: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:44 am  

tvoc wrote:

England rather than GB but point taken otherwise. I still wonder if the upgrade would be a significant amount though with the salary cap making automatic upgrading difficult.

I would expect it to be quite significant compared with a junior contract that Smith signed four years ago.

It may be a case that the upgrade come in the following season or that the contract is renegotiated following his elevation to England status.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:45 am  

Loop wrote:

No. that was a different situation, we knew he was staying till EoS and then had a decent break until he started his Aussie career.

Smith could well be off mid way through our season and if not he knows he will be beginning his new career straight after our season ..... he will do well not to let it effect him in any way..

You didn't attach those T&C's to this

Loop wrote:

I guess I'm old school, if a player wants to leave then I don't want them here.

I'd rather give Watkins games over a player who has no long term future with us, in the long run that will benefit the club far more.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:46 am  

Do we drop Donald, Kylie, Ablett & Senior aswel?

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:47 am  

DISA wrote:

Only two that definately transfer fees were received for releasing early is Harris and Farrell. But maybe the Volcano also.

Cant see any logic in Leeds releasing Smith early this season, as cant see us receiving anything in exchange.

IIRC, It was reported at the time that Bradford received money for Vainikolo from Gloucester. I wasn't aware that Wigan received any money for Farrell, I thought he was out of contract and left when it ended.

There will be no logic but there maybe £signs.

finglas wrote:

It may be a case that the upgrade come in the following season or that the contract is renegotiated following his elevation to England status.

Thinking about it, I'd imagine it to work along those lines in which case I agree that his current contract should look significantly different to the one he signed in '05.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:57 am  

tvoc wrote: I wasn't aware that Wigan received any money for Farrell, I thought he was out of contract and left when it ended. "The RFU, who have identified Farrell as a potential England player, agreed a deal with Farrell's engage Super League club, Wigan, earlier this month. They had since been in negotiations to place the 29-year-old with a Zurich Premiership club" http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/mar/23/rugbyunion.saracens Sounds like he was under contract at the time.

tvoc wrote: I wasn't aware that Wigan received any money for Farrell, I thought he was out of contract and left when it ended. "The RFU, who have identified Farrell as a potential England player, agreed a deal with Farrell's engage Super League club, Wigan, earlier this month. They had since been in negotiations to place the 29-year-old with a Zurich Premiership club" http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/mar/23/rugbyunion.saracens Sounds like he was under contract at the time.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:19 am  

fanstanningley wrote:

What would the point be in letting him go now?

If we agreed his mind was elsewhere - like Chev in his last season - then better to let him go than play him in the reserves. I am not for one minute suggesting that this is the case

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:24 am  

finglas wrote:

I assume that the contract had stipulations about various levels of representation and would have thought an increase would kick in when he was selected for GB.

If not his selection for GB should have meant a re-negotiation of his contract. GH seems to be a stickler for the salary grades.

This is an interesting point - if the grades are to be maintained it would put Smith in the same bracket as Peacock, McGuire, Webb, Burrow etc - not sure GH would stomach paying Lee that kind of money?

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:24 am  

Tony Soprano wrote:

Do we drop Donald, Kylie, Ablett & Senior aswel?

Why, are they all signing for Wasps aswell?

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:32 am  

Loop wrote:

Why, are they all signing for Wasps aswell?

I have no idea, but at this moment in time they are in exactly the same situation as Lee Smith, although Smith has been in better form than any of them.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:43 am  

Tony Soprano wrote:

I have no idea, but at this moment in time they are in exactly the same situation as Lee Smith, although Smith has been in better form than any of them.

I'd bet any amount of money Smith won't be a Leeds player next season, the others we don't know yet