I kind of like the sound of that.

A team only a season ticket holder could love.

I understand the cheap loan idea but not beyond that.

If we are going to sign a backrow it has to be different to what we have.

Depends what you mean by "not different". If you mean physically similar, yes. If you mean similar in ability and experience, no. Neither McDonnell or Bentley have played in the NRL or been a regular pick for their country. Hand on heart I'd rather have another big (non project) prop, but since our options in that regard seem very limited indeed, you can't blame Blease/Arthur for looking to strengthen in other ways.

Personally, I'd leave someone else to manage Bateman. I don't think we need what he brings. We should either look for another big unit for the front row, a pacy sizeable line breaker of a backrower, or keep our power dry in case something happens mid season.

Bateman was utterly shocking for Wests before he left. He looked like a 50-year old at times. That might have been down to lack of interest, which is even worse as a fan. Do we really want someone who only plays if they feel like it?

Don’t get the Bateman interest don’t see what he brings he’s past his best and just another rafter like Bentley and Mcdonell. We need another prop. The two new signings can also play second row and add size. Win win

I wouldn't be against signing Bateman if the deal was right. He was dreadful at West's, but he could still definitely do a decent job for us.

Gosh, Blease is a real wheeler-dealer isn't he. Fair play if he can get another signing where the previous club is paying a proportion of the wages. Wests were awful, and it's hard to look good in such a bad team.

My concern with Bateman would be signing him for the same reasons we signed Austin and Sezer. To a degree both NRL and SL proven talents and big names, but probably at the wrong stage of their careers to really be up to much.

BA/Blease seem to be going for some big name signings, but all of them probably have question mark over them.

Wests are such a shambles it's harsh to judge any player there. Bateman looked pretty good for England at the weekend but I would say Leeds need props more than anything.

I wouldn't want Blease's job. He's got to balance recruitment between getting it right "now" to win round a fan base that has had enough of persistent underachievement, and leaving himself with enough wriggle room on the cap to move forward in 26 and beyond. As fans we are all great at what pointing out type of players would make a difference, but ask us to come up with specific names and we struggle. In order to strengthen the pack we're all sure we need a big senior prop or a big senior second row, but where are the available English/French players who tick that box?

Its not a bad idea though is it?

We need to be gone of the days recently where we are too 'nice' and get the p taken out of us by the likes of Welsby, Lees, Knowles, Farrell, Currie, Satae, latterly Bateman etc

Even the likes of Luckley, Bullock, Vuniyayawa and Whitbread ripped us a new one.

We need some bite, aggression and nastiness. Parra had that with RCG, Paulo, Matterson, Lane etc

Maybe that's Athurs way of thinking with is too

Did anyone ever really FEAR facing Oledzki, Sangare, Tetevano, Martin, Leeming, Donaldson, O'Connor, Goudemond.

They are all good, honest players - but none had any real fear factor.

There is only Lisone with any kind of agression - and thats 5 minutes a game.

.

I'm not too panicked about that missing prop if none's available now, providing we go big for 2026. Still too much needs changing for 25 to be a big year so I'd rather take more time to get in the right players than cobbling a side together in haste.
For me, a lightweight backrower seems to be spaffing out on a contract for what we already have.

Who are our 2nd rowers beyond McDonnell, Bentley, and Gannon. 2 of those have had injury problems in recent years, so a back row is probably where the squad is the thinest, at the moment.

I get the interest on our part. We’re short in the back row imo, and he’s a good pedigree without taking a quota spot. If it’s a loan to see how he goes I can get behind that.

Would imo still need another prop.

Same here. He’s a classic Blease target I can see this being true. If no other prop options I wouldn’t be against it. He’s NRL hardened and tough as nails. I bet Brad Arthur would get a tune out of him and I think the lad would be pleased to be back home. A loan or cheap deal be a no brainier imo

Not sure if he's the second rower we need, but it could work.

We're potentially setting ourselves up to give a lot of penalties and yellow cards away if Bateman does sign alongside Connor, Newman, Bentley etc. The balance still needs shifting towards more power and size instead of having lots of small ferrety aggressive types, IMO.

I salute Blease's desire to give Arthur a squad with enough talent and depth to make us competitive again. The league is going to be harder next year - Wigan, Wire, KR and Saints will be as strong if not stronger; Catalans will be massively improved; Leigh and Salford (as previous seasons have shown)
will have a minimum of top six aspirations. If part of the remit is landing Arthur for 26 the hook will need to be baited with tastier stuff than "maybe next year" promises. Bateman, on loan, with Wests contributing to his wages, would be the the kind of smart move other clubs have been accomplishing under our noses for years now.

Top 6, like it was last season, is the absolute minimum we should be aiming for.

Yeah totally agree

We won't be interested, but it looks like Esra Mam will be suspended for a year from the NRL. Surely, you would think a club like Catalans or Leigh would be interested.

If he can play from a jail cell then he would be a great addition to any side. He is looking at potentially a 14 year sentence

Looks like Palasia is playing tomorrow

What’s he done? Top player as well.

I see Shaun Wane has registered his interest in Leeds when he plans to return to club coaching at the expiry (2026) of his England contract. Of course by then Arthur will have lead us to two titles on the bounce and signed a 10 year contract.