[urlwww.superleague.co.uk/article/31531/kirke-in-dark-over-leeds
[/url

The plot thickens.

I actually do feel a little sorry for him: it does seem badly/unfairly handled.

No don't feel sorry for either him or bailey.
Right decision to move them on.

Was told last year was wanted, this pre season told that first team performances would be limited, and decided to go. Was just blocking the youngsters. Thought you would have been happy!!!!

Blooming heck, we piggy backed him for long enough

I know he wasn't well loved by most but it is a little harsh to have your employer shift the goalposts like that late on.

Because he's ended up at Wakey it doesn't look too bad but what if they and no other SL club had any room left to fit him in by that stage. Like I said, he wasn't a favourite but doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a fair chance to sort his future out.

Also he got told he wasn't going to get much game time in 2015 NOT that he had to leave so really he could've stayed and picked up a wage here for another year knowing he probably wouldn't have to contribute (yes yes I know, cue the he never did anyway line but there's a difference between not taking many carries and happyily knowing you'll be sat in the stands most weeks.) So a bit fair play to that.

Why is he confused? Clearly he isn't.



Pretty clear. He's 34 years old and was not an integral part of the team. It appears to have been pretty clear.

Oh wait, it doesn't seem to have sunk in.



Kirke's confusion may only be down to Kirke.

"Me and Bails (Bailey) got told at the same time"

So Bailey wasn't told back in April he'd be moved on then after the missing training incident.

Don't feel sorry for the guy at all.How he managed to eek out almost a decade at the club will always be a mystery to me

Mr Kirke must have a completely different view on his importance as a player to this club to most people to think that the loss of himself (and Bailey and Clarkson for that matter) must trigger a massive shopping spree to cover the loss. Facts are he, and they, were blocking a route for the younger players and Hetherington has finally seen this and got rid.

Be interesting to see how he goes this year at Wakefield with the spot light on and where he will be expected to put in a considerable shift, without the luxury of hiding behind more established players.I feel it may be beyond him.

He was told in April to find a new club, this is his last at Leeds.

As for Kirke, don't know why people are picking up on his comments. He is right, they only got rid to make the Mossop signing. That failed and no replacement, but he was still gone. He is only saying it like if is. Difference is that despite the no signing, we are probably better off.

BM tried to get rid of bailey this time last year. hated his attitude

Or maybe Kirke was also told in April to move on, but there has been some journalistic license used to exaggerate how little time had to sort it out..?

I guess if you have been somewhere 9 years, only having about 5 months might feel like 'late notice' for having to sort out alternative employment.

A part of me lacks too much sympathy because (as others have said) if Kirke looked objectively at the facts (ie. his age, amount used, others around him, etc) he should have thought on 'hmm, I might be close to the front of the queue if they do decide to give someone the chop'.

For my money Kirke acquits himself very well with his comments. He was obviously asked about his departure from Leeds, gives his understanding on what transpired and makes it very clear he holds no ill feeling about how he was treated.

I also don't understand the downer on him as a player promoted by some. He was never a superstar, but he did the job he was asked to in accordance with his abilities and (presumably as he was with the club for 10 years) the expectation of the [size=150coaches[/size he played for. I can not think of a club in Superleague that doesn't have players who perform the same sort of role that Kirke did for Leeds. If you want to watch a team where everyone is a superstar, I suspect you are watching the wrong sport. What you're after may be found in Manchester or Chelsea where the money of foreign zillionaires ensures that even the guy that makes the tea has a PhD in hot water infusion.

I've totally forgot about him already

Ol' Roman would ahve been better off saving money on the water infuser and investing a bit more in Chelsea's defence - maybe then they could have kept BCAFC (more) at bay!

Up the Bantams.

But picked him religiously from CC semi until end of last year. Go Mac!

I was and I am happy that Kirke (and Bailey) will no longer be selected .....McDermott can't can he somehow? Hope they're not dual registered



No..where I have the element of some sympathy is on his claimed late delivery of the bad news on his continued employment. As Printer says, telling him so (apparently) late could have meant he would have found it very difficult to find new employment. That's not fair regardless of who you are.

Orrrrr......he only got told very late on, as did Bailey, after the season ended. Otherwise they'd have gotten the on pitch farewells like others have previously and also like BJB at th awards night been given a sort of recognition of their services awards.....kinda like the one presented to them at the Wakey Boxing Day game......well for the one of them that turned up. It's clear from those actions that when Leeds left the field after the Catalans defeat neither knew they wouldn't be playing for Leeds again.

No he wasn't. More like after the defeat to Catalan when he didn't want to continue to Train as though we were still in the Grand Final, so fell out with the Coaching Staff. This is directly from a current Leeds Player.

I understand that but at the same time they are not in permanent positions (in the sense that they won't be able to do that job ever-more, like some professions). So many of you have pointed out on here that Bailey and Kirke should have been looking over their shoulders, throughout the 15 months I have been on here. My point is as a professional sportsman (with more limited talents - which is totally fine and as valuable to the team overall as your showboaters are) you should really be able to half-anticipate that something might happen and you might be 'at risk'.

If you look how little they both played the back part of the season, if that was me, even if I had been told / suggested I would be kept on I'd be asking the level of gospel behind such a statement.

It is a shame (particularly moreso for Kirke, who seems to have always kept his head down and done his best) that they were left hung out to dry a bit but likewise were they not asking BMc and were their agents not sounding out other clubs when they stopped playing as often (bearing in mind their ages and that both didn't have that long left on their deals).

What people say and do are not the same - if I was told I would be kept on but then wasn't being played, the clubs actions' would be speaking louder than their words to me.

If both had contracts then they would surely have stayed at Leeds on their existing terms until another club came in for them.
That happened for both players so presumably neither is worse off financially than if they'd stayed at Leeds.
Kirke comes out of this better than Bailey IMV, but I guess that should not come as a surprise given my perceptions of their respective characters.
My other thoughts on both players are that Kirke was unlucky in that he didn't make the step up to SL level until his mid 20s so too late to benefit from earlier exposure to conditioning, strength work, fitness training generally & skills development. He was always playing catch-up with those who had come through the higher level academy system.
Bailey's problem was the exact opposite, he came through at a very young age without having the mental maturity to handle it. Something we see with a lot of early developers.
Such a pity for both players, but that's life I suppose.
But mustn't feel too sorry for either since they both were part of the most successful era in the Rhinos history with the medals to prove it.

Kirke looked very subdued when he picked up the Challenge Cup , but that might the way he is anyway. Future generations though when they look at the Club history they will see his name on all those Trophy winning teams

We already had this two months back. I am totally correct on it, and have no need to name any sources. If people want to believe Bailey was only told at end of season, then good luck with you, that's your prerogative. I am comfortable knowing differently, and why I have posted he was going end of season since April.

I'll believe a Leeds player over you any day of the week.

Good for you. Your still wrong though, and information is outdated.

You're.



I miss Wheels.