I read in the paper on Monday that Warrington are after a prop from Featherstone instead.

Technically, Leigh can deny him a move to whichever club(s) do not meet their valuation whilst the player is under contract.

Realistically, as the BBC article says he only signed a one year contract at the start of this season, I'll assume he'll be a free agent at the end of the year. That means that he could depart to whichever club he wanted to at that time. Leigh will know this makes their negotiating hand rather weak. Hopkins could, if he so wished, decline to move to any club which made an acceptable bid for him and wait until the end of the season to walk for nothing.

I'm guessing he would be able to negotiate a deal for next season now.

However, he'll be on pittance at a halfbaked club like Leigh and would probably want to move now so he can start earning a proper wage sooner.

Thats a bit harsh considering how our own club are being "misrun" at the moment in relation to contracts and signings!

Our own club is run within good corporate governance, we are just not winning everything in this current period. Leigh are a proud club with proud fans and I am afraid when saddened is in this mood red vee is more appropriate.

It's not meant as a criticism. What I meant is that they're surely a semi-pro club, the salary cap is somewhere around the £105,000 a year level for all playing staff? That by 20 players is an average of £7,500, roughly minimum wage.

The Championship salary cap is £300,000.

Is 1st July the new anti-tampering deadline? Did I read that somewhere? I guess any signings will be announced after this date.

Are you sure? Saddened is "always right".

I think it's 1st June for Super League and assume it's the same for the Championship.
Tickle to Widnes was announced yesterday.

Yeh, that's right. Koukash should make the news again soon with his 6 signings.

I can see it now - Happy, Sleepy, Grumpy, Sneezy, Dopey & Bashful.

Should just change your name to clueless

Yep I'm sure they will announce some signings soon. With the quality of player they are talking to will put them ahead of us next year providing they all turn out.

Maybe we can take some of their rubbish off them for next year.

Saints Wigan and Warrington are all after Sam. He signed a new 3 year deal at Leigh so a fee will be payable. Noise on the street is he has signed for Wigan. Was only offered £15,000 from Saints.

We won't have offered anything. We don't buy players anymore. If the is a fee we are out the race.

Surely not? Wigan won't outbid Warrington.

Not strictly true mate. Quote from John Kear when we signed Alex Walmsley:

"They have paid a compensation package".

Now I don't know how much money we actually gave them (it won't have been much), but we did at least get the cheque book out. Surely this must go down as the bargain of the century.

Yeah , maybe they will let us have McGoldrick , I hear he's an amazing 6

And that's just Meli

If I was Sam Hopkins, there is no way I would sign for St Helens ahead of Wigan/Warrington. OK Saints are a in SL, unlike Leigh (well there is no promotion), but they have been on a downward spiral since Millward left.
Famous old club, but that's about all right now....Don't do it Sam !!!!

since millward left? did millward coach us in 2006?!

If Sam wants to have more chance of being a first team regular you'd imagine he'd come to Saints

Sam Hopkins will not be coming to saints. We are not in for him.

No, but we are in for a blind prop with one leg.