I guess you can never have too much quality. There's always the risk of keeping everyone happy. I know young Burgess finished last season a little dis-enchanted as not at the fore-front of Bluey's favour and if Scruton had stayed I honestly don't think Burgess would be here long term. You've got to keep everyone happy. But, if we could get another prop in under the cap, keeping the squad happy and balanced then it would be nice. If we can't its' not the disaster some make out. As I said, we started last year in the same position which leads me to..........

No idea mate but I'd little idea about Burgess either other than knowing friends of the family and, obviously, knowing of what his brother could do. What i do know is if we don't give them an opportunity we will never know.

..and we've signed Buderus to add to the pack which means we've more quality at dummy half (fingers crossed in due course) which may off-set having lesser players in the back row (Like Worrall) if needed.

Perhaps but I'd rather throw a kid in personally. You never know what gem you may unearth. Manning has been 18th man a couple of times this year and I am keen to have a look at him at some point.

I mean what did emergency signing Ansemle really do for us last year that Allen, for example, couldn't have?

You'd have thought so but until he makes the 17 on matchday (or someone better informed lets on) it's unknown to you and I. [size=75(Yes and Queen fans all shout at once.)[/size



Of course you did, just a pity that your use of the English language came up short on this occasion.



Even rewinding to what you meant to say, Burgess had still made three SL appearances at the Quins in 2007 and would have presumably made several more that season had Leeds not recalled him when Quins were looking to make the signing permanent. Burgess was graded at SL level and good to go once Leeds saw fit. Burgess was 21 when given his chance and he's been there more or less ever since.

Well short, I know what I meant and thought I'd typed.



FWIW, I think we may be 1 player short in the forwards, however, I think the key thing is keeping our backrowers fit so Kirke can take over the role that Eastwood would appear to have been lined up for. If you've got options in the back row of Sinfield, Ablett, JJB, Ali, Worral, Allen, plus Diskin when Buderus is fit, then it frees Kirke up to take the pressure off the front row when and if Bluey sees fit. There is also Ambler and Manning in reserve who we'll never know if they're up to it if we don't give them a go.

It would also help if Smith, Gibson or Watkins could put together a string of performances to claim the right centre spot freeing Ablett up to concentrate solely on back row.

But as Burgess had already graded at SL level the point remains an irrelevance, IMO.



Fair enough. Leeds' squad is (for me) now a couple of players short overall and I've yet to see any evidence of Ambler, Manning or whoever to fill the breach. If Leeds manage to beat St Helens on Sunday then you'd imagine we will have to see them somewhere this season. On the other hand losing to St Helens this Sunday would leave Leeds with four blank weekends throughout the season to rest and patch the players back together again. It's the silver lining I don't want to have.

I think the problem would come if one of JP, Kylie, Bailey or Burgess were to pick up an injury. For the odd game I think Kirke is more than adequate to cover one of them to let them freshen up or rest a niggle, as I think has happened once this season already. Where he'd struggle would be if he had to do it for an extended period of time.

Kirke didn't struggle propping in a Grand Final against Saints.

I think we have shown that the squad can cope with 2 injures in the front and second row.

We've had Ali, Kirke and Bailey missing for 2 or more games this season,and have covered ok. I think that in 90% of games we can cover. But against Saints with Ali and Kirke out, we looked a little light up front. With a little luck with injuries it won't be an issue, and hopefully at the end of the season the youngsters that are getting game time with be massively improved, with their experience, meaning that if one were needed to be called upon in a cup final, they would do what was required of them.

This weekend should decide how much rest the players get. Lose and they should have an extra 4 weeks rest.

The fact that there are 3 hookers in the squad means that they probably plan to play with two hookers on most occasions. That being the case then they will go with either three props or three backrows in the squad which will allow rotation.

On occasion thewill go with three backroes, three props and an extra back.

This is fine until they get a serious injury (or more) and at that point they can then look to recruit a specific position.

It really makes you wonder why they tried to sign Eastwood for 2009 in the first place. What a waste of time and effort that was.

What a silly comment. You'll be getting no more concessions from me.

Not necessarily. Eastwood, from what I can gather, is a versatile player who can and has covered most forward positions and some back positions. If he had come that would have given the club a world cup winner with the flexibility to ensure that whatever setback the club had (playing wise) the club would be able to manage it.

The rejection of his visa provided a double whammy in that the club do not have the player for this season and have restricted recruitment due to the plans to bring him over next season.

The question then is, were the club right to agree to Eastwood deferring his move until 2010. I cannot answer that as I have no knowledge of the contracts or the commitments made by either party. Only time will tell.

You never know GH may sue an Aussie Club in 2010 for cohercing a player to sign for them having already committed to coming to the Rhinos.
He does have form for that with overweight players who like to think their a playmaker.

(And I don't mean G1)

How long was Kirke out for last season? I know he missed a large chunk of the games after an injury early doors, but I'm not sure of the details.

According to RL Fans Fantasy league stats he missed rounds 5 to 21 inclusive [urlhttp://www.slstats.org/p1202/Ian%20Kirke.html[/url

but I'm sure TVOC can confirm.

I know. Similar to your comments re Huddersfield.



That's pretty much it with just the WCC game to add at the beginning of that run. Hamstring injury that wouldn't mend wasn't it.

Yes, but I am prone to moments of silliness. You're a statistician for goodness sake. Let's respect the status quo eh?

That's a large chunk of the season. Did we sign someone to replace him last year?

Isn't having Kirke available this year like adding a new player to the squad?

During office hours perhaps but I could be silly in my spare time.

Anselme once it was recognised that it was longer term and he was available as a stop gap?

What you do in your spare time is your business. In my spare time I do the odd bit of legal work, between posting on here.

you see thats the thing that's tough for the believeists to explain away. However to be fair to them the club has not released a statement telling them what to think for a while.

Theres been some wiggling and middle ground occupancy from the yes men so take this thread as a victory boss.

Fulton is a versatile squad player. For those that rave about it he's even GF winning player.

Can't see him being on all that much. Wouldn't have been be a bad pitch hitter

There's a big difference in trusting your chief exec(given his track record and the club's success) and your coach (who know's better than anyone).
It's not GH 's fault we missed out on eastwood nor is it his doing if we can't sign a top drawer player right now.
It's also transpired we could have an invoice inbound from HMRC so maybe the club should wait before splashing any transfer money around.

Given that and the fact we are top of the league still and have some good young un's to supplement the squad why scream for a new signing like our season could be over if we don't get someone in now.??

Do you not trust the board??
Do you think it's bollox when GH say's there's money available for the right player??
I will always welcome signing's if the deal is right for the club and as many have pointed out we could be short if we hit a run of injuries but let's not forget we could of signed someone by then who is on that injured list!!
We could also use a youngster who step's up and prove's his worth.

have we got a youngster to step up?
have we got a tax bill coming?

surely a tax bill would not harm us that much. if so there has been some incompetant accounting over the last couple of years given the success and trappings that come with it

On yer first point mate i think we'll see ambler(prop) and liam brown(back-rower) this season at some point.
The article on the "image right's" loophole seem's to suggest we could have a bill incoming.
Would it have much of an impact i suppose that depend's on how much and how we have to re-pay it.
Like i said G if GH say's there's money available for the right player i'm inclined to believe him.
I do also believe we have a squad good enough to retain the title and win the cup,of course we need a bit of luck with injuries but who doesn't??
I also think the veratillity of our squad is a major plus also.

Unlike TVOC you don't appear to be able to discuss this in a grown up manner. He constructs a well thought out, articulate post and you jump from behind his coat tails spouting "ner ner ner ner, take that".

I'll continue to discuss this issue with him and leave you sucking on your drumstick lolly.