I thought you could exclude long term injured players from the SC for exactly this reason?

I hear its a loan move but can be permenant at the end of the season, dependent on whether Scott Donald gets a new deal or not.

I am not sure of the rules regarding injured players but BM wrote in the programme
"Whilst we are exploring all avenues to get us through this period of injuries, fans must also remember that this has to be done within the confines of the cap"
This was written after Watkins' season ending injury so gives the impression that regardless of our long term injuries we don't have much room to manouvre.
May also be a factor in the decision not to recall BJB.

That could well be true as Jones-Bishop is presumably outside Leeds' 1-25 1st grade squad at the start of the 2010 season.

That being the case I just wish coach McClennan could have levelled with the supporters last week rather than using the 'Jones-Bishop is primarily a full-back' line.

Scotty (imo) will want to return to OZ next season

Why will Scott Donald want to return to Oz? Even if not with Leeds, he'll get a much bigger pay packet in SL than he'd be offered in the NRL.

To retire gracefully?

He'll be 31 before next season starts, he has a young family, he's in re-hab now after a shoulder reconstruction, he's probably achieved as much out of the game as he's likely to. Perhaps he'd count on the overseas trained quota (I'm not sure how that works) if he left Leeds but stayed in SL, which may make finding another club over here more difficult as the quota (supposedly) reduces to 5 in 2011.

Not many players retire gracefully.

Jon Wells did last night on Sky Sports and good luck to him in this his testimonial season (the first Broncos player to have been awarded one) and for the future beyond that.

He first played against Leeds in 1998 but I have a feeling he may be one of the players that has played in every year of Super League, not sure though. He's also a member of the 10 tries minimum V Leeds club.

If I recall correctly he qualified as either an accountant or a lawyer in his Castleford days so that may cushion the blow of giving the game away to injury and old age at 31.

The quick answer is no! Sorry!

Well the £3m comment clearly shows, as another poster pointed out, he is talking out of his bottom!

Also, in respect of signing anyone 'back' that is clearly bottom talk again, how can RFL/SL restrict any players freedom of trade by contravening contract law? As long as both teams agree terms for player and of course they can make room for him in the cap then he can come back.

1. Correct
2. Qualified in Leeds at the same time as Oliver Marns, once of Halifax I believe.
He's always comes across as a genuine guy whenever I've heard him. Good luck to him in his new career whatever that may be.

I think that a player stays exempt even if he moves clubs, which is why the likes of Solomona, Gene and Tadulala were able to be signed by their respective clubs

Yes, length and terms of residency is the deciding factor.

no you can exclude them from the 25 man first team squad by de-registering, but thats all afaik