Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 1:08 am  

He was chasing a deal whilst in Australia behind the clubs back. Once that fell through, he thought he could waltz back into Headingley like nothing had happened. Gary was quite rightly waiting with Nenes P45.

His lack of commitment meant he often turned up to training late, or not at all, and apparently this caused a bit of tension in the locker room. It's probably understandable why Cameron was so blunt about him not coming back from Oz.

If you look at his playing career, there is a pattern of him moving clubs roughly every 12 months over the past decade. That probably tells it's own tale. I wouldn't be surprised if he stays at Salford until he gets a better offer and does a vanishing act again.

It's a shame as he is a great player. With the right attitude, he could be one of the best around.

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 1:09 am  

Not sure why we wouldn't hold on to his registration and require a fee if he was going to join another team, particularly a Super League team.

I mean if we are looking to sign a Salford player, and he goes to Salford, then we do look like chumps if he goes for nowt and we have to pay a big fee.

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 1:15 am  

Maybe it is a legality thing? Do they still have to pay wages if they hold the registration as part of the contracts?

I'm just glad he is gone and someone else's problem, to be honest. Let it be a learning curve.

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 1:34 am  

In one sense if he doesn't want to play for us there is nothing we can do, but in another sense what's there to stop us saying to Brodie Croft we will give you a bigger paycheck if you walk out on Salford so we don't have to pay a fee.

Is it only a problem if you ask someone to do it, or are players just free to break contracts whenever they feel like it.

UK employment laws don't give employees unfair dismissal rights until they have 2 years of "permanent" employment. Can you just sack a player anytime, or do the games bylaws prevent it?

I'm genuinely confused here.

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 5:54 am  

FlexWheeler wrote:

What’s that supposed to mean？

That he went on paternity leave never to return, 'i ain't dun nuffin wrong guv'.

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:22 am  

As with Austin, the irony of him ending up at a club that have (potentially) lost its 2 main assets to the club they shafted will be slightly amusing.

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:12 am  

Could holding his registration have quota implications? Perhaps that's why he's been let go so easily.

In any case, I think there's no point dragging stuff out with this guy. Despite obvious talent, he's clearly a rotten egg, and good riddance is the best policy in my view.

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:01 am  

if he had this reputation then someone at the club didn't do any background checks. a couple of phone calls should have rung warning bells. surely all clubs do that. they certainly do in other sports

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:17 am  

Sometimes you take a punt I guess. Don't matter now, we didn't pay a fee and we've now signed someone better who wasn't available when we signed McDonald.

Re: OUT 2024 | Nene MacDonald - Released : Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:48 am  

We took a punt based on Smith's relationship with Nene and the fact he was already over in England suggested he was settled OK. It didn't work out. The main thing is we moved decisively to replace him, which was a sign that the club recognised this off-season wasn't the one to mess about in, particularly with the upset he seemingly caused other players.

I reckon in plenty of recent years we would have tried to get Macdonald back, but am glad we haven't. He's a hell of an athlete and I wish him well to be honest. I'm far more interested in the team we're building.