I suspect Buderus has already agreed to return next year and that the delay in the announcement of his return is posturing by GH to try and show he had a say in the matter, possibly also whilst negotiations continue over a "significant transfer fee" a la Eastwood to the NRL last year (which in the end was enough to buy a replacement for the Kiwi international from the Championship)

There's also the matter of the perception in Australia of Leeds as a club. The Eastwood saga undoubtedly did us some damage, and if we were to be seen to block the triumphant return home of Buderus, I doubt it would look good, regardless of right and wrong.

Buderus has tried his all for Leeds. There is absolutely no point in making him stay to help get us out the mire we are currently in. Far better looking to the future and use cap space on a quality outside back and forward.

Totally agree. We can use the Buderus, Senior, Cross, Burgess and Ali? money under the cap to bring in 2/3 quality players. I think a centre, prop and second row forward are needed to make the team ultra competitive at the top again. My fear is all the best NRL players off contract have been snapped up. I hope GH has already got something up his sleeve. But it appears Heighington is now staying in the NRL.
Brisbane, are there any quality outside backs and forwards still available?

We will need a replacement hooker aswell, because for me McShane does not look like he can cut the mustard as a starter and young Hood is untried and therefore untested. We also need either a decent SO or SH to give us options.

We could try playing our regular halfbacks together for a few games before binning either of them. One is coming back from a career threatening injury, and the other has struggled at time due to the lack of forward dominance and some simply ridiculous gameplans.

As poop as I think Burrow has become, I think you are stating the obvious there bats.

We are in dissaray and struggling. Sinfield is a loose forward and holds the team together from that position. Our halfbacks work well enough with him. It's a no brainer to revert back to something proven.

Burrow was in great form up to Easter. McGuire was being handled properly, being eased back in. Sinfield was doing a decent enough job covering at 6.

It was fairly obvious that over the last few months our triangle should have been put back in place.

Instead the coach has picked a different 6,7 and 13 many weeks and has decided Burrow is now the hooker cover from the bench, not McShane (who was also coming along well until our coaches intervention).

Fekking genius.

Have said as much elsewhere..anybody that looks on form is promptly demoted.

Could not agree with you more.

Agree G one baffling selection after another.
Fieldheadrhino Mcshane wil prove his worth given the right gametime and Hood looks an even better prospect so 9 is wel covered.

I would think the way the whole Ben Cross saga was handled hasn't done our reputation Down Under much good either...

when buderus goes next year we will sign a new hooker and may end up losing both mcshane and hood. In hoods case theres interest from other SL clubs and championship clubs for possible loan/dual reg for next year which wont happen as the club feel hes not ready even for the championship and IMHO are restricting his development so he may leave

Who says we will sign a new hooker?

I think McClennan saw the issues around Diskin and brought Buderus in as a replacement not a partner.

Sadly the players mafia put a stop to that which forced McClennan to introduce a completely alien system to to both players.

Whilst we may have had more success with Diskin - 2004 apart it was more inspite of rather than because of - no one can deny Buderus is in a different class as a player. It is a pity his commitment/quality on the field is not matched by some of the other members of the mafia!!

McShane reminds me of Dean Lawford - nearly good enough but not quite - this is the most important position on the field and needs an appropriate player - if Buderus is off Leeds need a nine. Hood looks the real deal in his peer group, great game awareness, superb step etc but that is a world away from leading a team around a SL field. On the positive Clark at Cas has done an excellent job given his age.

I suspect 2012 has already been written off - hence Buderus' outpourings - and Leeds will let him go save the money.

its definately happenin if buderus leaves im affraid not to keen on revealing my source but its nailed on that if DB leaves the deal will involve a replacement hooker

Sal i'm not gonna go back to the "Buderus v Disko" argument.
Lets get this right Disko played a key role in EVERY GF we won mate and to label it "inspite" of rather than because of is way off the mark imo.
He may not of been MOM in every game but he put a quality shift in and was certainly a positive influence.
As for Mcshane i think he needs much more game-time before we write him off and i do agree re-Hood maybe a loan would suite him.