Also rumoured to be joining Saints to replace Hopoate

Virtuous circles.. you get success and a strong squad together, more good players want to join that environment and you also don’t have to pay over the odds…

Where Leeds were about 10 years ago..

Smith confirms in latest YEP article that “we’ve got 4 players who are no longer with us”, this MacDonald has left the club.

I don't think we can or should try to stop Macdonald playing in Australia. But I think we have every right to block any attempt for him to go back to any team in England without a fee. He may get a gig for next season, but he's not a superstar in the NRL, and I doubt he'll get anything beyond a year. Its quite possible he'll play most of the season in reserve grade somewhere. He may come to regret walking away from the sort of deal Leeds offered.

I think to be fair that was fairly obvious, I think they are just sorting out contractual stuff hence no announcement

While legally there may be nothing we can do, if we could then we should. He was happy to sign a 4 year deal with all of the security that gave him. If roles were reversed and it was the club saying "sorry, we've changed our minds", I'm fairly sure he'd be pointing to his contract.

There is legal stuff we could do, but will end up being costly, and probably not even worth the paper it’s written on to us. Best to just let him go and move on…..

There is legal stuff we could do, but will end up being costly, and probably not even worth the paper it’s written on to us. Best to just let him go and move on…..

Pretty sure his contract will state that he can't work/play for any other sports team during the contract period and we hold his rugby league player registration. The club may let him go for free just to get an extra quota spot and free up some cap space but any fee they can get can be used to hopefully sign a good UK based player. He lived in Queensland as a kid so wouldn't be surprised to see him at the Dolphins next year.

It may be costly, I don't know, though legal things usually are, but it will certainly be worth the paper it's written on. The club gets criticised for letting players go without a fee, yet where we have a clear legal route the club should just let it go and move on?

I hope the club make a statement as to what’s gone on with Nene as soon as legal sorted. It’s utterly bizarre. Surely we can stop him playing for anyone in SL too though I suspect he wants to stay in aus