anything cynical in that description.



Not really, it's in the past. I only hope Leeds have someone in the system to mitigate the short-sighted mistake most probably born from Donald's likely removal from the overseas quota and a change of heart over his desire to return to Australia at the end of 2008. Judging by the press releases he was the last of the antipodeans to sign up for the 2010 season.



Glad you can now see Jones-Bishop could potentially play on the wing at SL level. A notion you've somewhat bizarrely managed to dismiss in the past.



You now know that Broughton was offered a deal by Leeds for the 2010 season? I think we've been here before and no evidence of an offer was ever found at the time. The rest of you're statement therefore appears based on a premise that is unproven and likely as not untrue.



Using Lee Smith who, let me remind you in case you've forgotten, left Leeds at the end of 2009 to persue a career in Rugby Union is a pretty desperate argument in regards the Leeds squad composition for the 2010 season.

Broughton or Donald on the Leeds wing for 2010? For several reasons I'd have liked to have seen the locally produced lad given the opportunity over the then soon to be out of contract, distinctly average antipodean whose first half of 2009 was described by one respected contributor as 'abysmal.' No need for the benefit of hindsight in making that call either.

What is this love affair some people have with mediocre antipodeans, it's beyond me.

Good luck to the lad, I have no quarrels at all about players wanting to set themselves up for a post RL life.

My concern is that if we bring Smith on to the wing we don’t have an out and out speedster. Scotty has blistering pace and will be missed – both Smith and Hall have their qualities but neither has the pace that Donald does.

Anybody seen Soprano T or Mrs Harringon?

Perhaps they missed Keef's post in their rush to banjo practice?

Here it's again then...[iKeith is of the opinion that those who launched their stinging rebukes at Eastwood for not wishing to honour his agreed contract ought to be the one's answering the questions. Particularly those who are now so fawning and respectful towards Scott Donald who erm... no longer wishes to honour his agreed contract.[/i

C'mon now guys.... a Davy Crockett hat could be the prize for the best answer!

Can I nominate the try he scored at the Stadé Gilbert Brutus in 2008. It was a crucial try at a crucial part of the game and it enabled Leeds to go on and claim a big win.

Whilst I agree that Donald has been a great servant to the club and has scored and prevented many tries in his time.
I still for the life of me can not understand why if he has the pace some say he has doesn`t he take on the defence on the outside.
For me a great wingman with pace would always beat himself to skin the defender. Donald for me lately does not do this.

You mean like Ryan Hall, Lee Smith, BJB, Kallum Watkins and Tom Bush?

Not quite. He can play on the wing. he has done. For Leeds. I don't think he'd make a very good winger.

I am sorry but you were asking about Donald's eventual replacement so using Lee Smith, whatever he may have done at the end of 2009, is perfectly acceptable as he clearly will be the first choice as Donald's replacement.

Except, of course, when you're courting one to replace, say, Ashley Gibson, Lee Smith or Kallum Watkins to play right centre. Except, of course, when you develop a massive man crush on the epitome of mediocre antipodean Sam Moa.

I saw that.

And I gave the reason why we like him. He has given a good service to the club and has been worth his contract money. Eastwood on the other hand has run away like a little kid because he cant settle.

Maybe in a hundred years people will spare a thought for scotty and his legendary exploits on the wing.

who's to say he signed a new contract for next year?
maybe you shouldn't believe all you read in the papers or all a club says

If you don't think he'd make a very good winger why have you included him in a discussion about wingers?



You'll have to remind me when I was looking for Leeds to replace Smith or Watkins in the squad. You might also wish to consider that the issue was finding a right centre replacement for the departed Toopi and the names I offered were not antipodean in origin.

THe unheard of Sam Moa filled a hole at Hull and he is now comfortably along with O'Meley one of their two best props. Well done Mrs Hetherington.


__________




Not sure that's a legal combination.

Colin Cooper or Mark Campbell perhaps.

Well, personal feelings and mist eyed memories aside,... <In best Rhinoms mode>....The clue is in the word contract.

The very same legally binding and lucrative contracts that both were apparently happy to add their signatures to......

Have you considered the ramifications for Gareth and assorted pinstripped chums if a player can tear up a contract without penalty simply because some fans like him, whereas the fatty kid with no mates has to fulfill it to the bitter end.

Anarchy awaits. G1 would be reduced to busking around the town centre, and chubby Harris would feel vindicated.

I get the contract thing but in sports these days they dont mean much. I think you'll find the majority of people on here dont have a problem with Eastwood tearing up the contract. They have a problem with him being a little bitch and flying home.

And anyway, I have heard of numerous people that Donald never signed the contract.

[i"At the time my contract was announced I was fully committed to the Rhinos for next season," he said. "But in the past couple of months there's been a few things happen with possible work opportunities back home and obviously my family was another consideration. It came down to looking at the squad and the strength they have got going forward and I thought this year was as good a time as any to retire."


He added: "It has taken a lot of consideration over the last few weeks. "After speaking with Bluey (coach Brian McClennan) and Gary (Hetherington, Rhinos' chief executive), we came to the decision at the end of last week that this is going to be it and I am going to be retiring at the end of this year."
[/i

It doesn't particularly sound like the deal wasn't agreed on or signed but I suppose it depends how obtuse you wish to be when reading it.

A career outside of Rugby for Scotty in the Queensland area?

Taking up a wing berth outside Clinton for the Titans then?????

Yeah, maybe at the time he told them he was looking at other careers and that if nothing came up he would sign. He did say he would never leave us short though and we do seem to have adequate cover now.

Scotty isn’t breaking his contract in any way – he’s retiring.

There will be a retirement clause in his contract which he appears to be exercising.

Simples

Because the chances are he might have to play there, and he's Academy produced and that is what you were asking about.


You'll have to remind me when I said you were first off. What you were doing is suggesting, at the start of 2009, that none of them were a good enough option to play right centre for us.

Indeed. See above. You made a number of suggestions but you also berated Hetherington for not looking to the NRL for a right centre. Later that season you berated him for having too many quota players when he didn't, so you berated him for not adhering to the spirit of the cap. It seems he can do no right in your eyes.

Yet it seems his wife, who has presided over far fewer trophy laden seasons than Gary is more your cup of tea. Glad you like Moa and O'Meley. Now what was your issue again with spirit of caps and love affairs with average antipodeans?

Round and round and round we go, where we end nobody knows.

How many times do we have to go through the same old boring routine?

I'd have replaced Donald in the 2010 squad with one of Watkins/Jones-Bishop/Broughton

You disagree despite opining that Donald's first half of last season was abysmal.

C'est la vie.

Thanks for some great memories Scott - a humble, down to Earth bloke from what I have seen.

He has been an important part of the most successful period in our history and should be apprecaited for that. You will struggle to find many better more consistent wingers in SL since 2006. Unlike more naturally talented overseas players who have come for a year or two at the end of their career, Scott has arguably played for Leeds for the best years of his career and given his all for the cause.

He is the best winger of his kind (natural pacy finisher) I have seen play for Leeds and would compliment Hall, Smith or even Bai in a fantasy world very well.

As for the comparisons with Eastwood, Scott's been here for 5 years and shown nothing other than commitment to the Leeds cause. While I have some sympathy with Eastwood and have not condemned him like others on here the 2 shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath

The question is now, where will the money from his and Eastwood's wages, as it is inevitable that Eastwood will be returning to Bulldogs next season. Smith will take Donalds place on the wing, so just a replacement for Eastwood, or a new forward at all would be nice (Clarkson can cover for Eastwood's departure IMO)

Thanks for all the memories Donald. From that try against ST Helens in the Grand Final, it never gets old watching him skip around Wellens, to the try against Warrington and Hull (although I wasn't there against Hull as I was on my travels around Europe but got to see it on Sky Sports News in a bar in Amsterdam and stood there mouth open).
Hope he has a great future outside of rugby.
Also maybe time for one last Scotty special?

All the best Scotty.

All the best to Scott and his family and a massive thanks for the memories.

I'm gunna get all misty eyed over his try in the 07 Grand Final no matter whether that makes me a good or bad person or whatever. In that final, IMO, when he scored his try it was the point for the first time that I managed to relax and enjoy Leeds in a Grand Final. I had not previously, nor have I since been able to watch any minute of a Grand Final that Leeds were in whilst feeling relaxed, but his try gave me the opportunity to take the game, and atmosphere in. Team try or not, it was a special moment, and one I will always remember.

He has been one of my top 3 favourite players over the last 3 or 4 years, no idea why, he just seems to come across as a genuine guy, who has served his club really well.

Thanks again Scott for giving me one of the most enjoyable moments I have had whilst being a Leeds fan, and again all the best.

Hi



Please post me a link to my "stinging rebuke" on Eastwood.....I wont hold my breath.

But if you really want to compare Eastwood and Donald's Leeds careers then fair enough.

Donald
5 Years service
143 games
90 trys
1 League leaders shield
1 World club challenge
3 Grand final wins

Eastwood
Maybe 1 years service
15 Games
1 try
0 medals


Eastwood wants to leave Leeds to go and play for another RL club, Donald wants to retire.....RETIRE to secure a career for his young family.

And this one is a pure guess but I'm sure world cup winning Greg would have been on a higher wage than Donald.