Mmm, a shame, but I wouldn't worry too much. Leeds have that young centre Watkins coming through, and while Smith was a good player, he isn't irreplacable.

We're always going to lose (and gain) the odd player to the other code,its only natural, but since their own professionalism has developed I think the idea of them spending a lot of big money on trying to convert our lot is losing appeal.

the obvious conclusion is that they are paying Lee Smith less than the players they have released.

Or alternatively those that are leaving are getting more and he is getting what they were getting- who knows

Not suprised but absolutely gutted. Englands 3qtr line just got a whole lot weaker and Leeds' isnt any better.

The Frenchies are throwing a lot of money about at the moment, and Wasps have just lost England (and Lions) international Ricky Flutey to them, who would've commanded quite a wedge.

€800k for Jonny Wilkinson to partner SBW at Toulon if I remember rightly (as well as plenty of other quality international players next year).

A thread about a Leeds player moving to Wasps RU and yet you still manage to get
Wigan into it. Obsessed much?

The biggest non event in the history of the game.


To say he is an average player its to wildly overstate his ability.

How interesting. No, really.

Was it the austrailian world cup open bus tour last november?

I would hope that a Pom wouldnt even try and talk about the World Cup final in any way, shape or form.

Not after the pathetic performance you idiots put up!

Got to say that I agree with League Freak, if he was as good as some people seem to think he is, he'dhave kept 1 position as his own, but in the last couple of years he's played Wing, Centre and Full Back. He made one good appearance in a big game, and found himself playing for England in the world cup (as did Calderwood in fairness) although whether he should have been in that game after his disgraceful actions the week before is debateable.

He's not a tremendous loss for league, as someone on the Wigan board said, he's more in the Karl Pryce, Chris Ashton bracket, as opposed to Jason Robinson.

1 team wins and the rest lose.
2nd loser or 5th loser it's still the same

It would be to a Pom.

It is very concerning when the RFU start signing league players that are young and have the abilities to actually make it in Union. Previous signings i.e. Farrell, Raynor, SBW and so on have shown very little thought to what these players would actually be like as Union players.

If the RFU have signed Smith then it may be the start in a change to their League recruiting policy. Which is again a worry.

Its a big loss of Leeds but i imagine they will have a young guy that will come through and will be just as good.

He is actually signing for Penrith.

The problem with the Smith deal is that he's out of contract and so the club won't receive any money.
If league clubs were getting big fees then it would be a little easier to take.

The RFU haven't signed anybody, Wasps have. The RFU refused to put their hands in their pockets for signings from League after getting their fingers burned with Farrell.

True

Danny Williams?

people said that about Pryce, Walker and Ashton.

He cant be that desperate!

Well not really, he was terrific most of last season when he played, he also was one of Leeds' best players in all the big games last season.

Its more of a blow for England than it is for Leeds. Been back to back champions Leeds can easily replace him with a similar player from the NRL. England may have to go back to playing players like Wellens and Gardner.

Nahhhh Ashton was style over substance, Walker is more of a hard runner than a natural rugby player (not a bad punt by the RFU but still a loser) and Pryce is was the same.

I think that Smith is more of a Rugby player with well rounded passing running and, importantly for RU, kicking skills.

I usually joke with RU fans when they say my team signed such and such and he does not do this, this and that. I just say "Of course you silly idiots he has never been able to do that, if your team had actually watched him play before signing him they would know that".

The best ones have been the Welsh fan that complained that Iestyn Harris was erratic and slow

and the England fan that complained that Lesley counld not defend or Kick

.

Smith shows that some Union coaches have started sky plusing Superleague matches and have been looking before buying. This is a very dangerous and worrying development.