No need to use the Lee Smith thread...

Hope not, any ways Leeds have named there squad for Thursday.

Could somebody please explain to me how Leeds have found the money to (allegedly) re-sign Lee Smith whilst also remaining under the salary cap?

If I remember rightly he left due to salary cap restrictions in the first place, and Leeds have invested in both Eastwood and Delaney (neither of which would come cheap) yet they suddenly find enough room to resign Smith mid season? You look at the names in the Leeds and Wire squads and have to wonder how the hell they do it (legally?!?!)

It a tight wage structure and everyone is playing for the love of Leeds/Wire blah blah blah. Did I also mention I'm the anonymous Euromillion winner?

Er...now I've always had a deep respect, and I mean that most sincerely...your posts are just fantastic that is really what I think...oh, and by the way...you DID say you needed a trustworthy financial adviser and agent, didn't you?

Didn't he only leave because he was seeing Verity Rushworth from Emmerdale and she was moving to London?

Just after he had signed for Wasps and before the Grand Final she dumped him...hence why he was looking less than chuffed in the interview on the pitch about leaving.

He could always have signed a dual code contract with Carnegie...stranger things have happened in rughy league!

Can you organise me a feasibility study?

That'll be £1.2m please - if that's OK?

He could be playing for very little salary this season. Smith showed signs of regret after the GF and obviously wasn't enjoying himself at wasps. The lack of salary this term could be made up in the next few years. After all Heatherington has probs done him a huge favour bringing back to Leeds.

If you think that's grumpy you are in for a rude awakening, wait until the hardcore get stuck into you!

Check out the RFL Operational Rules - Salary Cap section.

You are not allowed to bring a player in on a small salary in year 1, and then with much bigger salary years 2 onwards, under one contract. You have to average the total contract value over the contract years. This was brought in in response to the antics of Wigan when they broke the cap a few years ago - this was seemingly one of the devices they used.

Likewise, dual-code does not give a get-out any more - all counts under the cap.

How do much improved offers fit into that? Like myler at Salford to try and keep him, eastmond at saints? could Leeds offer him what space they have then sign a new deal next year?

Is there anything to stop him signing a 1 year contract now and then a different contract after?

Not at all. And if he signed a 1-year deal on a verbal promise of a much better contract for year 2, who would know? Or if a letter of intent was signed but kept confidential and not disclosed to the salary cap auditor?

you always a prick?

most of the time!

fair enough mate, anywho honest mistake now I know better aha

Funnily enough, although he works really hard sometimes to give the appearance of being one, its all for show. He'll hate me for saying it, and for blowing his cover, but he's actually pretty sensible...

Which means about as much as the two feet on the line rule.

All they have to do is prove one of those players in the squad is injured (at all) and they can bring in someone else. A tactic that's been used on more than one occasion by most teams (Saints seem to do it most) is purposely including an injured player so they can then play someone who the opposition wasn't expecting. Doesn't really work now though as everyone is expecting it, so pays very little attention to the 19.

Lee Smith signs 4 yr contract with Leeds and the RFL are happy for him to make his "debut" against Bradford on thursday

We must have had enough money under the cap to been able to sign him on a four year contract, have it authorised by the RFL and for him to play against you tomorrow.

Indeed, under the live cap.

Either that, or you've (sorry, HE'S) found an "unconnected" third party to pay loads for his image rights, or El Presidente knows where the bodies are buried at Rot Hall...

I'm surprised Leeds can afford him given the already ample squad they have assembled.

We must be very close to the cap now, and I suppose it makes sense that El Presidente has stated we can't recall BJB for salary cap reasons.

Still, I'd expect a few players not to make the cut at the end of the season, even if some of the oldies like Senior retire.

Good news from a Leeds perspective to have him back at HQ, and possibly from an England POV if he can rediscover some form. Good to see at the start of this thread some of you Bulls fans finally admitting that he's a good player. I expect normal service will resume shortly.

You're wrong.



Wait a minute. Leeds signed Eastwood last season and must have been able to pay him (even if he has only materialised this year), so you can take him out of the equation. Delaney was signed as I understood it as a replacement for Smith, so we have to assume that he is coming back on partially reduced terms and/or Leeds have a lot more space on the cap than many thought. Bear in mind that most clubs leave space for an emergency signing mid-season, and several Leeds players stated last year that they had accepted lower pay offers from Leeds to remain part of the GF winning team. I don't have any firm evidence here but unless anyone can produce any evidence to the contrary we must assume that Leeds are playing by the rules.