I'm an optimist but I think I now agree with you. GH will simply say that no one was available at the right price. I do believe he went after Widdop but for whatever reason didn't pull it off. Interestingly both Reed and Widdop's contracts are up at the end of 2013 so there's nothing to stop him having another go.
If Vickery turns out a good player GH will have saved loads of money and we will be well under the cap. In that sernario what happens to Keinhorst and will they keep no. 4 vacant until all this is sorted out?

It's a good way of drumming up support for the pre-season friendlies.

The Boxing Day match always gets a decent attendance. A chance to see Achurch and Vickery. Also Gary H around this time mentions a possible further signing (this year a quality signing) to whet our appetite and usually nothing happens!
I wonder how sales of season tickets are going. GH's target was to reach 10000 sales hopefully by the end of the early bird period at the end Dec. I think this would be an increase of 1000 over this year. One things for certain, it's a great opportunity for Vickery to earn a contract with a knock on impact on Keinhorst.

gh 'right price'.

on one hand we've had more testimonials in recent years than preceding ones.

on the other he considered moz not worth owt on 2 occasions.

Would we have had jp if we'd resigned Moz though?

Going from his highlights I think BJB will hopefully get an improvement from this as he looks like a better fit on the wing. If

I think Vickery has been more of a winger but it seems Rhinos want to see what's he's like in the centres. It might put more pressure on BJB!

Sydney Morning Herald reporting/rumouring Willie Tonga to Leeds: www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 29ewn.html

Sydney Morning Herald reporting/rumouring Willie Tonga to Leeds: www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 29ewn.html

Good player in his time, few injuries but still only 29

The Aussie paper must have picked up on an old rumour as GH has recently confirmed we are not pursuing Tonga and since the rumour first broke we've also arranged the 3 month trial for vickery. IF we were still after Tonga I cannot see the need to give Vickery a trial as where would he play/who would he replace

No they didn't.
There may have been an old rumour but this story has arisen due to the Eels wanting to pursue Isral Folau who has announced that he wants to return to the NRL from the AFL. To fit him under thier salary cap the Eeels need to offload other players especially centres which is where Tonga comes into the equation.
HTH

Or is it the sleeve in action? Working the deal best he can. The number of players is no issue, sir Kev indicated the need for greater depth in his post match GF interview.

Vickery will be on peanuts - actually, will he even count of salary cap when on trial?

If he doesn't make the grade at Leeds he'll end up at a lesser club like Bradford or Hull.

I know that. The Folau issue is the whole reason the Tonga to Leeds rumour started 2 weeks ago, NOT today. GH told the YEP last Saturday that he was aware of the Tonga rumour but that he was a player we were not interested in.

Hence why I said the Aussie paper report is an old rumour and not something that has suddenly sprung up today

Boost the pack....Give SL time to the youngsters who came through last year......Tonga doesn't fit into the plan, I am guessing that he is on money that outstrips most of our team by a long way