: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:57 pm  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

I'm really coming from the point of view that no SL side should sign any Aussie/Kiwi unless they are real quality, if at all possible. An overseas rosta of Webb, Donald, Delaney, Leuluai, Buderus, Lauti'iti and possibly Eastwood is far, far too many IMO and frankly depressing. We have after all managed to win the GF three times with never with more than five overseas players - last year only three.

If Delaney turns out to be solid but not spectacular, will people care that Coady, Ratu, Watkins or whoever are being kept out of the team by him? TBH it smacks of the sort of signing that a coach may like as it gives him an easy selection option.

As I say, I'll support him and Leeds, but it's just depressing.

completely agree, players like Webb, Lauiti'iti, Eastwood and Buderus would add to any league, all four are world class players (imo), it is, as you say, depressing that we cannot bring through a british player the quality of Donald or Lueluai, who are, im sorry to say, pretty average antipodeans who have come over here and been among the best.

I would however disagree that it isnt down to the SC, i think it is, i think the SC encourages this type of signing, or certainly this format of SC.

if we had no SC, then leeds could have spend more to keep smith (and he deserves it, the lad is a fantastic prospect, to expect him not to earn as much as he can in his short career is crazy) or they could have spent more bringing in a hodges, inglis,

or if we had ans SC that actively encouraged british players, then we could have stuck with Coady, Watkins and Ratu, because everyone else would be doing the same

as it is, we probably didnt really have a choice other than to go for a player like this, throwing one of those three in against experienced pros (how many young centres are currently playing SL, very few) would have meant leeds were playing with one hand behind their back, and the money simply isnt available to sign a better standard

for some reason we always seem to be offering clubs a way out, we should be saying, produce your own or pay the price, but we dont because people seem obsessed with equalling out the game, regardless of the fact it is damaging it

these are the reasons why the best two centres in this comp are a past it Aussie in Gidley and a past it Brit in Senior,

we should be either forced to be playing, Watkins or Coady or Ratu or we should be allowed to bring in the best,

: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:06 pm  

Rather like McF, I ain't reading 19 pages.
Whatever you think about overseas players, just remember, it could be worse, you could watch soccer, no f***ing chance of seeing a home-grown player!!!!!!

: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:13 pm  

What should happen is that a player who comes through the clubs academy system AND is from their own service area then only a percentage of their salary should be counted against the salary cap.

It would encourage clubs to invest in their own youth in their own areas.

: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:16 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

What should happen is that a player who comes through the clubs academy system AND is from their own service area then only a percentage of their salary should be counted against the salary cap.

It would encourage clubs to invest in their own youth in their own areas.

why? some service areas are naturally better than others, some bigger some smaller?

what if a youngster moves house from one to another? what about those on the boundries?

surely if a club is poor and bringing through players wasting a whole service area on them is a bad thing?

what would be wrong with competition in youth development? surely that is what will drive success and evolution not protectionism?

: Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:41 pm  

mps wrote:

The signing on fee won't count on the cap (of which atkins gets a %) .

It is monies earned by the player paid by his new employer so why doesn't it count?

: Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:01 am  

it might, although it's only a one off 10% payment.

: Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:51 am  

I hear what you say about Smith, but the salary cap's not the sole reason for him going. Ignoring his personal reasons for wanting to move to London, Leeds would never have made him a mega-offer as he's second choice fullback and at the time of the negotiations was probably third choice winger and totally unproven as a centre.

Back on topic, you could easily argue that rather than have 7 overseas players next year, we could go for 3 absolute stars for the same cost - e.g. instead of Donald, Delaney, Eastwood and Leuluai we could possibly have two exceptional players for the same expense, with youngsters/try-hards having to fill the gaps.

Also Toopi didn't play in last year's GF - the only overseas players in the 17 were Donald, Leuluai and Lauti'iti. Webb obviously would have been there if fit.

Sadly and slightly OT, I think Donald as a finisher is far better than just average - way better than any current British winger I'm afraid.

Anyway, my rant's over. I just find it a touch sad that a side which many have held out as an example of what can be achieved by backing homegrown talent now seems to have embarked down the road of going for a much larger squad (understandable I suppose) including a shedload of overseas players.

: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:00 am  

20 pages on the signing of a cheap NRL club man that the Titans supporters didn't give toss about losing.

Leeds, currently, are taking the paying punters for a ride, having said that GH must look at threads like this and laugh his nuts off, I can see his line now "these mugs are happy with anything, put the prices up!!"

: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:13 am  

Richie Ramrod wrote:

20 pages on the signing of a cheap NRL club man that the Titans supporters didn't give toss about losing.

Leeds, currently, are taking the paying punters for a ride, having said that GH must look at threads like this and laugh his nuts off, I can see his line now "these mugs are happy with anything, put the prices up!!"

Have you straw poled everyone on that?

: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:19 am  

Richie Ramrod wrote:

Leeds, currently, are taking the paying punters for a ride, having said that GH must look at threads like this and laugh his nuts off, I can see his line now "these mugs are happy with anything, put the prices up!!"

Its a ride I'm happy with, It's a much better ride than the pre 1996 ride.