Given it was widely reported that we'd agreed terms with Westerman, but couldn't/were not prepared to meet Hull's £150k valuation, with some suggesting we'd gone cool on that deal because the Burgess signing was a 'goer' then given it looks increasingly likely that Burgess isn't coming either, I wonder what 3rd option GH may have up his sleeve as it's clear we must have £££'s to spend on wages and SC room otherwise we wouldn't have been able to go for either Joe or Sam.

We've already signed Burgess.

Gotcha said so.

SBW. i saw him talking to GH In starbucks Leeds yesterday.Expect an announcement after the WC final.

I think the sleeve may be empty. Have the club ever actually confirmed they were interested in SB? Or could it all have played out in the collective fevered imaginations of the press and the fans?

Two and two together to make five. Leeds have a significant amount of cap space and are in the public eye after winning the treble and the game against NZ.

Not seen anything from the club confirming any interest in Burgess.

I think Leeds would try to get Burgess. I can see why they would. And I can see why it would be worth a go. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of an announcement yet. What are the odds on Sky Bet at the moment? They were 5/1!

I'm struggling to remember the club ever confirming their interest in any player.
They usually don't, they just announce the signing.
There's no upside to announcing an interest publicly.

You're right, that's who they're after. They've been giving us clues all along, hiding in plain sight, now you've said it it's obvious.
I mean look at the 2 big, rumoured to be signed players.

[sizeS[/sizeam [sizeB[/sizeurgess and [sizeW[/sizeesterman

Plain as day

I think GH would be aswell keeping his powder dry this year. Marquee exemption got voted in June this year when many of the best RL players coming off contract were already tied up.

Burgess wasn't expected to be available so I don't think there was any plan to get him, more a response to a fluid situation and despite Westermans price tag, I don't think he will either be on that much or was a core signing.

We clearly have a fair bit available on the cap, plus the marquee allowance, we have only signed falloon for the year, so there is space for our next long term hooker signing and an opportunity to make a run at one or two really big names on expiring contracts. Some real top quality coming off contract next year.

Who are the real top quality players coming off contract next year who Leeds might be interested in signing?

Forget Sam Burgess, I'm still waiting for Peter Sterling to come!

Josh Hodgson for starters.

David Klemmer, Feleti Mateo, Cooper Cronk, Rory Kostjaysn (hugely underrated IMO), James Tamou, Dylan Walker, Benji Marshall, Ben Creagh, Michael Jennings, Sam Moa all off contract at the end of 2016, and that's just the bigger names.

Segayaro and ennis too

Probably all out of reach along with Tamou and Klemmer.

But if we were willing to stump for Burgess why not Papalii or Cordner.

I'm not saying we are going to get any of those names but we can at least make a serious run at a few next year whilst we couldn't this.

Assuming that Falloon goes well and stays (or is replaced by say Clark) then the only one I would make a play for off that list is Feleti Mateo. We will be very well set in the front row, and backs. I hope that the club give Lilley first shot at halfback once McGuire goes, and Sutcliffe gets the same at Stand Off next year, meaning we are looking for back rowers. Klemmer won't come over, he's just got into the SoO set up for NSW and won't give that up easy.

All that said, I'd still not be throwing huge money at Mateo, but he would be a good upgrade on what we have.