Apparently Leeds Carnegie offered him a contract but he signed for gloucster academy instead. Maybe the sleeve knows a lot more about this kid than we think. He has played under 16 england internation at union i believe.

Perhaps you haven't heard we're getting a new big screen!?!?!?!

Surely that's a good illustration of why it might be better to see what the new signings actually achieve before getting too downcast?

No, every idiot who has ever read one copy of League Express knows exactly what each signing is capable of - thats the way it works

Don't forget the ones that have only read a few headlines whilst doing the shopping.

In fact, I'd be more inclined to say the headline readers are the wisiest of all the wisey wise, and really McDermott should be just surfing forums and reading headlines, then we'd have a PROPER squad!

Indeed

and the big name signings that made you giddy have proven to be the correct route to take because of the successes we've enjoyed with Buderus and Eastwood.................?

..err no, not really. Didn't stop me getting a bit giddy about them BEFORE they hit the hallowed turf of Headingley.

Sanctimony and hindsight often skip hand-in-hand through the fields of the self righteous.

I know exactly what you mean.... I'm with you all the way on this one LS16.

Out of contract end of 2011 had meetings with Big Barry Mac, watch this space

He is in first team, given 32.

being able to play Buderus for 80 mins a game will be almost like having a new signing

Won't happen.

It would have been nice to sign a 'marque' player for this season so that we could all get a little giddy, but lets not forget there is a salary cap in place that stops teams from spending so much money.

Over the years we have been fortunate to be able to go out and sign experienced players that came under the marque heading. The likes of Peacock, Eastwood, Buderus, Webb et al. But you can't do it every season. Granted a world class player can bring so much to a team, but so can stability. It used to really grate me when i was younger as come the end of the season you'd look at the ins and outs and the likes of Saints, Wigan and Bradford would have six or more new players coming in, and Leeds would have 2 or 3. As I've gotten older I've started to realise the reason for this, its to keep the team balanced and stable and it really works. on paper a team may not be as strong as another but if they know each others game inside out and have played with one another for a few seasons that adds up to be a great positive factor.


So for 2011 we've brought in some experience in Cross, and some young (he is only 25) fire power in Weller Hauraki. Then we have signed on a couple of promising kids. It has been stated we haven't much money left to play with, but if we did who do we sign who is available? Do we spend the money for the sake of it? At the end of the 2011 season I do expect a few massive signings for Leeds. We have a potential exodus of high wage earning players in the likes of Ali, Kylie, Keith (unless he feels he can hack another Indian summer season) and poss Webb (if BJB proves he has what it takes to be a class FB). Also with Hardaker coming back from his loan there could be a potential departure of Delaney. This all frees up a lot of money and I suspect as the Sleeve stated recently is all booked in and he already knows who is defo leaving and what monetary values he has to play with. Unlike football where a deal can be done in days RL operates a little differently. Clubs are willing to release their prized assets but they like to do a deal a year in advance. This gives you time to negotiate the right deal. That's why I believe we have some exciting prospects coming in for 2012.

One last thing is going back to whoever mentioned the point of not been excited by any of the new signings. You know what is making me excited? I'm actually really looking forward to seeing the likes of BJB, Watkins, Clarkson, Pitts, McShane, Coady and Amor push on into the first team and cementing their place in the future of the Rhinos

Keith may not want to retire since he wants to be the first to play 500 ( I think or it ncould be 600) superleague games which will take him the next 2 seasons.