Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Jun 13, 2024 8:45 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

But we can't keep every player no matter the price. I'm sure we'd love to retain Martin at £x, but if he's worth significantly more to someone else then sometimes you shrug your shoulders.

I think he's been a really good signing, he's Mr Consistent, a good personality and fantastic goal kicker.

What he isn't though is the dominant middle/edge that I think Leeds need. Our entire go-forward can't just depend on two big lads on the pitch at a given time. The whole pack needs to work as a more dominant unit, and Martin is more of a chunky back row/centre than an outright physical animal.

Also we need to consider his age and whether his best years might be behind him.

He is one of those players that's very 50-50 for me: I can see all his qualities (and injury record which is fantastic compared to most of our players). I'm just not convinced he's the right player for what we need our pack to do going forward. Assuming Fus goes, we may still need 2 OS quota spots to bring that impact in physicality we need.

If he stays - at the right price - it's a good thing. If he goes it's an opportunity to really add some oomph to the pack. The complication is the goal kicking. Could Sinfield be ready by next year? I don't know. I do know that we don't have another natural goal kicker at the club.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Jun 13, 2024 9:42 pm  

Marc Sneyd, fill the goal kicking gap and replace Frawley, also freeing up a quota spot.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Jun 14, 2024 7:26 am  

ArthurClues wrote:

If he stays - at the right price - it's a good thing. If he goes it's an opportunity to really add some oomph to the pack. The complication is the goal kicking. Could Sinfield be ready by next year? I don't know. I do know that we don't have another natural goal kicker at the club.

Going up in 6's rather than 4's makes a huge difference.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Jun 14, 2024 8:02 am  

I would like to think that we will have reasonable room to move for next season. It looks certain that Fus is leaving (big cap space) and that others will create room (Olpherts, Donaldson). If Martin does go, whilst a loss that would be more cap space too. I think Blease will also look to shift some of those coming to their final year like Frawley, Bentley & Sangare, assuming better players are available.

Then we need to replace with players who wouldn't be out of place at the top level, so all likely starters, unless he thinks Sinfield will be ready to replace Frawley by next March.

I can see quite a turnaround on both the coaching and playing side at the end of the year, but no movement on either before then.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Jun 14, 2024 8:08 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

But we can't keep every player no matter the price. I'm sure we'd love to retain Martin at £x, but if he's worth significantly more to someone else then sometimes you shrug your shoulders.

I think he's been a really good signing, he's Mr Consistent, a good personality and fantastic goal kicker.

What he isn't though is the dominant middle/edge that I think Leeds need. Our entire go-forward can't just depend on two big lads on the pitch at a given time. The whole pack needs to work as a more dominant unit, and Martin is more of a chunky back row/centre than an outright physical animal.

Also we need to consider his age and whether his best years might be behind him.

He is one of those players that's very 50-50 for me: I can see all his qualities (and injury record which is fantastic compared to most of our players). I'm just not convinced he's the right player for what we need our pack to do going forward. Assuming Fus goes, we may still need 2 OS quota spots to bring that impact in physicality we need.

Spot on Jim. my sentiments too. I think Blease will quickly realise he's got a hell of a lot of work to do with recruitment and salary cap balancing - Smith has had more misses that hits so far but, some of those under performers may be down to poor coaching - who knows.. I can see Ryse leaving unless he's happy earning less that what Leigh offer. But, we cannot underestimate his value as a world class goal kicker, it's worth a lot of points.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Jun 14, 2024 12:47 pm  

It will be interesting to see how Gannon comes back, he's got a whole season to train and bulk up. I've always been a big fan, if he can put the concussions behind him and comeback as a real bruiser he could be a huge asset.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Jun 14, 2024 1:32 pm  

Broadacres wrote:

It will be interesting to see how Gannon comes back, he's got a whole season to train and bulk up. I've always been a big fan, if he can put the concussions behind him and comeback as a real bruiser he could be a huge asset.

He's been a big loss. Huge talent imo.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Jun 14, 2024 2:41 pm  

Martin might just end up being a casualty of other recruitment decisions being poor. He brings a lot - speed, consistency and goal kicking - but what we desperately lack in the pack is the one thing he doesn't bring, which is physical presence. I can't see us getting the sort of big boppers we need in England so we may have to sacrifice him to free up a quota spot.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Jun 14, 2024 3:19 pm  

RS saying today Martin has been offered a deal - it's something Blease will be sorting from next week onwards so he's yet to take it as it stands.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Jun 15, 2024 6:52 pm  

Plenty of 'irreplaceable' players left Salford under Blease and they managed to find replacements that were more than able. We shouldn't pay over the odds to keep Martin, as much as it would be nice for him to stay. The pack needs major surgery and his departure could open doors to signings that will make a real difference.