That's a shame might have given you and G1 an excuse for acting like prats.

Still looking forward to the day Bailey is shipped to Hunslet.

So let me get this right, defending a player that has been an integral part of the first team for the past decade, one who is nearly always in the starting 17 under 3 successive coaches, a player with six championship winning rings (or would have if someone hadn’t nicked them) and former international make you a prat?

Does this also account for Sinfield, McGuire, Burrow and JJB?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if it so far off the mark they're facing the opposite direction.

As Dirty Harry once said "Opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks"

Playing devils advocate
According to a lot on here it does if you defend kirke. The 5 winners rings, being picked by 3 different coaches etc should be discarded "he is a lucky squad player lucky to be around a great team"
The same could be said of bailey.

For me he has had two seasons I have been really hopeful that he would kick on but he never really has done 2004 and 2012.

I have always thought the reaction bailey gets is OTT. Away fans vastly under rate him but at the same time I think he is generally over rated by our fans

Thats a fair point Ferdy i think RB when available has been pretty poor this year as has Mcguire but saying that i'd still retain both over Kirke!
With regards to Mags i'd like to see Sutcliffe starting at 6 next year and see if he (Mags) comes back with a resturn to good form from the bench.
Alse re-Kirke i thought he ended the season well & really stood up but wehn the injuries hit and we needed the experienced players to take a leading role he vanished and for me thats another reason i wouldn't have retained him.
Also re-Bailey i'd have offered a 1yr deal ony with the incentive to earn a longer deal or be moved on.

Yes.

I believe there is a big bonus for 10 games + for fringe players. Wonder what the appearance total is for fringe players!

I heard McDermott wasn't keen on Hardaker always going out drinking and socialising and McDermott playing BJB at full back and Hardaker in the centres for a couple of games was him possibly trying out next years full back.

God I hope not based on BJB's performances there....



I am more inclined to believe this i.e. we will see players leaving rather than coming in.

The policy of staying faithful to the best championship winning side in my memory [uwas[/u correct, but is now begining to feel like the chickens coming home to roost. Leeds can no longer state with confidence "we will pay you less but you will be compensated by being part of a winning side". The club needs to start investing in its younger players [iat the expense[/i of the accelerating declining abilities of its winning old heads....and damn soon. A tough new coach with no previous connections with the playing staff would be an ideal start.

I think mac playing zak in the centre a couple of times this year, had more to do with Watkins being injured tbh. I think some people expect all players are machines off the pitch, and forget they still have lives to live away from it. I've heard numerous rumblings about mac not being happy with zak, and zak is to big for his boots and the players don't like his attitude. It's all rubbish, he's extremely highly rated, and his playing for the club he's supported as a boy.

A couple of seasons ago I said Hardaker was the natural successor to Senior. I've not seen a great deal to change my mind. He is however probably the best British FB now that Tomkins has left SL, but that is because there is no competition at the moment.

the trouble is he nearly always cut back in off his right foot. the year before he played right centre and looked far more comfortable, scoring a great hat trick at huddersfield in the play offs

To be fair, I can think of another centre from Featherstone who didn't have a bad career, despite not having much else in his locker than a big inside step and a decent fend...