If he's coming to take Sheriffe's place, then no bloody way!

Les played the majority of his Bulls career at left wing, so if he did return I see no reason to move him onto the right.

Regarding quota, surely having played for England he is exempt from the quota? Perhaps a friendly Saints fan could inform us what Maurie over there is classed as?

Fishy!



Seriously, i'm getting splinters in me 'arris on this one. Good and bad sides to the whole argument.

After Harrisgate, you'd surely assume that in Releasing Les to Union we'd have had him sign an agreement to return to Bulls to complete the term of his original contract? Without even having to be "cohersed"? Albeit you'd presume for the same dosh as he was originally on? All following Mr Justice Gray's Harris precedent, assuming that the circumstances of his leaving were actually similar of course?

Have I missed something? Is there a chance Les may come back?
Or is this just speculation?

Total speculation AFAIW, founded on a report a few weeks ago about when Les was supposed to be out of contract with Gloucester.

Excellent for publicity, support, etc but not sure it would be for the team. If he came for peanuts than absolutely.

I'd rather have Shonnie back, but that one's not going to happen when he's on the fringe of the England squad.


What happened to John Rudd? He looked solid if a little unfit when pleying for the reserves, would have thought he'd have been considered seen as wing is our weakest area.

I wouldn't. When Les knew he was leaving, he still continued to put his everything into the Bulls until he left. Hape looked a lot like he just couldn't be *rsed as soon as he knew he was off to the dark side.

I think we are quality winger short of been a quality team.

Personally think we are a centre short..

I would like to see the Volcano back but i'm not sure how much i would expect of him. Obviously won't be the player who left us, but should be as good as what we have at least.

Hood and Macca pretty well said that at the Forum. Seems clear that when the opportunity to sign an outstanding 7 and on-field leader arose instead, that was seen as more crucial than Walker. Experience to date suggests the right decision was taken, I'd say? Especially given how Rikki seems to be developing into a TV-lite.

They acknowledged we were light in that area, but the clear implication was that we did not have the resources to spend any more - if indeed the right non-quota player was available and interested anyway.

To differentiate the emotional from the practical:
Are his knees knackered? - It would appear not. 55 matches for Gloucester (51 being on for 80 mins) and 20 matches as an ever present so for this year suggests that his fitness and resilience levels are excellent.Trimmed down now to 17 1/2 stone.
It would be naive to suggest that being tackled in RU is so much less physical than in RL, though his RU role on the wing has a lesser requirement to use him as a go forward player in centre pitch.
Is he too old and past his best?: He'll be 31 in May and currently holding his position in a very competetive team who would have no compuction to drop him if he was not up to scratch. Gloucester have 45 registered full time professionals.
Is he available? Leslie signed a 3 year contract from the start of the 2007/8 season which will expire around may/june this year. There has been so far no reports of an extension to his contract though talks are ongoing
[iGoucester Web Site :
Vainikolo, who is yet to sign a contract beyond the end of this season at Kingsholm, has been in particularly good form, with two tries against Sale last week in a stand-out performance.
Gloucester Coach, Brian Redpath said :-
"He's been great, you can't question it," Redpath said of the big Tongan. "That's what you want from people that want to prove points.
"His form has been great, his work ethic has been good. His core skills in contact have been great for us.[/i
Thus its arguable that Leslie is now playing some of his best rugby - rather than as a has been suggested by some posters.
Would I welcome Lesley back to the Bulls? Too damn right I would! and its nothing to do with emotion.
So what might his options be? re-sign for Gloucester, sign for another RU club or return to SL.
The shedheads (who are as notorious and properly uninformed as any other fans forum) seen to think that the sticking point is the length of contract. - Leslie wants another 3/4 years. Gloucester are offering 2.
Other RU clubs are unlikely to offer 2 years+. The reason is that they have so many quality players in their game from other counties to recruit with proven international experience. As well as Australia, its New Zealand, South Africa, France, Scotland. Ireland, Wales and the South Sea Islands, Canada and Argentina.
My modest opinion: Leslie might be looking for a 4 year contract to take him to 35 and whilst money will be an important factor I believe it is the term of contarct that might appeal to him most

I must admit I would be a bit uneasy offering a 4 year deal. I was thinking more on the lines of until the end of 2011 with maybe a further year option based on appearances.

There's no way i'd want him on a four year deal..

And something that I accidently omitted.
His wages would be pro-rata under salary cap for the rest of our season, and could anyways be artificially massaged under a long term contract.
I'm not sure that qualification under RU rules for England automatically qualify him under RL regs

Why?
I dont especially disagree with your opinion but you should give reasons

How's that?

That the first few months of his contarct are at a certain rate and that the following years are at another.
Reasons are various.
Accepted I know nothing about RL contacts, just basing it on commercial ones in practice.

I think he should be back at Odsal.

If I was McNamara and Hood then I would be down at Kingsholm with the contract and pen now.

I would be surpised if they had not pre-empted your suggestion by at least sx months.

That's what was central to the cap breach at the Piedome though, and they updated the Operational Rules for the Salary Cap to cover this eventuality and even-out the payments. Wondered if you knew of any other devices that others had used? Mind you, I would bet a shilling that Deacs is on a modest salary as a player, and will be on a whole lot more when he becomes a coach f/t after this season! I could speculate about other possible devices too!

Was interesting that at the Forum no-one from the audience asked Mr Hood whether the headroom on the cap was for Les...? So we'll not know what the answer would have been!

I hope we get him because it'll bring in more fans.

Agreed.

Oh, except for the fact that we haven't got one three quarter that would get into any other team in Super League.

Yes Hood's comment about having Salary Cap space was surprising in that most clubs had by that time filled all of their's. To retain a portion of salary cap at the start of the season is unusual. Few players are available after the start of the season for the Bulls to fulfil the salary cap.
Hmmm... 2+2=4 ...0r x+y = 0