: Tue May 05, 2009 6:32 pm  

!RYAN! wrote:

well i do agree with you - i think he is better than james and i was suprised they recalled james when we had the injury problems instead of playing crossley, i hope he gets a run this season

James is a better defender than Crossley.

: Tue May 05, 2009 8:38 pm  

I would hope that we offer new contracts as a matter of urgency to Jeffries, Newton, Lynch and Tadulala. I think that it would be far harder to find replacements of anything like the same quality than to stick with what we have. I don't pretend to have any inside information about which of those would be likely to accept a renewal.

I'll be most disappointed if we don't also retain Cook and Halley, who are proving their worth and have the advantage of counting as home grown. Sykes, too, has been doing the business for the last couple of matches. If he keeps it up, I'd feel the same about him.

I don't know enough about the off-contract junior players to make an informed pronouncement, but if Donaldson merits the hype, I hope we keep him, and likewise for Straugheir - on the strength of him covering centre, where we're relatively week. I just don't know about Tate.

Brilliant as he occasionally is, I can't see that keeping Solomona can be justified in financial or fitness terms, not to mention the fact that he blocks an overseas-trained spot. Also for overseas considerations, unless Rinaldi turns out to be a complete revelation, I don't really think I'd want us to retain him.

With Matt James, I'm relatively happy whether he stays or goes, though I suspect the latter.

That leaves Menzies and Morrison. It's a tough decision as they are both wonderful players, but currently, I hope that we retain one of them for a year. My preferred option at the moment would actually be Menzies for reasons of fitness and versatility. It may seem harsh, but I feel we ought to be able to manage in the back row with just one of those two - plus Langley, Worrincy, Cook, Burgess (if not needed at prop), Nero (if not needed at centre) and several juniors who could be brought through in the ideal way to a quality back row, without the sheer number of players blocking progress that we have this year.

The other reason I would favour retaining only one of Menzies & Morrison (and neither of Solomona & Rinaldi) would be to strengthen our ability to recruit from overseas. I can't imagine a British centre or stand-off being available who would radically improve on what we have, so it would be good to have space for a couple of overseas players (by the way - what is next season's quota?).

Finally, I hope Deacon proves his fitness and regains his form. If he doesn't, I hope he has the grace to bow out.

: Tue May 05, 2009 9:34 pm  

ritz wrote:

Can you read? I didnt say crossley wouldnt be here next season..reddie said wray wont be..crossley is peed off about not playing..if u knew him u`d know his brother..brothers talk..they talk to there coaches..coaches talk to each other..coaches talk to refs etc..seen as i used to coach and now ref of course i know what im on about..if i didnt i wouldnt be able to ref/coach.

Ask m.e if i know what im on about or rhinoms on leeds board etc..i told him about peacock resigning 2 months before it came out..and webb...matt101 knew about crossley as well..crossley was gonna leave over his deal before they upped it..i knew and told m.e...matt also knew..heck even tiger beer didnt know and she gets told everything by mr duffy.

Some people get told stuff and let a bit out now and then..others just see whats in front of them and think everythings rosy..now and then take ur head out of sand and sniff the air..u`d be surprised whats out there when u know where to sniff.

I concur mate
P.s Is lynch really off back to cas??

: Tue May 05, 2009 9:58 pm  

MDF wrote:

The other reason I would favour retaining only one of Menzies & Morrison (and neither of Solomona & Rinaldi) would be to strengthen our ability to recruit from overseas. I can't imagine a British centre or stand-off being available who would radically improve on what we have, so it would be good to have space for a couple of overseas players (by the way - what is next season's quota?).

Arguably, Hvaing both Morro and Menzies would strengthen our chances of recruiting from overseas as quality veteran Australians would attract others. I think Morro deserves another contract after the commitment and heart he has shown for the club, both I think should get to finish their careers in Red amber and black.

: Tue May 05, 2009 10:10 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

I concur mate
P.s Is lynch really off back to cas??

That's the rumour about Lynch.

: Tue May 05, 2009 10:13 pm  

Ewwenorfolk wrote:

Arguably, Hvaing both Morro and Menzies would strengthen our chances of recruiting from overseas as quality veteran Australians would attract others. I think Morro deserves another contract after the commitment and heart he has shown for the club, both I think should get to finish their careers in Red amber and black.

If we want to progress as a club we can't keep Morrison and Menzies it's one or the other for me. So I'd be leaning in the Menzies direction mainly due to the fact he doesn't pick up as many knocks as Morrison.

: Tue May 05, 2009 10:15 pm  

redeverready wrote:

If we want to progress as a club we can't keep Morrison and Menzies it's one or the other for me. So I'd be leaning in the Menzies direction mainly due to the fact he doesn't pick up as many knocks as Morrison.

I can see where you're coming from, but I think it would be unfair on Morro, who has given his all for the club in every match, to send him on his way. If he wants to see out his career with our club, we should be having serious talks about the amount of salary, but as long as it's reasonable I think he should be kept on.

: Tue May 05, 2009 10:18 pm  

Ewwenorfolk wrote:

I can see where you're coming from, but I think it would be unfair on Morro, who has given his all for the club in every match, to send him on his way. If he wants to see out his career with our club, we should be having serious talks about the amount of salary, but as long as it's reasonable I think he should be kept on.

Sorry but you can't have any sentiment in sport. If it was any other player bar Morrison with an injury record like his people would expect him to be released.

: Tue May 05, 2009 10:20 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Sorry but you can't have any sentiment in sport. If it was any other player bar Morrison with an injury record like his people would expect him to be released.

Sadly, I have to agree. I'd still keep him on, but that's why I'm not the coach. I'm sure Macca will do what's best for the club, after all it's all about "building for the future".

: Tue May 05, 2009 11:26 pm  

The thing is, the types of injuries Morro has been so unlucky with aren't the usual "worn out" stuff (knees, shoulders, etc) but pretty unfortunate stuff like his first-tackle wrist ligament job.

Now I wouldn't rule out that he's becoming injury prone, but reckon the jury is out. And he's that good when he does play that he deserves another run at least.

If we can keep Menzies then we do, simple as. The man remains simply awesome. And in the same pack as Morrison gives us some superb class which other teams simply put will struggle to match. These two, Burgess, and a fully fit Lynch sounds superb to me. I'd have no qualms at sending out youngsters to play with that lot around them.