Not to change the subject in here, but Mulhern to hull KR next season on loan is also on the agenda.

Add to it that Bath have just signed a lad from Wigan's u19's, a centre called Liam Forsyth.

Also doing the rounds over there concerning a player we've previously been linked with. Ryan Hampshire to Castleford for next year is rumoured.

I seriously doubt the team ethos could be destroyed solely by signing Burgess. They're a few certain players who you could sign and the squad be so impressed with that they'd be ok with him taking the marquee money and I thnk Burgess falls into that category.

I'm sure Burgess would be a positive influence whilst at the club. But when he leaves??

He's shown that loyalty to a sport or club (or even playing alongside his family) are meaningless compared to what he can get out of playing. That's fair enough, its his life, but do you really want him telling young players about what its like hanging out with Rusty and his mates and being a star in Sydney, or how he made England's RU team within months and played at Twickers? In both cases walking away early from contracts he'd signed? Particularly when he'd then be waving goodbye after a year.

If Peacock and Sinfield were still around I'd say the club ethos would be almost impossible to damage. But they've gone, and I think it makes the next year or so absolutely crucial in terms of keeping that going.

I'm not saying Leeds shouldn't look at him if he's interested. All I'm saying is that I'd want him to be managed very carefully if he did.

Yeah I don't think he'll be bigging up RU to our guys. If anything he'll warn them against going to RU.

I was surprised when Mulhern wasn't selected for the Irish squad for the European Championship games.
Was he unfit? He played against the Kiwis though.

That would be a very good move for both Leeds and Mulhern.

Agree. I think JP at HKR could prove a useful contact for loan agreements.

How much would Burgess damage his reputation by chopping and changing clubs and sports?

I know SBW has done the same, but in comparison to Burgess he's been a blinding success in Union regularly getting into the 23 for the best side in the world. Burgess hasn't even cracked a place in a mediocre England side which couldn't get out of its World Cup group. Also, hasn't SBW timed his contracts in such a way that he wasn't walking out in the middle of them to go somewhere else?

If you're another NRL club or a SL club, do you want a player who packs up his bags when either it gets a bit tough for him in Union or someone puts something shiny in front of him to tempt him (his departure from Souths)? Would you want to be basing your long term vision for a club around a marquee player who seems to have the attention span of a cocker spaniel?

Don't think it'll matter. If he walks out on em and the Lancaster-Farrell-Ford team gets the chop, I think there'll be far fewer offers, at least for the top players.

All valuable points, as usual.

I think it's a context thing, though. If we were still a nearly club - like, say, Wigan - then grafting on a player of Burgess' stature could be very disruptive. It would indeed be a rejection of all the things that got us where we are today and potentially a return to the horrible mistakes of the past.

However, we are now a club who has won everything. All roads lead downwards from here [iunless[/i we aim for something bigger. In fact, it's essential that we do. Risks will have to be taken.

The next step up on the ladder is to establish ourselves as a global RL brand, like Souths - capable of transcending the boundaries of the sport. Far-fetched? Probably. But the success of the last decade could be the foundation of something transformational for our game.

Andy G - re SBW have you forgotten that he walked out on the Dogs in the middle of the season?

I agree entirely about the rest of your post though. Sam has made his bed and if he comes back to RL (which is great for the sport) he'll be forever seen as a failure in England regardless of what he does in RL. If he stays in RU his legacy in RL will be diminished and whilst he could come good there's no way he'll ever have the same impact in RU. Whilst I hope he comes back to RL I honestly think his best bet is to maybe do one more year in RU (to at least 'make it' at club level) and then try to capitalise as much as possible on the prodigal son angle when he returns to Souths.

Either way I wouldn't be at all surprised if he somewhat regrets listening to Farrell and Ford now.

I'm inclined to believe the story has some merit now as it's being reported on the Sky Sports website. They are usually pretty reliable and don't usually report stuff if it isn't from a good source.

I see a number of posts stating that Minchella won't return. Has that been confirmed or is it justa rumour?

Minchella's dad posts on here and has confirmed he will not be at Leeds next season.