Oh, it appears it isn't subjective after all. Carry on.

It is arrogant to assume that a player should want to play for Leeds rather than Catalans.

Why do you think he is greedy - do you know how much GH offered him or how much the Catalans offered him the differential is probably large.

I take it you would reject a large salary increase!! Thought not

Logically no but if Catalans can get Carney on the pitch regularly they will be a force plus south of France or West Yorkshire know where I would rather live

They are losing both Whitehead and Zeb Taia from the 2nd row though so that's a significant loss for them.

I understand both sides of the argument going on here, but would stick up for Aiton in that when you are 35 / 40 and retired and having to retrain in a new job / career - that extra 15k a year (or whatever it might be) for 3 years you have taken from Catalans aged 30-33 will keep your family eating and a roof over your head a lot longer than a (potential) 2 CC winners' medals and a Grand Final medal (but 45k less) would.

Doesn't mean he is greedy - it just makes sense really.

i'm self employed plant driver and , not in a nasty way, you are a mercenary. if you have a good reputation firms chase you, so you move around a lot. always leaving on good terms but for more coin. you simply weigh up the pro's and cons.
if catalan are offering mega bucks then at 31 he would be stupid to turn it down. any sane person would

Another key thing too is length of contract. Aiton said that he and Leeds couldn't come to an agreement on a deal for next year AND beyond.

It might be that Leeds only wanted to activate the 3rd year option and didn't offer any extension or maybe just 1 extra year (as they might be planning on Robbie Ward taking over eventually perhaps?).....whereas Catalans have offered him 3 years.

I think that is the point precisely.
I would doubt Leeds would be offering him a 3 year deal and no I do not know that for sure.
But even for the same money and a three year gig compared to a 1 or 2 year gig then Aiton has done the right thing.
For some people whilst it is a dream to win tropheys for others at the age Aiton is it might be about securing a decent future for his family.
It`s not as if he is moving to a championship team or Salford/Wakefield!
He still stands a reasonable chance next year of winning something.

Quote: chapylad " I would doubt Leeds would be offering him a 3 year deal and no I do not know that for sure. '" 'Gary Hetherington said, "It is not come as a surprise because Paul rejected a new 3-year contract from us' www.therhinos.co.uk/news/27061.php#.VcOLUa0mNEY

Quote: chapylad " I would doubt Leeds would be offering him a 3 year deal and no I do not know that for sure. '" 'Gary Hetherington said, "It is not come as a surprise because Paul rejected a new 3-year contract from us' www.therhinos.co.uk/news/27061.php#.VcOLUa0mNEY

I think one thing that might have got lost somewhere, is that Leeds generally make new contract decisions on overseas players at the start of the season. Seems to have happened that way for a number of years.

Tad posted on here months ago that Leeds had made a cash offer for Houghton, and received the usual abuse for it.

From the timing of things above, I think Leeds did make Aiton an offer, but it was early, and without the hindsight of seeing the season he has had. Without the hindsight of how good a year he has had that offer probably was no different to the contract he was on. By the same token, Aiton probably made his decision without the hindsight of how good Leeds have been, no one could possibly have seen us as good as this, this year.

Then knowing he wouldn't sign the new offer, the club will have allowed him to speak with other clubs, and seek to make its own plans. Hence the offer made at the time for Houghton, which Tad was clearly correct on.

I don't think this development from player and club has been made in the last couple of weeks, but was made months ago. I also reckon both club and player will be regretting the course taken, and will learn from it. Had both known they would be such a good fit, I reckon Leeds would have done more to keep him, and Aiton would have seen his priorities change.

For me it is just simply a case of timing issues, and one again for me, that all party's lose from. The player does not deserve to be crticised for the decision made. He could very well, for this year at least, be the difference between winning nothing, and winning plenty.

I'm still struggling to understand the fascination with Aiton. He has been. Journeyman player all his career - he would be in the NRL if any team wanted him. You surround him with some good players and all of a sudden he's Cameron Smith. The key to the hooking role is go forward on attack and an ability to make 40 tackles a game. Replacing Aiton will not be that tough plenty of suitable candidates out there.

Like who?

Agreed.