Just because Hall is academy trained it doesn’t mean we are getting to pay any less on the cap. If he was on a marquee wage we could, but he won't be so doesn’t meant too much. But agree on the general point. Don’t forget Myler and Olpherts also departed without being replaced and Johnson is likely to go.

For Goodness sake Chris , you have supported him long enough

What did i say that was incorrect?

Smith often said he left that to the agents and Hetherington.

Blame absolutely everything on Smith if it makes you feel better.

I think this is a good move, have watched a bit of stuff on Arthur on YouTube and like what I see.

Whether it was GH, Smith or both doing recruiting, Blease knows what we need and I think he will be all over it, which is what we need. Regardless of who is coach next year , the key is signing a few key high quality players.

Blease says Arthur is a good man manager and that will be important.

I spent a little bit of time recently with first team players, and it was fairly short, I won’t say anything about the circumstances but was struck at what I perceived to be a real lack of self confidence in some. We desperately need some leaders, Arthur can’t fix that in 11 games but I believe he has some real scope to help get some of the squad to step up.

I was also struck that Martin is held in high regard by the players and think he will be a real loss if he goes.
In any event I think Arthur will give them real direction and set clear expectations.

We’ve got a tough run in , I think The season could have gone south rapidly from here but think Arthur will make a difference, not saying we will make the playoffs and we could lose
Plenty but I think his appointment is a real step forward.

Quite right too the rest of the coaching team should be the selections of the head coach! If Arthur stays on its up to them to impress him. They are getting a shot which might not have been available if another coach had come in now on three year contract.

Even if Arthur doesn't stay beyond this season part of his remit should be to appraise the entire coaching setup, and to bring in or recommend people and positions to move the club forward. Not only have we got the head coach wrong for years, but its seemed as if reserve and assistant coach picks have been more about giving a job to former players and mates than treating them as an integrated part of the development pathway to the first team.

Absolutely correct.

Isn't that Blease's job though? I get what you're saying and i do agree.. my concern is that BA could go at season end and Rowley could come in and what his own ideas implementing with regards to coaching set up..

Yes, understand that Chris, however, the squad and the recruitment has been all Smith's - GH said last year Smith is in charge of player recruitment, yes GH will have done many of the contract finer details, however I am pretty sure Smith will have been fully in the loop, knowing who we can afford and who we can't. We've got players on the books who Smith wanted to bring in who are just not good enough for a club like Leeds. There's no doubt however, GH has messed up also in this. Anyways, time to look forward, im pretty confident Blease will sort out but it's just frustrating that it might take another season and a half or so..

Ive been impressed with Blease, he comes across as a guy that will not tolerate any nonsense on and off the field.

I listened to Chev in the pre-match conference before London. He mentioned aspiring to be a head coach but then mentioned that he was making no changes to how Leeds played. Surely, an aspiring head coach should have his own ideas on how the game should be played. It came across to me like he had no idea and was happy just to be told what to do. He didn't impress me at all.

No idea how Arthur will do as I have not watched much of Paramatta. I watched some videos of him on the sidelines and at training. He looks like someone who commands respect, is clear in his instructions and will not tolerate soft play. I suspect he will be cut throat and players will be dropped for youngsters if they do not perform. Sounds just what Leeds need.

Arthur seems the best candidate for the job at the moment, and this deal gives both parties a look at each other to see if it might be extended.

I wouldn't surprise me if Arthur ends up being our coach for next year too, but his family situation and opportunities back in Aus will have lots to do with it. He might not be the messiah at Leeds either, we'll have to see.

One of the big reasons I wanted him was because he has some draw with NRL players. I think it's key that we're able to attract a higher calibre of overseas player than we have in the past generally.

If Leeds are to get back to successful ways, we need a good coach but we also need stability and a settled side once the inevitable next cycle of clearing the dead wood is completed.

While I see the advantage of bringing in a top-level experienced NRL coach now, it has to be acknowledged there are risks involved that go way beyond whether or not the next 10-11 games pan out in a positive way.

Blease is obviously hoping for a Murray style appointment - short-term surge in results taking us back to the top. After all, he's spoken about Murray, and Arthur fits the bill in having what may be considered better pedigree than Murray's time at the Hunter Mariners. I hope this happens.

But there is a dark side to the Murray era too, which I fear could strike us a second time. The Murray success was not built upon in the Lance era, when Leeds stagnated while remaining a top club (SL was far less competitive then, as GH will point out). The Lance era was foreshadowed by Murray pinching Adrian Morley off us, and later on, Iestyn Harris going to Welsh RU. If BA achieves success in 6-18 months here and then goes back to the NRL, he's likely to take the cream of the crop with him (i.e. Croft, Newman if he ever lives up to his potential, etc). Hopefully Leeds will put in protections against this scenario panning out.