Isnt Eastwood on the record saying that he signed for the money? Not indicative that he is on a huge wedge, just more than he was in Oz.

I doubt he was cheap but I guess Bluey thought we needed him as why else would he want to sign to sign him?

I don't know where Tad got the idea about Eastwood being cheap, probably the same place as the "quotes" he supplied.

On signing him though, there's a difference between wanting to have a good player (and a coach will want as many of those as possible) and a team needing a player.

Where do you think the team needs strengthening either this season or next?

Smith was right. We needed to sign a proven in the off season and a back row forward when it was clear Greg (Billy Bunter) Eastwood was not coming. It should not have been left so long. The replacements simply are not up to standard yet. We have the added problem of Ali's regular unfitness and Lee Smith maybe going to Union plus the usual injuries. What if Senior gets a long term injury?

In addition to these squad weaknesses IMO there is another factor this season. The coach has a game plan based on defence and not attack. He has had us committing 3 and 4 players to tackle one man. This is fine when defending your own line but it has had a negative effect on the sharpness of the side. They all look tired and when all that effort is put in and they still let in 5 tries is also saps the confidence.

We must return to a game plan based on attack from the start of a game and not give the inititive to the opposition which is what we have been doing all season. We have the players for an attacking style and it is what the paying public want to see.

Whatever went on on the pre-season training field was wrong. They all look worn out with no form or sharpness with the exception of Lee Smith.

To end on a positive point. Bluey said he didn't want us to peak too soon this season - fairs fair - he has got that part of his plan right!

So Richie if Leeds didn't think they needed Eastwood why did they want to sign him - because they thought they would give him a couple of years in the UK or because they genuinely thought their was a weakness in the squad?


Not all players are going to improve some simply do not have the ability and plateau and some players will regress as age and condition effect them.

Will Senior be as good as he was? very unlikely not even Canute could turn back the tide. Does getting regularly concussed help Burrow's form?

If you are a top side you need top players in key positions centre is one of them it is the major strike position in most sides to not have a quality centre is an issue as it limits your attacking options and you become easier to defend against.

As for the Saints backline I would have Wellens, Gidley, Gilmour, Gardener, Pryce and Long.

The priority at the moment should be signing Lee Smith to a long term contract.
Across the squad there are no glaring weaknesses that demand an immediate signing. What we should be doing is looking for any player who comes at a good quality/cost ratio. I believe Eastwood (but don't know what he cost) fell into that category.
Longer term, we're strong at fullback as long as we have Webb and Smith contracted.
We have enough on the wing, but should be looking at whether BJB can replace Donald in a couple of years.
Centre should see Watkins & Smith as the longer term solution until Webb leaves, and then we need to find a centre or fullback, with Smith taking the other spot, and I reckon Smith will succeed Webb at fullback.
We're set at halfback*
I'm comfortable with the whole forward group, although we need to think about how long Ali and Peacock will be around. I see Kirke moving to prop at some point.
*At hooker, we're good for now, but will need a successor to Buderus, and I'd be looking to find a hooker/scrum half type who can add some zip around the PTB. That shouldn't be a big money signing though, but a development player.

I have already said why we tried to sign him. Did you read it?



You would really have Wellens over Webb, Gilmour over Senior and Gardner over Donald?

Once again you are being obtuse needing/wanting - GH does not spend it doesn't have to if he thought the player wasn't needed he would not be looking to spend a big chunk of money - Eastwood is not an academy player on 10k who might make it

Not at all. I am being very clear. There is a difference between needing and wanting. It's about price vs benefit.

Put it this way if an analogy helps - you get offered a nice Ferrari (ignore servicing, insurance and resale for the purposes of this) for £30K. It's a lot better than your Mini Cooper. You decide to buy it, but by the time you've checked your bank account it's gone, and you can't have it. Doesn't mean you needed that Ferrari, or even a new car for that matter.

Definitely Wellens over Webb and Gilmour over Senior both are far more consistent and significantly better defenders than their counterparts. On Donald it depends which side he plays you are saying he plays on the same side as Gardener because it suits your arguement his record more than stands up to Donalds

I'm comparing Donald to Gardner because they both play right wing this season.
I find your other two decisions odd.

You raise some interesting point's at times mate but that IMHO is bollox!

This is professional sport not some boy racer whim - you do not go out and pay big money because you want a player you do it because you think the squad needs it - especially if you are GH - so they got Buderus because they wanted him - no they got Buderus because McClennan wanted to play with two hookers so they needed another player of Diskin's quality. GH tried to sign Soliola why because the squad needed another centre if the intention was to convert Smith to be a centre why did GH try and sign a centre? it was because the centre didn't materialise that Smith all of sudden became a centre - a position he had never played before!!!

That is your opinion - Webb will never be the same player again - spinal injuries for a player in a high collision sport!!!

Gilmour is a much better defender than Senior and he will play for at least another 2/3 seasons how much longer will Senior play - he struggles to catch the ball now.

So that's it then after a few games back from a serious injury that's taken over 6 mths to recover from your writing him off?????

David Senior has two bad games on the trot and you have written him off?
Webb we'll have to wait and see be I think as usual you are knee jerking here.

Webb since his return in the SL Reg Rds has gone from:

44 metres V Wigan to 65 metres V St Helens to 72 metres V Catalans to 202 metres V Bradford. Still waiting for the Salford figures.

The team has looked shot more than Webb has.

Senior is 35 years old he will not get better be fair this will be his last season his form is poor which as the season progresses is unlikely to improve as age and condition takes over - he has been a great player but even he cannot turn back the clock.

Webb I suggest you watch him more closely his mobility and speed of movement are not what they were something you would expect from a serious spinal injury. He looks a shadow of the player he was - one can only imagine the pain he must be in after a game. The same was said of Diskin - he has never been the same player and this 3 years later.

He is the FB he gets 10 metres everytime the ball is kicked to him so 100 metres in a game where you are on the back foot should be a minimum how do these stats compare to the previous two seasons?

Not the point I was getting at. The point was that stat was improving game by game as Webb gets back in the swing.

And while Senior can't turn the clock back you had little difficulty turning it forward on his behalf unless you actually think the great one is 35?

How old is he?

On Webb he stats improved the more Leeds were on the back foot - they defended more against Bradford than the did against Wigan so he is bound to make more yards would you not agree?

It's just the same David. If you're going to be as hard nosed about it as you suggest, then we need an awful lot less. Mid table finishes and 10k crowds could come with playing salary costs cut by £500K.

It's a want. A want that came because a good deal was on offer. Once that deal has gone, it doesn't mean you still have a need.

32 for the next 9 days and then 33 for the rest of this season.



To an extent yes and Webb's metres against Wigan aren't exactly representative as he started the game on the bench. Against Bradford his 23 carries were the most by any Leeds player, next best was Peacock with 21. Leeds made 352 tackles V Bradford but missed another 44 according to Opta. There again away at St Helens they missed an even more staggering 50.

I heard yesterday that Senior is off to Carnage next season .... So, a good chance of a couple of caps for England before hanging up his boots for good. Just think about the additional Ebay opportunities, Keith !