Maybe, but they always seem to have enough reasons to raise their game against us anyway. On the flip side of that is Hudds. team as a whole could get way caught up in the emotion and moment and veer away from any game plan they have to go head hunting Ferres so it could work in to the advantage of the team that signs him.

If Wigan are after Ferres as reported today, I wonder if he'd prefer them to us, viewing us as yesterday's men & Wigan as an upcoming force in Super League?
As usual I expect it will all come down to money.
I don't expect to see him in a Rhinos shirt next season.

PS getting hacked off at how long it takes to enter stuff on here.
What is going on?

Farrell, Joel Tomkins, Bateman when not used in the centre, not really sure why Wigan would use up a chunk of cap space in that particular position. Better off getting a natural centre or a big metre making prop.

Could just be his agent spreading rumours though in the hope of teams upping their wage offers.

I hope we do make a move for him.

Putting the off the field things to one side and assuming it would not unsettle the dressing room then I think he would finish our pack off nicely.

I always feel that we are a little light in the back three (not so much when Cuthbertson is at loose I know), and even though Ward hits above his weight I think a good strong back rower will keep us in the running for silverware.

Hopefully he would be able to help share the workload that seemed to be draining the energy from a few players last year.

Unless Gary wants to keep some salary cap free again for a mid season signing to depending on injuries!

Take the point but most good players move now with no fee. I have no idea of wages etc involved but only recent comparable case is carney. Still on a long contract at cas. They have reduced their liability for 1 year by loaning to Salford. Fee is £50k plus 4 years wages for a guy Hudds can't play. Be surprised if hetherington takes on a £500k plus bill for a guy that Hudds cannot get on pitch that comes with a bad news story, club image impact, leaving aside the whole dressing room possible risk. Any club in for Ferres will be trying to drive Hudds to pay some of wages never mind jumping in with a big 4 year contract plus £50k. it is certainly the position we most need strengthening though.

I think a fee of around £50k is something Leeds would pay. We have in the past for the likes of Hardaker and Aiton and IIRC we paid a fee for Griffin?

My only real reservation regards Ferres is his recent transgression. However, if the club can satisfy themselves regarding his character then he's a quality player who's available, so we should be interested. As others have said I think he'd add something to our backrow and crucially give the likes of Ablett and Delaney a break every so often. Even more important now as you'd imagine Cuthbertson will move back to prop from loose forward.

If Leeds are happy with his character and we can fit him in the salary cap, then I think we should go for him.

I'm guessing he may have some personality issues if what happened at the Giants is to be believed. If the entire dressing room has turned on him then he might not have been the most popular player on the squad in the first place.

Do we want a player like that at Leeds, regardless of his talents?

I think the issue was that serious that it doesn't matter how popular he was, he has to leave that particular dressing room.

In Hardaker, Hall, Watkins, Briscoe, Ablett, Burrow we have several players who will know him from England duty over the last couple of years as well as former Hudds player Mullally that can offer their opinion of him as a potential addition to the squad to the coaches and management.

Coming from the person who said Wire had signed Westerman to be Clark's chauffeur (or vice versa?), I think I'll take your comments with a pinch of salt

You would have to assume Ferres is one of Hudds most highly paid players along with Brough. Not unreasonable to think he might be on £100k+. Not every club balances it's salaries as well as Leeds.

Though he may have to take a pay cut, or Hudds may be willing to continue to pay some of it.

He would take some of the pressure off Ablett and also could free Ward up to play at 13.

Yep.
With Ward at 13 itd leave Ablett, Delaney, Ferres and JJB vying for the 3 second rower spots in the 17. Meaning we can rest one of them, and occasionally Ward, without an appreciable loss of quality.

Personally I reckon a forward pack and bench of:

8. Galloway
9. Falloon
10. Cuthbertson
11. Ferres
12. Ablett
13. Ward

14. Burrow
15. Garbutt
16. Singleton
17. Delaney/JJB

Is very strong and still leaves us one of Delaney or JJB plus Achurch, Keinhorst and Walters to cover injuries.

I wouldn't add a second rower just for the sake of it, but a second rower of Ferres quality is a different matter and would be a good addition to the squad.
If we don't get him then it's not the end of the world either.

That is a bit of a dipstick comment. I have never once said Westerman was signed to be Clarks chauffeur, I said tongue in cheek he would be Clarks Chauffeur. You can't see the difference? It was an answer to an issue for a Wire, that fit. Westerman is a class player, and why Leeds included were in for him, whether he can drive or not.

Now get in the real world and understand salaries. It's funny that you spout if he is in it for money, then Salford will be his destination, yet you discount that his current club would pay this salary.

I just deleted a post due to not reading back through i was thinking you wasn't of the belief Ferres wasn't on over 100k, apologies.

Yes i think it is a safe bet he will be on 100k plus due to his fine WC and the strong negotiating stand point he had at his last negotiations, being a star man in the Hudds. team and into his prime years too.

If Leeds were the only show in town they could afford to drive down costs. But there are other clubs who will pay more, but don't have the current status of Leeds. It will come down to how selfish Ferres is; does he want money or success.