Hear hear. Integrity is withering.

Also, didn't he make mention of a number of rumours he'd been asked about on twitter? Said something about most are rubbish and the reason he's not run stories on them is for just that reason

I understand what you are saying, but at the same time I don't recall any of these players stating that they "won't come back / play".

OK - they might have the monk on, but Eastwood has still been one of your best players, even after all this came out about him wanting to go home.

Clubs aren't daft. It's rare that they can generate a transfer fee for a player, and by getting details into the open about a player not being 100% happy they lose a player 12 months earlier than planned, but at the same time receive a fee and move on.

I'm sure Burgess would have stayed at Bradford for that last year, but I can't see any way we'd have got him to stay beyond that. We needed the money to pay off other "debts" shall we say, but Leeds and Catalan probably don't have that problem.

It's all money into the coffers and an opportunity to refresh the squad or give healthy re-signing bonuses to ageing squad players

(ie at Leeds)

Sadly any of their "ageing" players would walk into our Bulls side.

I would be surprised if Saints let Leon go to you guys.
This season at Saints up to his injury he has probably been one of our best performers.
If he did leave Saints I would imagine they would ask for around 100K minimum but that's my opinion.

Even given his current injury, Saints emerging youngsters and Leon's six figure salary?

Hmmmm

I think we should stop using this logical argument. You're not alone in trying it and as clear as it seems, as valid as the points are, it just isn't sinking into the thick heads of some people

Perhaps a using a similar situation that happened at Bradford not 12 months ago would help? Wigan ask if Paul Deacon would be allowed to leave Bradford to join them in a player/coach role. Bradford say "Yes, but only if we are able to find a suitable replacement". In comes Matt Orford's agent "I've not been able to secure a favourable deal for Orford in Oz, would the Bulls be interested"

So, Bradford get Orford, Wigan get Deacon, everyone's happy. Do you see how that works?

Yup.

Fans also often forget that a player is only "worth" what any buying club is prepared to pay. Failing that, he is worth zip.

Similarly, Leon cannot just leave as has been mooted. He can request a release but whether the Bulls would be prepared to offer any amount in return is open to conjecture. Given the cost saving Saints would make on not having him on payroll it may be an attractive option for them given the emergence of Lomax, Wheeler etc. Alongside having a player who would rather be elsewhere (for whatever reason) and it makes him moving to the Bulls a very realistic option.

As will become apparent methinks.

I think both sides are right.

There are plenty of reasons why Saints might decide to let Leon go before the end of his contract that are being highlighted by Bulls fans.
There are also plenty of reasons why they might want to keep hold of him which are being highlighted by the Saints fans.

If it was a key Bulls player that was being mooted at being wanted by another club (Orford maybe...?) we'd be coming out with the same arguements that the Saints fans are using. Two years on contract... Key player... Lack of alternative...

From what i got told today, to me it stands like, Pryce is wanting to come to Bradford, whilst both clubs are trying to come to some sort of agreement. Hope we get him, he can have the off day but who doesn't, but when he's on form i dont think there is a better player in Super League. He can win games for you on his own.

Just like Deacon wanted to go to Wigan. It's now a case of both clubs coming to an agreement

Right then I must be missing something here. Is Pryce coming deemed to mean that Orford isn't coming back? In that case what use is a great stand-off and no scrum-half?

It's been deemed that Orford wouldn't be coming back for a while. Still in the market for a new 7.

And according to a recent piece in the T&A we're after 4 new signings. However, if we're after half backs, then I don't think we'll be looking to actually sign all 4. We've just identified 4 players who would fit the bill

I'm not so sure a player like Leon would need a strong scrum half with him. He guided Saints around the park a fair bit without Eastmond and Long on many occassions. Southernwood could well earn his apprenticeship with Leon at his side.

Gone are the days when the scrum half purely looks after the forwards or the 6, the backs. Bit of a myth in the modern game, since much of the forward work is increasingly around the ruck from DH.

For me, Leon at 6 with Southernwood is a preferable and more potent option than Sykes at 6 with Orford at 7.

Back to the rugby, and yes - absolutely. IMO we'd be a lot better off with that combination. If we go into next season with Sykes at 6 I'll start sounding as downbeat as I accused you of sounding.

I am not sure what to make of this really. But Connor's track record suggests that he is not the type to just post random rumours without foundation.

touche

Sykes as a 6 doesn't work for me at all. I struggle to comprehend him as centre at present albeit at Quins he did hit some great lines but then with Scott Hill and Henry Paul hitting him into gaps then I think I'd resemble Mal Meninga.

It's also very clear he isn't comfortable there. Quite why he is there for his country is another matter.

Addy, Kearney and even Dono are better options at 6, if forced and a top class SH at their side.

As I have said previously.
Leon will not be coming back to your club next season,get over it.

And you are basing this on? This thread has been a long discussion on the possibility of Pryce returning to Bradford with argument and counter argument. But you, with your clearly God-like knowledge of the future can say without question he won't? Hmmmm

Sources close tell me Sykes won't be playing stand off for Potter.

I think the fact that Potter isn't a clueless coach tells us that he'll only be played there in an emergency.

Hmm. This is the same Potter who played a 20 year old at centre in a Grand Final when he had never previously played centre, it was his first Grand Final and he had been out of commission for three weeks? Or the same Potter who dropped a good defensive winger but retained the poorer one, giving Wigan a two try start? Or the same Potter who changed our lineup three times in the playoffs, one time just to facilitate a crocked player he was happy to bring back too early? If you want someone who is utterly clueless in terms of his lineups, interchanges and tactics (except when playing Warrington), you'll be happy with Potter.

However, he will integrate your youth into the first team. He can do that.

There seemed to be more than enough Saints fans willing to tell any Bulls fans at OT last night that this is a done deal!

Another rumour without substance, maybe, but it's all too coincidental to me....

If Potter can get us to second in the table and to the grand final despite injuries to key players, only to lose by 12 points, I'll be happy with that next year!