I'd like to see Matt Orford return. I think he can make the difference.

Yes. 4th in the table at the time of his injury says he made a difference. The sharp decline once he was out reinforces the point.

If he doesn't, then we're totally fooked for another season unless we somehow managed to get an adequate replacement.

No I dont agree with that.
No doubt it didnt help, but a losing run of that magnitude is more to do with coaching than losing a SH.

We do need him. And if he's not coming back we need to command a transfer fee so we can bring in a good replacement, although I doubt we'll find one as good as Orford.

And I doubt any transfer fee will be paideither. Aussies teams to pay,remember.

Well then he'll be staying. Or thats how it should be.

So why didnt they hold Sam Burgess to his contract?

Because they got a transfer fee

Beat me to it.

Righttto.

Souths paid a fee so that we released him a year early. Or they could have waited until the end of this season and taken him for free. Sam has been on record as saying he would have been happy to see out the last year of his contract with the Bulls.

Souths are one of the few teams willing to pay transfer fees, because of a certain movie star owner.

Yes as I don't think we'd be able to redistribute even with got a fee. So effectively we'd have the money but perhaps no one to buy

The redistribution could be planned over the remainder of the contract with the in place Michael Potter

Sam wanted to go so Bulls let him go, if Matt wants to go then they'll let him go too.
Transfer fee my ass.

We DID get a transfer fee for Burgess. That's not a matter of opinion, it's fact.

I agree though I don't think the club would demand one for Orford, purely because if a player doesn't want to play for you, why keep that sort of wages being paid for someone who doesn't want to be here?
(Assuming the reports are true, which a lot of things seem to suggest they're not)

We already need a stand off, to need a scrum half also at too late a stage would stuff up 2011 before we're even out of 2010. So yes we need him back, or else we would need Potter to work a miracle recruitment wise if he doesn't come back.

And if he does want to stay in Oz there will be no transfer fee, just a statement of "Matt Orford leaves by mutual consent" Even if thats not the case privately.

IIRC we're still working under the assumption that he will stand by his last reported word to the club and return ready for preseason, until he says or acts differently we can't do bob all about it.

Believe what you want mate.

Do you deny that Bradford were paid a transfer fee?

Do you think that the moon landings never happened and that the Americans planned 9/11 themselves too?

Regardless of what Mick believes we can't go into 2011 with only Southernwood as a recognised halfback. So we either need Orford back or we need a couple of replacements.

There's bugger all halfbacks OOC at the moment of any quality that I've heard about so yes, we desperately need Orford to come back.

Which is why I'd hope the club's stance would be something along the lines of "yes, another club can sign Orford, providing we get one of their quality halfbacks as compensation".

Let Orford go on the proviso he goes to a club that can give us a replacement.

Perhaps not practical, but you'd hope it was at least explored (which I'm sure it would be)

You & the game really need Orford back. If I were the Bulls I would reach an agreement with him for a mutually acceptable date by which he is to be back here & in training. If he doesn't meet that, get rid.

They already have a date when he's due back.

And if he doesn't return by that date?

I hope Orford does return as his leadership was clear for all to see before his injury! However saying that if he doesn't return, Brett Kimmorley is off contract this year, a decent half back & AFAIK hasn't signed for anyone...yet!

Although I have just read he is retiring

...... money talks though right?