Friend of a friend says it will be Shenton or Atkins in at some time to be regular centre as Smith is off to Wasps RU for definate, just don't know whether will be after Gran final or in june like Haape and Vianakolo.

Oh well. If a friend of yours says. Then it must be true

We will wait and see, but how much of these rumours is Smith trying to get a better contract. I would have thought that WASPs after the experiences with Farrell would not be rushing in with a massive wage offer. Also looking at the recent track history a lot of players who have gone to the dark side soon come back; eg Pryce and Chev Walker and neither at the level they were before.

I hope Shenton stays at Cas. I hope I'm not the only person that wants clubs like Cas to do well from bringing through their own players. From what I've seen Atkins wouldn't be a huge leap forward from what we already have (or may have).

Farrell was Saracens.

I hope you are.

As long as clubs stay within the salary cap, which we all have the same as now, then there is no problem with player movement. Its not like the old days now.

Although I am pleased Cas and the likes are certainly improving I'd much rather see Leeds squad being improved even at their cost.

If it's for next season there would have to be a big transfer fee seems they are both under contract at their respective clubs.

Ryan Hall will have to be careful who he gossips to in future if he doesn't want it spread all over these forums.

Shenton and Atkins are both way ahead of what Leeds have available at right centre at the moment. Although Atkins is a left centre (always has been hasn't he?) and Shenton is being used more on the left than the right this season.

Both should already be on considerably more at their present clubs than Leeds would be offering. The only thing Leeds have that Castleford and Wakefield don't at this moment is a realistic opportunity to challenge for a place at Old Trafford.

Thought you didn't rate Atkins?

Not a view I can recall expressing on here. It's fair to say I rate Shenton the higher of the two though.

I recall you said that until Atkins did the stuff against the big teams, you wouldn't consider him. If not, my bad.

Cos he wants to, Dummy!!