The undisclosed fee would be preferable. A defeat wouldn't break Leeds, nor Segeyaro's agent, nor his solicitor. It might just ruin him though. Though of course he could win.

See William's lost it again.

All the dates are an irrelevance. If both Leeds and Segeyaro wanted to honour the contract, even now, they could. Its not even a contract issue.

But Segeyaro isnt suing Leeds for breach of contract, nor unpaid wages, likely because he doesnt have much of an argument. In fact Ayoub is arguing the complete opposite, that Segeyaro wasnt contracted at all.

Seems a little nonsensical from Ayoub to be honest, nobody is arguing for the enforcement of the contract, it is accepted by all parties to have ended. Ayoub's argument seems to be that when Segeyaro agreed to be registered as a Leeds player until 2018, he shouldnt have been registered as a Leeds player until 2018.

Ayoub's biggest problem is that the NRL wont register Segeyaro not because of Leeds contract with him (after all, everyone accepts this no longer is applicable), but because the RFL have him registered as a Leeds player, for the RFL to register him as a Leeds player Leeds must submit a registration form, as must Segeyaro. This would be in contravention of RLIF regulations. Ayoub is claiming that the RFL must transfer a registration he is also arguing doesnt exist.

On top of Ayoub's argument demanding the RFL needing to transfer a registration he is also arguing doesnt exist, his further problem is that there are processes and procedures a player must follow to be declared a free agent. Processes it is impossible for him to have followed (because he is a registered Leeds player with the RFL). So not only will Ayoub need to prove that Segeyaro had no playing contract with Leeds, he will need to prove Segeyaro's registration that the NRL want transfered doesnt exist, he will then need to explain why he has been negotiating with clubs despite not following the process to have himself registered as a free agent.

Once he has done all that, he will need to hope the RFL don't refuse the transfer on their 'catch-all' clause of a reasonable belief that doing so would bring the game in to disrepute.

Ayoub's problem is more fundamental than the precise ins and outs. Its that he thought it was all straightforward - Segeyaro calls 'homesick', Leeds fold and release him, and Segeyaro signs with whoever he wants. No contract mess, no registration issues. Anything Ayoub tried or tries to do is in real strife once Leeds decided not to play ball.

Added to that is the fact that the RFL has realised it has to stand firm as well with the Solomona issue at the same time. So they've grown a backbone, and the NRL has seen some similar issues (threats of players going to NFL, Semi Radrada etc) which all in all make it a very bad time to try to get everyone to play nice for the sake of Segeyaro.

If Ayoub's story was true then why isn't Segeyaro a Cronulla player now? It's been over two months since Segeyaro said he wanted out, surely enough time to prove that the contract hadn't been completed like he claims?

Exactly my thought printer, if it was all fine and dandy for chicko to sign for cronulla as per Ayoub's understanding then why isn't he? Surely cronulla would've signed him up for free in a heart beat if that was the case. But it isn't they will have had their club lawyers examine his contract and realise that Ayoub's understanding is not reality.

Also, to register a player with the rlf won't they need to see his playing contract? If he's registered to us, he's clearly contracted to us.

A quick google of Sam Ayoub tells you how dodgy he is.

The other party which shouldn't get a free pass on this are the Sharks. Assuming Leeds' contract is valid, they had no right to even talk to him about moving, let alone (apparently) letting him train with them. Oddly enough they want him, just not enough to want to pay a fee.

Why would they? Usually the homesick card is played, the club can't keep an unhappy, salary cap eating player, club releases player who then joins the NRL team.

Been happening for years. NRL teams transfer fees come out of their cap money does it not? Why pay when the target usually has a better than average chance of wriggling out for nowt?

In addition to any fee being counted on the salary cap, in the NRL the clubs have to pay an extra 50% of whatever tthe transfer fee is to the NRLs welfare fund - so a £200k fee becomes £300k. It's just not going to happen.

I'm still of the opinion we should let him go and move on - we're sorted with Parcell and ultimately this is a young blokes life that's being screwed up - albeit because of his own mistakes/decisions. Life is too short, and a rugby league players career is too short to waste time on arguements of 'principle', particularly when you consider he wanted to backflip only weeks after signing, and before he was due back. It hardly had a massive impact on Leeds (only the same as if he'd said he was leaving before the 1st Sept deadline).

Move on gracefully and play the 'better man' would be my approach - appreciate others will feel differently, but I think that's acting on emotion and pride rather than what's the best way to move forward.

I respect that stance, & actually agree with it all, if this was an isolated incident. The problem is the message it sends about contracts in general in RL. That is why Leeds, Castleford & the RFL must stand firm or effectively send out a joint press release that contracts are only valid as long as both parties agree that they are. Do you think Sam Ayoub would be inactive if Leeds decided, after September 1st 2016, that they didn't need Segayaro & terminated his contract?