Has there been some sort of collective lobotomy carried out on posters on here? Why, all at once, has everyone simultaneously lost all their critical faculties and chosen to accept, without question, a sportsman`s salary as mentioned by newspapers??

I'm not singling out Bradford, they are just the latest in a very long line of clubs who don't produce enough quality jnrs to replace retiring or leaving players. And given it is at the same time as yet another Int failure it seemed poignant to raise the matter!

I think people are barking up the wrong tree.

It's not the Gildleys, Buderus and Orfords of this world that we need to stop playing over here, regardless of age. It's the Flannerys/Talaus/Tadulalas/Phelps/Jeffries/Neros/Melis etc.

Signing players who could well be the best in their position is not detrimental to Super League, or to the young players. It's signing average joes and downright heaps of s*it that stunts our competition and leaves us playing at a standard that means we cannot challenge for trophies at international level.

The only issue I have with this signing is the reported salary, but that is Bradford's problem.

Its exactly the same people as were saying Bradford are financially fooked and can't afford a penny to buy anyone

Well said that man.

Signing overseas "also rans" just shows superleague's quick fix mentality. Franchising is supposed to give our kids a chance but will greedy/desperate super league clubs care less? It has already been suggested that a team will get the boot from Superleague so the quick fix merchants will be out in force.

Its much easier to get an "off the shelf" product than to take the effort to plan and to train and to nurture our own youth. - it makes my blood boil.

Then we get the complete numpties who come out with - I don't like smith cos he won't pick the young guns. Then another bigger set of numpties that complain that he has picked the wrong young guns (ie not from their team). Even worse you even get those who complain that he has picked young guns and not played those tried and tested (and failed) players.

Its time for RL and superleague to front a massive investment in youth and stop being an antipodean retirement home.

It will be interesting to reflect on the state of the game come the next world cup. I really, really hope that we have made some progress. A vibrant international team is the catalyst that raises the profile of our game and makes kids want to play.

But you will always find people who will say that about any rival. I personally would prefer to see strong superleague clubs who can develop their own youth - that will give a positive reflection on the health of the game and bolster the national team.

I think the issue that most people see is a lot of money has been spent on a player who "has been" good and is now near the end of his career. The £840K question is will he deliver at the highest level for another three years?

Oh no they are not - try 50% of
Sherwin is Top earner at Cas - Circa 150k

McGoldrick is a very wealthy man in his own right.

You'll find Westy isnt far behind either.

RW would have a heart attack if he had to pay 280k for a player.

They could cover one side of the ground with a roof for that money...at least the fans would benefit from it instead of watching a old man end up playing hooker as he can't run in the mud

Orfords move may not happen now,i hope we're not stuck with this money greedy fooker.

¿que? Source?

true mate, chris walkers agent and lawyers are trying to block the move

www.news.com.au/couriermail/spor ... 09,00.html

www.news.com.au/couriermail/spor ... 09,00.html

Like it or not, Nero and Tadulala have been two of Super League's better players in their positions these last few years. And I'm sure the others have made contributions. I know Bradford do not have young players to step into thos epositions. you seem to think any lad out of the academy will do, but how does it help Tomkins or Eastmond's development to be gliding past a spotty herbert in the opposition centres that they've been schoolboying since they were, er, schoolboys? Isn't the that the direct opposite of what we're hoping to achieve with Burgess and Ellis in the NRL?

Freeing up spots for young players in Super League seems reminiscent of cargo cults. You can build your bamboo control tower and have a bloke out on your carefully marked landing strip all you want, but those planes aren't coming.

The most obvious solution seems to be to try and sift through the greatest resource of young gifted athletes in the UK today - the players discarded by football clubs at 16 or younger. My experience as a teacher was that there are a load of lads for who football is a priority but they can't all play professionally, and some that get cut may just be better suited to RL.

Well for menzies & orford it is.



Big question is will the ex Manly players mix with the rest of the squad, or stop in a clique?, could Mcnamara handle a strong personality like Orford?

Soon find out...

Menzies has been playing like a 25 year old this past season, and has been quality, it's quite clear he hasn't come over to add a few 0's onto his bank account. Orford has got a few years left and I wouldn't say thats amazingly close to retirement. Is Wakefield now the retirement home of the Bradford Bulls? With Jeffries, Newton and Morrison going to them ?

There never was much hope.

Just a fools hope.

In terms of "blocking" Orford's move, I'm struggling to see WTF Orford and his employment have to do, even remotely, with Walker.

If Walker has a beef with Bradford, the he must do what he must do, against Bradford. But to even dream that he has any power or influence on who Matt Orford (or anyone else) works for is truly bizarre.

And given the RFL's rapid acceptance of Bradford's contract with Harris, form suggests Walker's on an utter no hoper down that channel too.

Chris Walker's agent seems certain they have a case against the Bulls. After the whole Greg Bird thing last year, Bradford must be wondering what they've got to do to sign a ridiculously expensive Aussie.

[urlhttp://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqnews/orford-deal-up-in-air/2009/11/18/1258219882719.html[/url

I think its more to do with the fact he was verbally agreed a contract, thus taking up the last quota spot.

That is my understanding of it anyway

[uIF[/u it turns out the club do have a binding agreement with Walker, and have to pay him off to get out of it, I guess it would count on next seasons cap?

Whatever was paid out would count pro rata over the term of his contract Asim, as I understand it. Depends how long a contract he was offered. I'm guessing 3 years.

But verbally, in this context, would clearly be utterly worthless. Apart from the obvious fact that the Bulls would hardly be likely to agree that yes, verbally, they did have a contract!

And there is nothing that I know of to stop Bradford signing another half dozen over-quota players. As long as by next season they correspondingly unloaded others off their quota, what is wrong with that?

Come to it, why can't they sign more players than the quota allows? It would be pretty dumb, and likely mean sanctions from the RFL, sure, but there is certainly no law against it!

The club could probably sign many quota / non fed trained players however the RFL would only allow them to register and play the number prescribed by the rules.

No.

We'd just not register him with the RFL.