COVID, the ultimate scapegoat.

Matt Shaw reporting Croft deal is done.

My only worry about the Croft situation is he didn’t really want to leave Salford! That’s not always the best start for a new player

Not many people are that willing to embrace change though, Chris. If the team plays well and he plays well, he'll be happy.

Sounds like Croft and Hudson are done now, just waiting for the hooker and forward and we are ready imo

Going back a while for those old enough to remember we had a similar situation with Lee Crooks when we paid a massive fee to Hull
Never the same player for us as he never wanted to be here.

True, IMO he’s been fortunate that Leeds needing a player like him and being able to afford him im not sure any other SL club would have paid the transfer fee or his wage demands

That cropped into my head as well Christopher…hope it’s not another Lee Crooks scenario. He never wanted to leave Hull FC all those years ago but they were forced to sell and unlike Schofield, Crooks never wanted to be here.

Has the potential to be an awesome signing and just what we needed (if he settles here and depending on what NRL clauses are in the deal and how long he has to stay here for and/or release fee if/when the NRL come a calling, which IF he has a stellar 2024 with us…surely they will)

I assume he will be now be unveiled in the new kit tomorrow morning

My point earlier, although don't think Crooks actually liked Leeds and that will not apply to Croft.

There's always a risk in bringing somebody in. No player in his prime would want to leave the NRL, but Croft did and has obviously thrived at Salford. Salford to Leeds is a far shorter journey. Whilst there are parallels with Crooksie, I'd venture Croft is a far more rounded character than Lee was at that point in his career. Ultimately we'll have to wait and see, but if both players and the club look after him and his family we'll likely have a positive outcome.

On another note I see Danny Mags looks likely to be Lingards assistant coach at Cas.