Think it's all a bit strange. Not a good sign unless an awesome signing in comng in!

Only a few players constitue as an awesome signing such as: Benji Marshall, Inglis, Hayne, so be prepared to be dissapointed

Come on Andy, nothing should surprise you on here any more. Don't you know, a player who has expressed a long held desire to leave Leeds and who refused a new conrtact is every reason to get het up at GH for not making him stay!!!!!

"You have nothing to back up that we offered him a new contract. You have nothing to back up that he turned down a new contract"

Sound familiar?

And yet here you are not five minutes later, stating as fact what Leeds did and didn't do and what Luke Burgess did and didn't want.

You can't have it both ways.

I guess the hint re Burgess is in the wording of the statement made

"His demands to leave "

quite a strong wording when you think about it?

Thanks pal but my player gauge is well calibrated.

Those players you mentioned will never play in SL

Awesome would be shilington, kaufusi?

Is it just me that gets more excited about the potential appearance of a player like Stevie Ward or one of his contemporaries in the 1st time than some Antipodean over here for all the wrong reasons?

It doesn't sound familiar at all Andy. You are getting your wires crossed.

I know for an absolute fact that Burgess has not been offered a new deal from Leeds. I also know as an absolute fact that Burgess has made no definate plans yet on leaving the country at the end of the year.

Like it's been said, he has a strrong desire to go and probably will, but nothing is in place yet. His mum does not want to go, and neither he or his brother (who also has a desire to go) want to leave her alone. The only way they are going is if she does.

No, and had we had a antipodean in the positions Ward plays you might have a point.

But then again usually you keep banging on about staying loyal to past it players, who ironically are holding back the development of players like Stevie Ward.

So what exatly do you want?

I'm interested to see what Leeds intend doing with Ward as regards his best position.

He's more a runner than a ball player, although he does have decent hands (think Paul Sculthorpe and you get the idea). Been all over the place in the age groups at Leeds though - 6, 13 and second row IIRC.

Longer term, he's probably a replacement for Sinfield but it will necessitate Leeds changing the way they play to accommodate a running loose forward rather than a playmaker. Short term, is his physical development far enough advanced that he can cope with playing second row?

Stevie Ward has not been held back. He's being handled perfectly. He's in the middle of his exams and is very young. I'd hope to see him be gradually introduced to 1st team over the next couple of years and, if goes well be a regular by 2014.

And I've never suggested we be loyal to "past it players".

If it doesn't sound familiar, then you've got short term memory issues...

It would appear then that you (and only you) are in possession of these "absolute facts"? I presume these have come either directly from Luke himself in that case, or from Gary Hetherington? Which is it?

I'd imagine if we don't chuck him in the 1st team in the next 2 weeks Gotcha will claim we've held him back out of loyalty to a past it Sinfield.

Extremely happy to see Cross go.

Complete opposite for Burgess. He's been one of our best props this season, I don't understand why McDermott doesn't play him? Something has gone on behind the scenes I think...

Andy, his reference to the Burgess's mother's role in this evidences to me that Gotcha has absolutely no facts whatsoever and no understanding of the Burgess' family dynamics. He couldn't be wider of the mark.

It's not for sharing on here but I'll tell you Monday.

There is not only me and me only in possession of these "absolute facts". Take it as a guarantee though, both existing UK brothers will not be in Aus next year unless their mum goes, no matter what the desires or rumours are.

And what do you have to "back up"?

[url=http://richiespedding.blogspot.com/Maybe, just maybe, but then, he wouldn't, not again, could he?[/url

Absolute poppycock.

I hate to do this to you, but I [iknow[/i you're talking BS so I have no choice.

Are you sure it was Luke Burgess you were talking to about this? Could you have mistaken him for someone else again?

Hmm could be. That blouse and skirt was a bit confusing.

Never mind, I'll just sit smugly in the knowldege that there is BS all over this thread, with your name all over it.

Wait for it, wait for it.........1.....2....3

Disappointed to see Burgess go although he was always going to sign for a NRL club at the end of the season. Cross was a poor signing and not up to the Rhinos standads. By releasing him it frees up an overseas place so does this mean a possible signing during this season and what position?

Nope. Don't bring my into your Gareth dispute.

This is a friendly one between me and him. One which I am quite confident on the knowledge this time.

Is this Phil Daly? only I was talking to him in the Long Bar the other night...

Not when you were dissing TVOC for bemoaning the loss of Broughton to keep Donald.