Could this be Rafiq fallout? I.e. Cutting the wage bill to cover loss of sponsorship from Emerald.

But that would leave us with Dwyer starting at hooker, which we all know is just bad.

I can't see any upside to Leeds from this at all so far. We get some salary cap but who can we spend it on at this stage?

I reckon something has gone on between Gale and the club to be honest.

So the upside of that would be getting rid of a player who doesn’t want to be there, team spirit has been a massive improvement maybe the club don’t want someone who is disruptive

We’ve also got form for a decent mid season signing the cap space would definitely help with that

If, and the emphasis is on ‘if’, Austin and Sezer are going to start the season as first choice 6 & 7, it wouldn’t have been long before Gale would have been unhappy anyway. The signing of Austin would be very questionable if he isn’t going to be played in the halves.

That’s what most felt as well but Agar has been very local and consistent in his views that Austin was signed to play a utility role with the clear inference therefore that injuries permitting, Sezer and Gale were going to be the starting HBs so something has clearly gone on as this is a pretty big ‘U’ turn in the original plan that was put in the public domain

I dunno, this has been simmering for ages. Who gets the captaincy removed like that?

Signing Sezer and Austin will definitely have put Gale’s nose out.

I have nothing against Gale, he’s a good player and seems honest etc. I can imagine him getting under other people’s skin though.

The jigsaw isn’t complete for Leeds. The advantage to us will only come if we can sign a good player this season with the extra cap.

GH says no further recruitment planned. Guess we'll have to see.

I think it’s a possibility that what was being said in public was said with the intention of keeping Gale happy for the time being, bearing in mind Austin wouldn’t have even started training with the club. Maybe the club have doubts over Gale’s chances of staying injury fee for most of the season.

That’s the sort of thing I’d expect him to say if further recruitment was planned. If we add a big, powerful prop we’d certainly enhance our chances of seriously challenging next season.

If there was going to be an issue with Gale attitude then its better that he's out of the picture. The fact that we have released him for no fee to a rival club suggests that we wanted him out or potentially hes become aware of the Hull interest and agitated for a move and Leeds have cut their losses. A lot depends on Sezer staying fit now.

If aren't then something is wrong. Wing and HB have been improved, badly need a prop than can do the hard yards

To me prop is no longer the priority now. One injury to either half and the team wont function to the level it needs to.

We need Leeming at 9, Myler and Sutcliffe, no disrespect to either, they arent the answer in the halves.

We badly need a 3rd half back we cant go into next season with just Austin and Sezer.

Do you lot have a young kid who you could as cover? You usually have someone coming through the academy.

I just hope we can get near a full season out of Gale.

So which top line half back who won’t ruin our shape is going to come to play second fiddle to Sezer and Austin?

Wouldn’t most SL clubs be in trouble if they lost their best half back?

I agree I don’t much like our Plan B options but sounds like Gale needed to move on. It is what it is. Leeds Live mentioning rightly that there are a few players in need of contract upgrades this year too - not least of which Harry Newman. I’m hoping he is actually done hut they’re waiting for a good PR moment to announce it.

To be honest mate I’m not sure what domestic options we have at either prop or half back at this stage.

Yes, this has had an air of inevitability about it.
Gale is 33, had a poor season, stupid disciplinary issues and has become injury prone.
We go and sign an overseas 6 and 7, which has clearly put his nose out of joint.
I think this was inevitable.
I'm excited to see Sezer and Austin together in the halves. Looks like a proper pairing.

I don't agree that we need to sign another HB.
We have Walker coming back and Fusitua, so are not so reliant on Myler at FB, so he will be the first choice HB cover.
We also have Johnson coming through, which means we could use him or Leeming if desperate.
Not many teams have 3 quality out and out HB's. They have cover.

The important bit is that this releases cap space.
We must go and sign a British prop now.
If we do that, I think we have done excellent business.