Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 7:36 am  

I know we’re all excited to see the club take a step forward properly at last - but we may still have to be a little patient.

As long as we can see real sustainable progress, that’s the main thing but we have changed the team so much in such a short space of time, we won’t really know where any holes remain until we get playing.

Next season we do have another few players off contract and I reckon we’ll be able to make another couple of good quality additions then if needed. See how we go.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 8:17 am  

ArthurClues wrote:

Assuming that we have signed the big lad from Cas, one more prop (Oliver Wilson would do nicely) will suffice. That would give us six natural props plus three middles - Goudemand, Smith and Donaldson. Not having to cope with "heads, shoulders, knees and toes" dummy half distribution will be a great help, as will the IQ and line breaking potential of the likes of Miller and Croft. I think we can logically expect progress from all four of last year's props and as long as we can add Hudson and another we'll be competitive in the pack. I rarely thought we had the best pack in the league even when we were winning titles, but I always knew we had the best game breakers. Think we've spent our money wisely in that regard.

Know what you're saying but we had some pretty special forwards in our title years.. who also were very rarely injured or dropped their performance levels below 7/10.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 8:55 am  

Newman linked with NRL ish - bit in two minds over this. Commercially he has cost us a fortune to develop and support through so many injuries and he really hasn’t paid that back in performances.

If we got a fee for him that would be something but it’s looking more likely he’ll go on a free. We’ll see - as a player he is a bit rocks and diamonds for me but ideally we would keep him.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 9:32 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

Newman linked with NRL ish - bit in two minds over this. Commercially he has cost us a fortune to develop and support through so many injuries and he really hasn’t paid that back in performances.

If we got a fee for him that would be something but it’s looking more likely he’ll go on a free. We’ll see - as a player he is a bit rocks and diamonds for me but ideally we would keep him.

I think it would be a massive blow if he left. We have few players who can turn a game and he is one of them. If stays fit I think he’ll be very good for us next season.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 9:42 am  

Sir Gregory ParsloeP wrote:

I think it would be a massive blow if he left. We have few players who can turn a game and he is one of them. If stays fit I think he’ll be very good for us next season.

Injury probe, petulant, cannot/won’t pass, bad attitude, over inflated opinion of his own ability.

Potential very good player, but he’s more Jake Connor than Newlove/senior esq.

Needs to improve massively in all the above next year otherwise really not bothered if he goes.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 10:01 am  

Agent floating interest in Newman especially as just made it into England team. Much will depend how he goes in the next 2 tests. If he has a big game the offers may be on the table. If its similar to the 1st test I think the interest will be lukewarm at best. He is only selected because Farnworth is not available! While you would not want to lose a player who is a potential game changer it all depends on what he values himself at. I don't think we should be diving in at the moment with a huge contract offer based on his overall performance over the last few years. I accept there are risks with that as if he plays well this year he can walk away. Ultimately if a player gets a high salary NRL offer they will go whatever is on the table here. If he plays well and wants to stay here as marquee Leeds could match any offer from any other Superleague club.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 10:25 am  

He needs to put in a solid year sbd be more of a team player to earn NRL interest or even a good contract.
Another year of Injuries abd poor behaviour and it will be interesting to see what happens

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 10:48 am  

Hes shown glimpses of potential but not much more than that.

Hes certainly replaceable and will probs go the same way as Gildhart, back after a couple of unsuccessful years.

NRL is full of backs that possess his skills talents and more, think he would struggle.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 10:50 am  

In 2015 Peacock was on his last legs and Leulaui was down to 10 minutes a game because of a heart condition. Cuthbertson was a revelation in the first part of the season, and the arrival of Garbutt half way helped keep us competitive to the end of the season. I reckon our first choice props aren't too far away from this, but the benchmark of the current squads of Wigan, Saints and maybe Catalans is higher.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Oct 27, 2023 10:53 am  

Yeah I don’t actually know if he’d make it in NRL, he’s small for a centre over there and the weaknesses in his game could get exposed. I don’t think many English backs have gone over there from SL and killed it - Dom Young exception but he is a freak.

He needs to have a good year at Leeds basically. I’m not confident he’ll last without injury anyway, he pulls up most games with some kind of knock or limp.