GH could of aready signed up players and also maybe got someone who was still under contract but his club has released him so the player could get a 2/3 yr contract from us. What is certain is that Gary has spent upto the salary cap!

maybe so the Bulls chairman (2009 season) said they were spending the up to the cap but was filled with mainly crap.

dont think Amor would go to Widnes, hopefully he'll come to wakefield

When did he make such a commitment? Do you have a link?

from the official site



Hetherington has also confirmed that the Rhinos will be spending their full salary cap for next season despite the costs of redevelopment work at the stadium. "It is true that we hope to commence this development in one of the toughest financial climates the country has faced for many decades however we are committed to improving our facilities for the future generations of supporters here in Leeds who expect to watch their team in a top class stadium. The current board have been responsible for the first piece of major development to the ground in over 70 years with the construction of the Carnegie Stand in 2006 and we are just as committed now, as we were then, to investing fully in our squad and rugby operation. We will be spending the full salary cap again and it is very important, of course, that we manage this in the most effective way."

[url=http://www.superleaguefans.com/leeds-rhinos/2011/08/31/headingley-carnegie-south-stand-faces-crucial-meeting.html[uLINKY[/u[/url

Is an interesting quote but it doesn't quite amount to a commitment.

it also doesn't mean we will be signing quality in the area's that it's needed

The salary cap has not increased for 10 years, so has decreased against inflation by over 30%, and by more against the cost-of-living. Spending the whole cap now should be no stretch at all for the (few) higher-turnover clubs, but also does not get you the same sort of buying power or team it would in 2004 or 2007.

It's quite conceivable that with improved contracts for Hall, Watkins and BJB kicking in and possibly (don't know how they work it, but it might work like this, and this might have kept us under the cap in previous years) back-loaded contracts for the long-termers like Burrow and Sinfield, we might not have massive room on the cap even with loss of Senior, Lauititi, Burgess and Cross. We should, if the cap's been properly managed, have *some*, but not necessarily four top players' worth.

Why is "we will be spending the full salary cap again" not a commitment?

It's a commitment to make a commitment, that commitment being to make a commitment to spending the full salary cap again and being committed to managing that full salary cap in the most effective way.

In light of funding set aside for the new stand, perhaps Leeds full salary cap for 2012 is significantly less than in 2011, hence the commitment to manage it in the most effective way?

I think GH was meaning we would be spending upto the £1.65m max as in previous years (club's turnover over £10m). However with the £/Aust$ exchange rate not been favourable we probably have got diminished spending power.
I saw on Newcastle Knights site that they are speculating if Buderus does not go back to the club they might sign Seu Seu from Manly! They reckon he's good. Is he still in the frame for the Rhinos?

Seu Seu would not be a player of 'similar quality' to Buderus (or whatever the criteria are to let Leeds release him). There's no point in signing average Aussies/Kiwis. Hopefully the Ben Cross saga has revealed that to GH.

On the Rhinos site sounds like Amor wants to stay at Leeds next season, in his own words "Loves The Club"

Say that three times fast.

Given we have lost 4 players - possible 5 if Buderus goes, we have renewed the contracts of Webb, Sinfield, Kylie, Kirke, Peacock all of which will be lower than their previous contracts given their age it suggests the room for scope is significant. Richard Moore will be on a low number too so unless he going to make some mega signings I cannot see how GH will get anywhere near the cap.

If he can save £300/400k a year for 3 years that is a big chunk of your stand cost?

Firstly, that is not all he said and as Keith points out above, there was enough in the remainder of the comment to allow any necessary "wriggling out".

Regardless, even if that is all he said it's nothing more than a statement. A commitment is a pledge or a promise that creates an obligation. His statement falls short of that.

Hetherington always made it clear that a Wembley trip was worth £250,000 to the club. That is a wembley trip that can not be budgeted for, and a sum that is therefore a bonus to your budgeted expectations.

£250,000 is a significant chunk alone to that building project. It will more than get them over the interest and capital on initial outlays until the stand starts earning again.

The use of the word 'again' is also significant.

Gotcha, that would be the case when they were able to sell all their tickets and maximise the other revenue stream that go with it i.e. Coaches which I think was close to 100k clear profit in its hey day and merchandising. This year GH was bemoaning the lack of activity regarding ticket sales and the club shop was offering 33% discount on all merchandise on Friday.

What part of "We will be spending to the full salary cap again" fails to create an obligation?

So knock a percentage off and you get a more reflective figure. However, what ever way it is looked at the club received a massive bonus this year again which will have not been in the budgeted figures. Therefore, IMO the new build (at least for the next season) shouldn't be having a an impact on the playing squad.

There will be no impact on the playing squad just as the CEO implies.

The best bit is he says this with a (relatively) straight face with the ink still drying on a contract for Richard Moore. Does he not realise the festival for this type of work is in Edingurgh not Leeds. That said Gary has always rocked the 'fringe' look.

What part of it does ceate an obligation?

"I intend to work very hard for the remainder of today and will no waste any more of my employer's time on RL Fans." Is a statement. It does not create an obligation.

See the difference between what you said and what GH said, was your use of the word "intend" and his use of the word "will".

If you had said "I will work very hard for the remainder of today and will not waste and more of my employer's time on RL Fans", then you are making a commitment, whereas your use of the word "intend" leaves your [istatement[/i, somewhat more open to differing interpretation.

Of course you could be implying that GH is simply not telling the truth, but that wouldn't be your intention now would it?