I know they were only rumours but surely if we were in for Luke Gale we would of got him , in my opinion he is just what we needed to rebuild a team around . Now if the rumours are to be believed there is an even bigger name about to come on the market , if we are the biggest club in super league surely we must be in for the hottest property in super league, cant actually believe the pies will let him go mind

your comparing nick scruton to luke gale and john bateman , get a grip

Comparing? I am saying are we going to have a thread for every player that moves, as we have missed out. Not sure where you get a comparison from.

I am saying they are exactly the players we should be going in for and need , top of there game in super league so yes there should be a thread as to why a big club who are struggling and need new players are not investing in said players

And you know Leeds didn't make Gale an offer, because...?

Or are you another one of those Leeds fans who believes that the club should be able to attract any player it wants?

It was only a rumour Leeds were in for Gale, which was then given further legs by someone's alleged inside info on him that he'd be prepared to drop everything at Castleford if the opportunity arose to join Leeds.

It was probably a load of bull but fans will believe anything when they are desperate to hear of signings.

Luke Gale's doing well in Super League, don't know why he'd be interested playing in Championship.

Probably the truth of it. Leeds isn't as big of a draw as some fans on here seem to think, and is certainly not the place where you would look to go to purely for the money.

If i was a Gale, i would be enjoying my rugby too playing in that Cas side under a quality coach.

It's well known that Gale felt he was badly treated at Leeds (as do McShane and Powell). I doubt any would want to return.
Given that Gale wasn't out of contract until the end of next season, it's interesting to read his comments that he had interest from elsewhere. Surely this would have been a clear case of "tapping up"?

I imagine Leeds will find it difficult to attract the necessary recruits for two reasons in particular. 1 - who holds the purse strings, 2 - quality of coaching.

That leaves the production line that was once the Academy and if the likes of Lilley and Golding are representative of what it's producing then Leeds will continue to slide towards their level.

Without some sign of ambition and soon season tickets are going to be hard sell for 2017.

I am quite comfortable that subject to McDermott away from coaching players and in charge, that he academy lads we have will produce rewards over the next 3 to 4 years. If that doesn't change then then you will be adding a year on each time to get that reward.

In terms of raw ability, the 16/17 year old forwards in the Academy are the best crop we've seen in some time.

The likes of Smith, Oledzki, Jordan-Roberts, Whiteley, McConnell, Sutcliffe are all among the best players in the country at their age group. It's up to the club now to help them take that next step.

Really like the look of Tom Holroyd in the 16s as well, big lad for a first year at that level with decent skills too.

The outside backs still worry me a bit, there's nothing really in the 19s worth persisting with - maybe Nathan Waring who is in his first year - but if we can retain the players we have then that's not an area of immediate need.