Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:22 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

No one can deny that regardless of any other recruitment decisions made by him that he pulled off arguably the most crucial in Leeds' history by nabbing Sinfield.

You do wonder how things would've gone had he ended up at Warrington or Wigan though? Warrington still sold key players around that time in Sculthorpe and Harris so he may well have moved on from them anyway. As for Wigan would he have had to play 2nd fiddle behind Farrell for too long?

Trying to remember players who Laughton signed (including kids)?

I stand to be corrected on some of these...

Morvin Edwards
Ellery Hanley
Craig Innes
Mike O'Neill
Bobbie Goulding
Jim Fallon
Andy Goodway
Andy Gregory
Kevin Iro
James Lowes
Gary Mercer
Mike Worrall
Alan Tait
Jason Donohue
Richie Eyres
Neil Harmon
Harvey Howard
Gary Rose
Patrick Entat
Esene Faimalo
George Mann
Tony Kemp
Adrian Morley
Terry Newton
Kevin Sinfield

A lot of dosh spent on the above, some were good signings, some not so good... but nobody can deny they were exciting times and Leeds played some good stuff.

Unfortunately, not good enough to beat Wigan when it mattered but neither were anyone else, apart from Castleford who beat them in the Regal Trophy Final in 1994, and even then there were rumours of discontent in the Wigan camp over their coach Dorahy.

No idea what would have happened had Sinfield joined Warrington or Wigan instead. It's hard to believe he'd have been as influential at either of those two clubs though, given the very different circumstances.

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:37 pm  

William Eve wrote:

Trying to remember players who Laughton signed (including kids)?

I stand to be corrected on some of these...

Morvin Edwards
Ellery Hanley
Craig Innes
Mike O'Neill
Bobbie Goulding
Jim Fallon
Andy Goodway
Andy Gregory
Kevin Iro
James Lowes
Gary Mercer
Mike Worrall
Alan Tait
Jason Donohue
Richie Eyres
Neil Harmon
Harvey Howard
Gary Rose
Patrick Entat
Esene Faimalo
George Mann
Tony Kemp
Adrian Morley
Terry Newton
Kevin Sinfield

A lot of dosh spent on the above, some were good signings, some not so good... but nobody can deny they were exciting times and Leeds played some good stuff.

Unfortunately, not good enough to beat Wigan when it mattered but neither were anyone else, apart from Castleford who beat them in the Regal Trophy Final in 1994, and even then there were rumours of discontent in the Wigan camp over their coach Dorahy.

No idea what would have happened had Sinfield joined Warrington or Wigan instead. It's hard to believe he'd have been as influential at either of those two clubs though, given the very different circumstances.

indeed. despite missing out on silver still the era i enjoyed the most watching leeds.

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:13 pm  

Chesterrhino wrote:

Offfiah . Davis Morriaty Bateman Scott Gibbs emosi koloto Craig innes the great Lewis jones Watkins Alan tait many many more for all clubs it. Worked before and not all came as superstars during this present era of a lack of home grown superstars we need to try other talent pools can it hurt?

There just ain't the money in the game or the desire. The sport cannot compete salary-wise with Union either.

I've opined numerous times that RL entered a state of managed decline around a decade ago. And that state is the only plan in town. Sadly, there is nobody currently employed in the game who has any vision to change that.

It survives on handouts from Sky, which is tantamount to visiting a foodbank.

I hope I'm wrong but I forecast the game to be semi-pro inside the next decade with only a handful of clubs able to sustain full time contracts. I think we know who those clubs will be.

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:24 pm  

William Eve wrote:

There just ain't the money in the game or the desire. The sport cannot compete salary-wise with Union either.

I've opined numerous times that RL entered a state of managed decline around a decade ago. And that state is the only plan in town. Sadly, there is nobody currently employed in the game who has any vision to change that.

It survives on handouts from Sky, which is tantamount to visiting a foodbank.

I hope I'm wrong but I forecast the game to be semi-pro inside the next decade with only a handful of clubs able to sustain full time contracts. I think we know who those clubs will be.

You've been saying it'll be semi-pro for several years now so that decade keeps shifting.

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:37 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

indeed. despite missing out on silver still the era i enjoyed the most watching leeds.

It's certainly an era we will never see the likes of again.

Great while it lasted though.

Lots to talk about and get excited over, massive up's and massive downers from one week to the next, a thriving transfer market, more publicity, more terrestrial TV coverage, more star players, larger media profile, more fans in total through the turnstiles each season.

Union going full-time pro has had a huge effect. RL always benefited from a steady stream of recruitment from Union, particularly from Wales. Not anymore, sadly.

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:40 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

You've been saying it'll be semi-pro for several years now so that decade keeps shifting.

Just like that SL salary cap keeps shifting, eh?

Hope you continue to enjoy your foodbank rugby league.

There was certainly plenty of it on show last season and on Boxing Day.

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:45 pm  

William Eve wrote:

Just like that SL salary cap keeps shifting, eh?

Hope you continue to enjoy your foodbank rugby league.

There was certainly plenty of it on show last season and on Boxing Day.

Nice trying to avoid the point.....but how long is this decade going to last because you have been saying it'll be "semi pro in a decade" for quite a long time now, probably almost a decade in fact.

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:47 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

Nice trying to avoid the point.....but how long is this decade going to last because you have been saying it'll be "semi pro in a decade" for quite a long time now, probably almost a decade in fact.

I've definitely been stalked for over a decade.

I wasn't aware I was being stalked for over a decade by you too?

I'll add you to my fan club, shall I?

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:54 pm  

William Eve wrote:

I hope I'm wrong but I forecast the game to be semi-pro inside the next decade with only a handful of clubs able to sustain full time contracts. I think we know who those clubs will be.

.

Either that or there'll be further cuts to wages all round. In other words, the game may remain professional though standards may not. Still, the odd stand-out player could well shine more brightly so no doom & gloom on my part.

Re: Lack of talent recruit from union : Mon Jan 02, 2017 9:02 pm  

William Eve wrote:

I've definitely been stalked for over a decade.

I wasn't aware I was being stalked for over a decade by you too?

I'll add you to my fan club, shall I?

Nope you've just been repeating the same lines over and over on here that it's impossible to forget what they are.

Just answer the question, how long is this decade before semi pro going to last??? You were saying it when I first started posting on here in 2011 so surely you only have a few years left?