Always rumours going around of players coming and going. Will believe it when I see it, until then just rumours.

Fair enough. I did think Cooper was a good call when you made it, but was looking for reasons why not. If we can't get a Jennings, and we have kids capable of being developed over two years, then Cooper would be a fair shout for the same reasons Buderus has been.

Spoke to Ali a few days ago and he said it's rubbish about him and Webb going. Not true at all.

As for going for Matt Cooper do we really want a team of old men ?

We want players that we can get a good amount of years out of not just 1 or 2 seasons.

TBF Leeds would be foolish to keep Webb and Ali because for one, they will have decent contracts and also they have both been a shadow of their former selves since the serious injury's they suffered. Both great servants to the club but we have ready made replacements on lower wages (more than likely).

Oh, and as far as the OP goes. It's amazing what a call from Bennett does to a player. Matt Cooper was ready to sign for a SL club last year but Bennett took over as Saints coach and gave him a call telling him he needed a player like that at the club. 2 years later and he hasnt looked back. The Dragons may want to spend his cap money on a younger player though next season and its pretty much nailed on that he's leaving.

He is still world class though. And as I said above, Ashton Wilson looks to be a cracking prospect who I would like to see in the opposite centre position to Watkins in the future. He's not ready yet though so it would benefit him to learn off a great.

It's never happen because he'll be after a place in the aussie team but if and when Webb goes would have loved to see Ben Barba at Leeds.

Cooper in the Aussie team?

Inglis, Hodges, Idris, Morris and a few more are ahead of him mainly due to age. He's better than Idris and Morris though.

As for Beni Barber! It's never going to happen

He is the next Australian full back IMO after Slater. There's alll this talk about Josh Duggan being the next number 1 but I dont think he's as good as what's been made of him. Barba has the X Factor and i'd hate to see him leave the Dogs... ever!

In that case then I concur

Barber is a one trick pony - a bit like Burrow - coaches in the NRL will work him out and next season he will not be quite the showstopper he is now.

Slater's reading of the game is second to none - that is why he will be the Aussies fullback for the next 5 years - by which time Barber will be a distant memory.

Barba is only 21 and this is his 1st full season in first grade. Players defensive capabilities generally improve year on year from when they are introduced. Also, there arent many Billy Slater's out there so when he leaves the scene they will hgave to go for the next best thing.

Oh and BTW, had Slater not been around who would the QLD fb have been in that time

As for Cooper, he is more than a defensive centre and to compare him to Brett Delaney is crazy! Delaney wouldnt get anywhere near Cooper.

Boyd now i'll agree but Bowen would have been before that. And Barba will develop in D. All you have to do is look closer to home and see what a difference a season in FG made to McShane's defensive ability. At times last year he looked totally out of his depth but this year has improved that side of his game out of sight.

Just going back to Barba though, what you are saying is what people said about McGuire for years. Also he's more than a runner. He creates so much and puts as many people through gaps as the breaks he makes himself. I know if we are chasing the game going into the last 10 mins though he's the player I would like to see touch the ball as much as is humanly possible