Now Rob has had his Benefit, he could take the same kind of view as Mat Diskin.
" I have been messed about in terms of selection / position, I've got my tax-free lump sum, I will go where I have been promised a definite role in a successful side."
I tend to think, however that we are at an early stage in negotiations - the nature of which GH will be becoming familiar with - a player looking for a good deal for his final years and the club looking to keep some space for new signings to rejuvenate the squad.

This.

Modern rugby league players are hugely interchangeable, as are their positions.

Who is a better FB than Tomkins in SL? I'm not disputing his weaknesses but they're isn't anyone better at this point.

As for Lockyer I really can't think of a better FB or SO at the time he played in either position.

As for Burrow, he's one of the best in the league, he wins games and does things no other player can and has done for years now. He's won matches playing in the halves or at hooker. He should go down as a legend for what he's achieved and for his ability.

Whilst I know we released Diskin from his contract, that piece of paper does have some validity and I doubt Leeds would do the same were Burrow to say he was off to a more vexatious club like, I dunno, Wigan.

When is Burrow contracted until?

I am almost certain that him and Danny are contracted up to the end of 2013.So probably negotiations have just started.I cant see any problem with McGuire not signing a new deal as he is next in line for a testimonial

Not surprisingly I disagree with he is the best hooker/scrum half - what he is is the best strike player we have and outside of Tomkins possibly the best strike player in SL.

If he went it would be a blow but not terminal - and without Buderus post the CC we would not have got to OT, without Burrow we would not have won it quite so easily.

Quote: lionarmour87 "I am almost certain that him and Danny are contracted up to the end of 2013. '" McGuire contracted to 2009 : news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 267347.stm Burrow contracted to 2010 : news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 070100.stm then both contracted to 2013 : news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 463015.stm

Quote: lionarmour87 "I am almost certain that him and Danny are contracted up to the end of 2013. '" McGuire contracted to 2009 : news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 267347.stm Burrow contracted to 2010 : news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 070100.stm then both contracted to 2013 : news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 463015.stm

Gotcha - you can't have watched much of Lockyer at fullback if you didn't see he was clearly the best in the world for several years.

Didn't really work out that well for him did it. Ended up sharing the hooking role with a far inferior player for a poor club who are on the brink of going out of business. Still, he was captain

I think you have misread my post. He was the best player in the world for several years.

Just not the best full back or stand off - your exact words. So presumably there were at least two better players?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say thats not what he was meaning. If you define players in rigid terms of what makes a good fullback, or a good stand off, some exceptional players will fall into neither camp. Players like Burrow or Tompkins have flaws in their game which means they would probably not fit into the pre-defined role, but their abilities are such that you have to have them in your team.

A similar argumnet could be made about Sinfield as a stand off and a loose forward

Thank you Eagle. I even said in reply to Gareth, "to back up your argument", which was exactly what you are saying.

Lockyer WAS the best full back in the world. Not the best 'player' in some general sense (which I'm not even sure means anything). The best full back. Easily the best attacking fullback of his era, and not too shabby in defence either.

As a stand off, I'd argue he was the best in the world for a year or so, but never as dominant as he was at fullback. His last two seasons saw him lose his pace, but not his ability to control the attack.