That was exactly my reaction

Swapping one quality player for another doesn't improve the squad, it just creates a hole in a different place.

Some clubs might operate like this but I don't think it's how Gary wants to conduct business.

If Watkins does want to leave we should be targeting a quality like-for-like replacement.

So signing arguably the best rl player in the world would somehow weaken our quad?

Adding a player of the class and statue of Sam Burgess would strengthen any SL side including Leeds. IMO he would be involved in play far more than Watkins and bring that important on field leadership and motivation that we have come to reply on from JP. His go forward and tough tackling would put us on the front foot so often that out backs would not just "get by" but see more ball going forward.

As I said it is quite likely that Watkins will be poached at some stage anyway so to turn up a chance to sign big Sam would be a big mistake. That said it is pure speculation and I doubt we could afford the transfer fee anyway.

A statue of Sam Burgess, is about all we could afford if we want to keep a balanced squad. He is a great player but I would rather keep a balance of talent across the piece than the odd superstar in 1 position and a weakened squad as a result.

Burgess will either stay in RU for the long haul (a big mistake for him personally IMO but he has an enormous ego which will find it very hard to walk away as a 'failure' at RU) or go back to Souths. Anything else would be a stop-gap for him. I wouldn't be interested in Eastmond either, as if he wanted to go back to RL he will also have shown a propensity to move at the drop of a hat.

Hopefully with Watkins as with some others the club culture is as important as money. Playing with your friends and having a chance to experience big wins is a lot. Not everyone want to experience the 'challenge' of moving away from home and trying a different sport, no matter what the rewards.

There seems to be a lot of assumption that Watkins will want to leave yet he's already signed a long term deal also JC Burgess hasn't been the best RL player in the World or even in the top 3 for at LEAST 12 MONTHS!

Indeed but I have not seen any other players improve enough to have taken his place. Who are you suggesting would be better if he were to return to RL?

Any interest in Watkins is surely for the next world cup. That is four years away. So I agree with you, what benefit would Watkins get in leaving Leeds any time sooner than 12 months before the next world cup? He can still do three years here with the potential for success, before then moving on to run down his career in the other code whilst getting to experience their premier competition.

It is speculation, as is the notion that Watkins will choose to go elsewhere. To me, he comes across as a confidence player. I'm really not sure that the attention that a high profile move to either the NRL or to union would generate would be something he'd relish. Again, only speculation though.

Of course it is all speculation but after our treble and with the team in transition Watkins is bound to be tempted.

What is clear is he would earn several times more each year in Union and would have the chance to learn the game and earn his England spot before the next world Cup. He would have less tackling to do in Union which would prolong his career at the top and should win his international place on merit within a year and so get to travel the world with the England team.

I would be very surprised if the swop deal was for Burgess and more likely for Eastmond - centre for centre/standoff.

Eastmond would be 'No' from me - regardless of the deal really. He's been away from RL for too long and at a key development stage of his career - he was already a biscuit bones at Saints (plus a questionable attitude) and IMO will now have irrecoverable talents after his RU stint.... If he'd stayed in RL and worked on his game, he could have been a great playmaker, but that ship has sailed in my view - wasted in RU with no guarantee of getting back to being a top RL player.

The money he would command would most definitely be better spent elsewhere.

As for Watkins, I'd not swap him for any RU player - including Burgess or SBW.... Whilst both those players would be immense - they'd both be gone after 12 or 24 months, and are in positions where we can live without them - Watkins is pretty much irreplaceable at the moment and I feel still has a lot of unrealised potential in his game.... With a little more involvement and hunger for the ball, plus a game plan to exploit his talent, he could become the best centre in the world. Plus, from what I've seen and heard, he's a bit of a home bird, he's got a young family and is settled in Leeds (similar to Ryan Hall), so there's a good chance he would remain loyal to the club long term. And when I think about it, I'm not sure there are many RL players out there that I'd swap for Watkins... There might be some who can bring more immediately to the team (Thurston, DCE, Smith, Cronk), but those type of signings are not realistic and would be short term - Watkins could potentially be around for many many years.

Very true, and you could understand it if Watkins indeed does have that point view on things either now or in the near future. He has 5 years left in his prime and he needs to maximise his potential and earn some big bucks while he can, I wouldn't hold anything against him personally, He has achieved everything with us now and cemented his place as SL great already imo. I just can't see Eastmond being the kind of player that suits Leeds or GH and the current organisation at Headingley though. He seems to me to be a bit of a Rugby diva and i can't imagine he would fall into line with things work and have worked well for us in the past decade and more. It would be very surprising to me if GH would see him as a good fit for the club but we'll see.