If both had contracts then they would surely have stayed at Leeds on their existing terms until another club came in for them.
That happened for both players so presumably neither is worse off financially than if they'd stayed at Leeds.
Kirke comes out of this better than Bailey IMV, but I guess that should not come as a surprise given my perceptions of their respective characters.
My other thoughts on both players are that Kirke was unlucky in that he didn't make the step up to SL level until his mid 20s so too late to benefit from earlier exposure to conditioning, strength work, fitness training generally & skills development. He was always playing catch-up with those who had come through the higher level academy system.
Bailey's problem was the exact opposite, he came through at a very young age without having the mental maturity to handle it. Something we see with a lot of early developers.
Such a pity for both players, but that's life I suppose.
But mustn't feel too sorry for either since they both were part of the most successful era in the Rhinos history with the medals to prove it.

Kirke looked very subdued when he picked up the Challenge Cup , but that might the way he is anyway. Future generations though when they look at the Club history they will see his name on all those Trophy winning teams

We already had this two months back. I am totally correct on it, and have no need to name any sources. If people want to believe Bailey was only told at end of season, then good luck with you, that's your prerogative. I am comfortable knowing differently, and why I have posted he was going end of season since April.

I'll believe a Leeds player over you any day of the week.

Good for you. Your still wrong though, and information is outdated.

You're.



I miss Wheels.

Your information isn't just outdated, it's b0ll0ck$

And yet proved correct before it was announced

. Like I said, you are entitled to your opinion, wrong or not.

Kirke may not be a good player but he's as a good a source as any to speak about the post season departures. If he says himself and Bailey were told at the same time very late on then what's makes this untrue?

After the CC win we still had the potential to do the treble, or at least the double. Going by previous years does anybody seriously think GH would've made these changes had we claimed another GF win? Hell no, he'd be boasting about it being the single best season ever and why make changes to such a successful team.

What happened in the league and playoffs forced his hand though. Even though we had poor league placing a in '11 and '12 he could say they did the job in the playoffs....hell even in 2013 he could say they improved to 3rd and reached the final eliminator. But how 2014 finished left quite a lot of angry supporters and to quell the anger and think about season tickets for 2015 he couldn't leave the squad the same so he let some of the scapegoats go.

I mean what has been arguably the biggest gripe with fans for the last few years? That the likes of Bailey and Kirke clog up the bench whilst youngsters don't get a chance......so what happens when he knows he needs to get fans back on a board? Gets rid of the deadwood that many fans have wanted rid of for a while and keeps harping on about and signing up youngsters to new deals.

Their departures were completely a result of how the season ended.

This seems a more plausible explanation for me - if Bailey knew he was out then it seems odd it took him so long i.e. April to November to find another club. Also I don't see any reason for Kirke to disguise the truth? If rumours are to be believed Leeds have been trying to move Bailey along for years so why tell him in April he was history yet continue to pick him over giving youngsters valuable experience?

I'm still here. Sitting. Reading. Judging.