https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/kallum-wat ... 97f828b119 Surely this can’t be true!

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/kallum-wat ... 97f828b119 Surely this can’t be true!

Feel for Watkins if that story is true, pre injury he was well worth marquee money, now, id be furious if the club gave him it. i actually wouldnt be upset if he left at this point. Newman and Broadbent are our future and Hurrells here until Broadbents ready, which wont be long. Like i say, feel for watkins because he's been a rolls royce for us but got to do whats best for the club.

I've just read not only on FB , but on the more reputable forum not far from here that Watkins and the Club are in dispute because the club want to lower his contract for next year and he may move to NRL . If true it really does look like a major clear out is on the way . Lowering his contract to move him on ? " constructive dismissal " ?

Yep. If it’s true, it would show the club are finally acting proactively and learning. Last thing we need is to be tied to a bigger contract when not looking like they would recover to match it.

I do think Watkins will eventually recover, but I also think his sacrifice is for the ultimate benefit of the club longer term.

Constructive dismissal? What are you talking about?

Not sure contract negotiations can be classed as that. Kallum has a contract which he can stay on until it expires or sign a new deal if the club has offered him one.

Apparently his present contract which he will still be on next year was due an increase and club wants to lower it to less than it is now .

Which would then be a new contract surely? If Kallum and his advisors chooses to accept that's his choice if not he stays on his current contract. What's the issue?

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/kallum-wat ... 97f828b119

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/kallum-wat ... 97f828b119

This has a ring to some of the statements Sinfield made as a player - to the effect that the best players could have all earned more money elsewhere but made salary sacrifices for the sake of the team.

If Sinfield is essentially expecting Watkins to make this sacrifice, that's fair enough IMO - provided that there is a clause for Watkins to earn the marquee money if he returns to top form.

I wonder whether this is a big part of the 'cancer' that Sinfield refers to - players asking for more than their market value in wages? It would certainly chime with the discontent over the salaries of Hurrell and Merrin... It also chimes with the comments made about salary cap sitting in the stands - are they are trying to reduce the impact of this by offering reduced terms to injury-prone players, without getting rid of them?

I could believe there’s some truth in this rumour. It’s very tough with players sometimes, and there is room for some loyalty, but at the end of the day the team has primacy over any individual for me.

If he has a contract in place then surely he won't agree to reduced terms, otherwise maybe just an informal agreement on increasing his earnings which the club now don't want to follow through on. Bit harsh to be judging anyone on their form in your current side. Even former aussie international merrin looks pedestrian

As much as it pains me to say it, I think the it's the best solution all round if KW leaves. He's done all he can for Leeds, and Leeds have done all they can for him. Ultimately though, looking from the outside, his captaincy this season has been woeful. It has now got to a point where many of us wouldnt even have him as a starting centre! I'd love to see him back to his explosive best, but just cant see that happening at Leeds, such is the state of the club at the mo. The cap space would be very useful too!