I think those criticizing this signing will be eating their words as I've seen a lot of Leeds games this year and an aggressive and commanding prop is just what they need. Cross was on the fringes of the Australia squad two years ago and he has just had a good season, which he would only have to reproduce to be an excellent signing, albeit on a short term basis. When you look at it from the point of view that hopefully we will no longer have to see as much of the pestering turd Ryan Bailey it will be as much a good signing for the whole of rugby league as it will be for Leeds.

Becasue you didn't, again.



You saying it?





Ah, the Smokey gibberish we all know and love.





In the last 5/6 years from what they were to what they are now? Huddersfield had a new season ticket offer for this season, it did well. They increased their crowds by more than any SL club, but I doubt they increased by as much as Hull KR's from NL1 to now.



Which amounts to?



That may well be. They've probably been better run than most SL clubs, what is your point? Are you saying every club should be in the Grand final every year?



So they did exist? Make your mind up Smokey?



And excluding where they haven't.



Well done them, quite a rarity that eh? A SL club actually making improvements and not fobbing everyone with excuses for year after year. There's not many clubs like that, Catalans for one, Rovers for another...



You praising Rovers now Smokey? That's not like you. Still I won't have to wait long for you to change your mind I suppose.





Oh, I see, paying over the odds for average 32 year old Aussies is OK.



I wouldn't know, you're the director.



Well I'm sure I'm not the only one laughing at what you said. And if it's number and not quality, why is signing Mason OK? Answers on a postcard please.

Have Catalans spent their own money on their council owned stadium ?

i dont know, its a complex question. I dont disagree with what you have put but at the moment its just a question of doing the best we can.

I would maybe look at having feeder areas rather than feeder clubs as halfway house. SL clubs take responsibility for an area and group of lower league clubs and work with them to produce the best young players, give them a proving ground and reward the clubs when they do, but still allow the lower league clubs to keep their identities.

for example, Leeds have Fev, York and Sheffield as their feeder clubs. They can loan out youngsters as and when, similar to the dual contract system. They can take the youngsters from them for a set fee, they can work together in training, coaching etc, but the lower league clubs still put out their own team, in their own colours, can make their own signings etc. I think that would work quite well. Maybe even a reversal of the situation where Leeds can take dual contract players from the lower league clubs. I think we would see a lot more movement and likely unearth a few gems if SL clubs could take a player away for a few weeks/months training and maybe even a few first team games without committing to a couple of years contract and a fee, so Leeds can call on the lower league players for say £1k per month payment to the lower league club.

ahh but i did
ahh but i didnt, it what i said is there for all to see.

well that wouldnt be the comparision would it. it would the Hudds attendance in NL1 to the hudds attendance at the corresponding time in SL

see above.

no, im saying im saying

no they didnt, prior to 2002 Les Catalans Dragons didnt exist

well it is a simple comparison, a CC final, a couple of play-off wins and a 3rd position in the league beats 0 cc finals, 1 play off win and a 4th position in the league.

as we have just discussed the Hull Kingston Australia improvements are less than the Dragons improvements. Your lack of any sense of scale is quite telling.

as is your lack of comprehension, but just for you ill post it again, if you want this time you can read what it actually says rather than what you so desperately want it to



again. ill simply repost what i wrote and we will just pretend it means exactly what it says

that clearly doesnt affect whether or not i think that you think £100k for Webster and Dobson is a reasonable estimate or not now does it.

It isnt, hence why we had this conversation on the other thread, hence me putting [inobody really minds you bringing in Mason, its bringing in Mason to join the Lovegroves, Fishers, Clintons, and Websters[/i

, it would be unrealistic for any club to be forced to pay set amounts to their own juniors but then find it difficult to accomadate those players because of dual contract players

If SL clubs want to have their players play at a higher level they should either buy out a Championship club and run them as they have in Australia , or put them out on fixed term loans 6 or 12 months minimum