Do we? Really? Because at the game last night I would of loved to have seen Burgess in the pack. Kylie and Kirke, next to useless last night.
Well we know hes had a bust up with GH or MC or both, i'd love burgess in the side, he's been our most improved forward this year, i'd love clarky in the side too, kirke is 30 and doesnt exactly lead by example with a great work rate, clarky is 21 with great potenial who will tackle all day, but he isnt in the side why? he's obviously had a bust up with mc too
I'd imagine Burgess non-selection has more to do with his attitude rather than simply the fact that he's leaving at the end of the season.
As has been said, I don't see why 3 days isn't long enough to work out what he wants to do considering his desire to go to Australia has been known at the club for months so surely he's been thinking of what would be acceptable to him to stay during this time. Why should the club wait any longer on a player who's commitment to the club is unlikely to extend beyond the end of this season and who has shown a poor attitude behind the scenes? I wish Luke the best wherever he plays but let's not pretend he's been an integral part of Leeds' success. Senior, Peacock, Sinfield etc have proved their "service to the club", Burgess has been a useful part of the squad during his time but only a squad player for a handful of years, so whilst I wish him well I don't necessarily agree he's been badly treated or that it's a major blow to Leeds.
Maybe he wanted more time to see if a move to aus was realistic, just because he wants to go doesnt mean he will, forget the fact he wants to aus at the end of the season, he is contracted to us till the end of the this year, and deserves a fair crack, his performances warranted selection in the team, and for me he's right to be frustrated especially when he sees players like kirke and hauraki constantly getting selected despite some poor performances this season
i dont see what the difference is calderwood, walker, and smith, have all announced in the past that they were leaving and still got selected, if biff had be woefully awful then fair enough, but he'd really upped his game this season
i dont see what the difference is calderwood, walker, and smith, have all announced in the past that they were leaving and still got selected, if biff had be woefully awful then fair enough, but he'd really upped his game this season
Did those other players show a poor attitude when not played every single week? As I said earlier in the thread Burgess had played 11 of 17 SL games and had been injured for a couple of those games as well. So he was hardly completely overlooked. Compare to the much maligned Ian Kirke's attitude when dropped for the 2008 WCC. He trained his backside off and pushed his way back into the team. If the rumours about Burgess' attitude are correct then I can understand why GH might not be too keen to wait for Burgess to make his mind up.
On the other hand if they're not correct then it would seem a bit strange from Hetherington. As has been said there are 2 sides to this, but I don't think the truth about what has really happened will come out for a while yet.
Anyone care to place the following events in their correct chronological order? Burgess displaying a bad attitude at the club... allegedly. GH's offer of a contract to Burgess which must be signed within 3 days, otherwise it'll be withdrawn! Burgess getting dropped from the team.
Anyone care to speculate on whether GH or Burgess (or both) are being economical with the truth? Quote GH - "I spoke to him at the start of the season and we discussed his short and long-term future. He [Burgess] made plain his desire to go to Australia, so we have always been planning to be without him in the longer-term."
Quote BURGESS - "We opened contract negotiations with the club and Gary (chief executive Gary Hetherington) put a three-year deal in front of me. He told me he wanted a decision in three days, but I didn’t think three days was enough time and I was unable to make a decision. I asked Gary for a bit more time, but then the contract was off the table. Since then, I have not played."
Burgess states he wants to go to aus next season at the beginning of this season, he has improved his ball retention, looks fitter and was gaining good yards, that to me is a good attitude! I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure kirke was injured for the 2008 wcc. Luke got frustrated by not playing I'm pretty sure if he was playing poorly he'd just get his head down and work hard, but he's probably seen the poor performances of weller, kirke and to a certain extent bailey and thought right if I can't get in the team after we've been beaten 42-6 and 42-16 in consecutive weeks then I want answers can't blame him IMO
Burgess states he wants to go to aus next season at the beginning of this season, he has improved his ball retention, looks fitter and was gaining good yards, that to me is a good attitude! I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure kirke was injured for the 2008 wcc. Luke got frustrated by not playing I'm pretty sure if he was playing poorly he'd just get his head down and work hard, but he's probably seen the poor performances of weller, kirke and to a certain extent bailey and thought right if I can't get in the team after we've been beaten 42-6 and 42-16 in consecutive weeks then I want answers can't blame him IMO
Burgess states he wants to go to aus next season at the beginning of this season, he has improved his ball retention, looks fitter and was gaining good yards, that to me is a good attitude! I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure kirke was injured for the 2008 wcc. Luke got frustrated by not playing I'm pretty sure if he was playing poorly he'd just get his head down and work hard, but he's probably seen the poor performances of weller, kirke and to a certain extent bailey and thought right if I can't get in the team after we've been beaten 42-6 and 42-16 in consecutive weeks then I want answers can't blame him IMO
Burgess states he wants to go to aus next season at the beginning of this season, he has improved his ball retention, looks fitter and was gaining good yards, that to me is a good attitude! I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure kirke was injured for the 2008 wcc. Luke got frustrated by not playing I'm pretty sure if he was playing poorly he'd just get his head down and work hard, but he's probably seen the poor performances of weller, kirke and to a certain extent bailey and thought right if I can't get in the team after we've been beaten 42-6 and 42-16 in consecutive weeks then I want answers can't blame him IMO