I seriously doubt he was heading out no matter what. He was dropped earlier in the year and when the rumour was he was ill McDermott set the record straight and said he wasn't. Late on in the year though he was in the team for the CC games and the final and started ahead of Leuluai for the Saints and Wigan games......hardly treatment of someone you were planning to get rid of. Possibly it might've been the final straw in terms of they told him he wouldn't get another contract after his 2015 one ran out and when HKR came asking they thought yeah they can have him.

If they were going to cut his contract short why wait until the end of the season? McDermott showed by 2011 when Cross and Burgess left that he'll go short of numbers if that's what he wants. They also didn't mind pushing Webb out of the scene at the back end of 2012 when they'd had enough of him.

Maybe just maybe what Gal has stated has happened.

Hull KR 2 props down and need something. They asked about Bails, done a 2 year deal and the rests history.

Will it see Netherton and Bails back in the same team? Old school.

No I mean letting him go. He could have been sacked anyway at the time,

Wonder if that has relieved some salary cap space to bring in Scott Dureau?

Ian Kirke out next please!

I think if someone approached the club for Kirke they would say yes talk to him by all means.

Is Kirke in his last year? if so, then i see us retaining him in case of an injury crisis but don't see much game time for him otherwise, before he is moved on at the end of next season.

One of the two clearly had to go, and it looked like neither would so todays news is good for the club.

Hopefully GH can find another quality prop from somewhere (won't be easy) over the next few months.

Agree with that. I can't see Kirke lasting beyond his current contract. Whilst I appreciate what Bailey has done over the years and his undoubted early quality and potential I think it's been a few years since we saw much quality from Bailey.

Despite making us lighter by a prop I think it's a good move as it'll force us to look for another prop. Hopefully a quality one who can try and take some of the burden when Peacock & Leuluai retire.

So he's committed a breach of his contract equivalent to gross misconduct, for which Leeds could have sacked him but didn't, instead choosing to retain him?

Peacock, Leuluai, Cuthbertson, Kirke, Singleton, Yates.

Don't be surprised to see Leeds go with that prop rotation, backed up by Mulhern and Baldwinson.

It'll be very interesting for 2016. Peacock and Leuluai retiring, Kirke, Singleton, Yates, Mulhern all out of contract at end of 2015. Leaving us with Cuthbertson and Baldwinson until anyone is signed. You could also include Achurch who can play prop.

I wouldn't be suprised and if Cuthbertson performs and Singleton develops well then we'll probably be alright. I was really meaning for 2016 when Peacock & Leuluai have gone. As we need props to step up and take their place and I don't think Bailey & Kirke are capable of doing so.

The top 25 squad members should be announced within the next week or two as the players return to training next Monday. I would probably say:

Hardaker
T Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Mcguire
Burrow
Leuluai
Aiton
Peacock
JJB
Ablett
Sinfield
S Ward
Delaney
Sutcliffe
Kirke
Achurch
Singleton
Cuthbertson
Baldwinson
Tonks
Foster
Keinhorst
Yates
-----
Walters
R Ward
Minns
Mulhern
L Briscoe

I'd also say Robbie Ward did more than enough in his first team appearances to crack the top 25 as well.

Can't see Minns or Foster being at Leeds for long, if at all next year. Farmed out on loan to a Championship club, ahead of their eventual release.