You lot would not believe what I've just been told... so, I won't be telling any of you.

Please tell, pm me.

It would make a welcome change a mod sending me a pm without a warning or ban

Pryce in frame for return to Bradford Bulls


Leon Pryce is high on the Bulls’ wanted list as their off-season shopping spree shows no sign of slowing.

The Telegraph & Argus understands Pryce has been targeted for a potential return to his hometown club as they aim to bounce back from two seasons of on-field failure.

Sources close to the player have previously indicated the St Helens stand-off would be keen to return to Odsal at some point but it is believed that possibility is now stronger than ever.

Although the 28-year-old Bulls academy product has one-year left on his current deal at Knowsley Road, Saints could be willing to let him go due to the emergence of talented youngsters Jonny Lomax and Gary Wheeler and the arrival of a new coach in Royce Simmons.

A sticking point could be the neck injury which ended Pryce’s season. He is likely to be sidelined until early next year following an operation this month, possibly putting him in doubt for the start of the new campaign.

Half-back has become a priority in the Bulls’ recruitment drive after the troubles they experienced due to the lack of a specialist No 6 and No 7 at the back end of this year.

After Matt Orford’s season was ended by a shoulder injury, they were forced to mix and match at pivot and won only one of their remaining 13 games.

Brett Kearney, Danny Addy and Heath L’Estrange all had to spend time at scrum half in their team-mate's absence, even though it is not their natural position.

With Orford almost certain to cut short his stay at Odsal in favour of a return to the NRL and Paul Sykes set to return to centre after spending much of this season at stand-off, Bradford are in the market for two halves.

Crusaders scrum half Rhys Hanbury – a key figure in the Welsh side’s recent run to the play-offs – is another rumoured target but there could be as many as four more new arrivals before Super League resumes again in February.

Wouldn't be overly gutted, especially if it meant a top class outside back coming in.

Would be a big miss though, he's been magnificent in 2010 and we would be gambling on two of three players not known for their fitness keeping fit (Lomax/Wheeler/Eastmond).

We do have a lot of young talent in the halves in those three, plus Gaskell. The worry would be if Eastmond leaves at the end of next year, we'd have little continuity in a key area.

This is a new one.
Arguably our most dangerous player, would be difficult to replace. I can't see him going cheap and I'm not sure how much coin the bulls have got going spare.

As I put in the rumours thread it would be the most ridiculous decision the club ever made. He's 28 and assuming his back injury isn't chronic he will be in his prime next season. He is our best player by a distance and the likes of Lomax, Wheeler and Eastmond won't fill a seasons worth of appearances between them, which means someone else playing probably 50% of games in the halves.

I'm a tad worried to be honest. Gardner is rumoured to have left, Meli and Flannery haven't signed new deals yet have they? And now the Pryce smoke is starting to flame.

So then shall we start the negotiations

Hes going nowhere and contract extension talks are due to start after christmas. Feel free to book mark this page so I can tell you all, "I told you so".

Fingers crossed.

Trust me

The rumour is that Pryce could be one of four signings made by the BUlls in coming weeks.

Meli, Pryce, Gardner and Flannery would do nicely!

Not totally out of the question!

Bulls have lost our two biggest earners in Orford and Menzies, as well as hopefully securing some compo for releasing Orford, and offering reduced terms to some of the out of contarct players from last season. that leaves us able to compete for at least two big earning signings or one big signing and a few less high earning ones. Walker / Sibbit / Raynor are all on alost pay and play deals, so we can bring in the numbers if we have to!
Our weakness in the last few years has been our ability to score tries through our outisde backs. With Ainscough, raynor, Gardner , Meli, Platt, Kearney, AhVan and walker competing for places, as well as HAlley, and Vinny Finegan, crookes etc we would have a decent level of competition and quality in the backs.

Pryce at 6 would help young Southernwood to develop and having Sykes as utility cover would be ok.

this is really just a pipedream though isnt it!?!

do we need another thread on this?

None of them are i suppose. I reckon a half back pairing of Pryce and Hanbury would be pretty nifty.

One thread was one too many. Leon has aways said he loves playing for the Saints. Given that Bradford are trying to sell 10k season tickets it make sense that they are linking themselves with big name but the chance of them pulling this off is low. If they had some money then it would be possiblity but Bradford don't have a penny.

I agree that players like Gaskell, Lomax and Wheeler will need to be given time in the halves but I can't see this being anymore that wishful thinking by the Bulls.

I can see him going at the end of his contract - it's his home-town club and he chose to stay in Bradford so the journey must be a pain - but I can't see him going next year.

If by some stretch of the imagination he did want a release, we shouldn't grant a freebie but instead ask for a hefty fee to compensate.

would be a ridiculous decision to let him go now, unless:

- his injury is worse than anticipated, and he is going to miss the first few months of 2011
- he is desperate to leave
- the transfer fee is at least £250k

if 2 of those 3 are met, I would let him go - if not, keep him.

Leon has said he'll be a Bull in 2011.

That's good enough for me.

i'd prefer an official statement!
and when did leon say this? did you ring you out of the blue to inform you?
or did he mean in november 2011?

Do you honestly think you'll get £250k for a player with 1 year on his contract recovering from injury?

I wouldn't have thought that it will be over 100k.


We got 100k for Burgess, in a similar situation - he'd have left in a year for nothing. Given that Burgess is younger, and has the potential to be one of the best players in world RL I don't think Saints could command over double that for Leon Pryce.

We be happy with £100k, Jonny Thurston wont be cheap though for us.

i think he is worth more to Saints for 12 months than £100k. he is an experienced half back (our only one), and with the likes of Eastmond, Lomax and Wheeler unable to play more than 1 game a month, we should keep him.

even if he leaves in 12 months, his experience and contribution to the development of the young players is worth more than £100k.

only if he makes a contribution to their development and doesnt just spit his dummy out and go missing for the year because you wouldnt grant his release request.

not like leon's got any previous form for sulking when he doest get his own way is it............

Oh, I dunno. Give it a week or so and we could probably get him for peanuts.

You can have Leon if we can have Him www.superleague.co.uk/profile.php?id=3252 and him www.superleague.co.uk/profile.php?id=3251 We will even throw Gardner in if you want

You can have Leon if we can have Him www.superleague.co.uk/profile.php?id=3252 and him www.superleague.co.uk/profile.php?id=3251 We will even throw Gardner in if you want