Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 10:56 am  

would you have sacrificed donaldson to keep him?

iwould

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 11:42 am  

tad rhino wrote:

would you have sacrificed donaldson to keep him?

iwould

Yes. Although the more pressing comparison is I’d have kept him over Bentley. But having said that I did think he was better at prop rather than back row.

All swings and roundabouts now. Maybe in hindsight it’s better we kept our powder dry given the number of high quality signings we’ve gone on to make, but it’s really impossible to say either way without knowing all the financial ins and outs.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 11:47 am  

If it was as straightforward as that, then yes.
But Donaldson's (probably low value) deal is only one year and Walters would certainly have been after 2 minimum. It may well be the wage bill for those new bigger earners will be higher still in 2025. And by exactly how much won't have been known.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 12:51 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

I don't get this at all. I agree Walters did some eye-catching stuff mid-season (especially in some of those wins against the top sides) but I fail to see how he was our best forward by any stretch of the imagination. The show-pony stuff was great but where was the graft or punch in defence (legally I mean!). He still has tons of mistakes in him and some of those mistakes contributed to those narrow losses mid-season (I'm thinking of his tendency to over-play and select passes that weren't on at crucial moments - IIRC he did this in the narrow loss to Saints at Headingley).

I preferred him used at prop in the back end of 2022 (despite the odd defensive lapse), but he evidently doesn't want to be a prop and wasn't used as much as one in 2023, so it's a bit pointless including him in this discussion of our front-row rotation.

As a wide-running back rower, I'd much rather see more of Gannon, and there are other rough diamonds coming through like Ruan who look capable of doing the more eye-catching stuff given the right development.

Mid-season the Walters to Wigan news was very depressing, but he lost form and didn't seem like a big loss towards the end. I would say across the duration of the season that Cameron Smith, Holroyd and McDonnell were far better and more consistent, and Lisone also came through much stronger in the final months.

You were watching different games to me if you think he lost form towards the end of last season mate.
I think he got better and better as did the frustration on here that we let him go.
Lisone was inconsistent and Holroyd hit a bit of a wall.
Walters was regularly used as prop in 2023 when we had injuries to Sangare, Holroyd and Tetevano.
Anyway, point is, he has gone and we haven't really replaced him (or Tetevano for that matter).

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 1:11 pm  

Agree to differ on the form of Walters, but if there was an option to keep him and let go Donaldson and/or Bentley then it probably would have been worth the risk.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 2:12 pm  

Time will tell on Walters. He wants to play back row and would prefer to be in Lancashire and had an offer from the best team in the competition so the only way Leeds were keeping him was to offer more money which may have impacted our recruitment elsewhere.
Arguably we could have had him tied to a new contract before others became interested however I don’t think RS fancied him as he only got his chance when others were injured. I actually think back row should be his best position as an edge runner linking with the centres however I do think there are question marks around his work rate and application. He will either kick on and become an international back row at Wigan or flatter to deceive. I don’t think it was a like for like with Bentley/Donaldson who are different types of player.
Agree we don't need both the above however with the right props I think Bentley can be important for us.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 2:21 pm  

Simmo71 wrote:

You were watching different games to me if you think he lost form towards the end of last season mate.
I think he got better and better as did the frustration on here that we let him go.
Lisone was inconsistent and Holroyd hit a bit of a wall.
Walters was regularly used as prop in 2023 when we had injuries to Sangare, Holroyd and Tetevano.
Anyway, point is, he has gone and we haven't really replaced him (or Tetevano for that matter).

Thing with Walters, in my opinion, is that he was the forward who most exceded expectations. Prior to 2023 he'd been pretty
hit and miss; big lad but athletically limited while growing into his body. Last year he started to deliver on his potential and sadly probably signed for Wigan before it became apparent that he'd be a big miss for us. That said, he was probably our 4th best prop. Oledski and Holroyd both do the tough stuff far better, Lisone ( as he settled) was more explosive. It is a great shame that's he leaving, but the fact is he's gone and he's definitely not irreplaceable.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 2:54 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

Thing with Walters, in my opinion, is that he was the forward who most exceded expectations. Prior to 2023 he'd been pretty
hit and miss; big lad but athletically limited while growing into his body. Last year he started to deliver on his potential and sadly probably signed for Wigan before it became apparent that he'd be a big miss for us. That said, he was probably our 4th best prop. Oledski and Holroyd both do the tough stuff far better, Lisone ( as he settled) was more explosive. It is a great shame that's he leaving, but the fact is he's gone and he's definitely not irreplaceable.

I agree with your last bit Arthur. It’s less we’re missing Walters and more we’re missing a point of difference in the pack. He could do something different compared to the grafters of oledzki and Holroyd and the big bodies of sangare and Lisone.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 3:50 pm  

We do have some talent coming through again: Cassell might have to find a home in the back row as can’t see Smith going anywhere for years. Gannon is still a baby; McDonnell is youngish too.

Shame to lose Walters as if he fills out he could be unplayable in a couple of years, he’s massive. But if he gets to that he will probably go NRL anyway.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:04 pm  

Back on to hookers, I see Wakey have signed another hooker “as back up to Liam Hood”. Surely this might mean that Smith is leaving them? Why would you stay at Wakey in the Champ as third choice hooker when you could move to Leeds?

If this does mean we are signing him then it might mean Johnson is off. Interesting anyway - there are a few months still to go until next season and I think there might be one or two more movements yet.