I believe we have a fair chunk of wonga to spend on the salary cap but I think we are being clever. I personal don't want us to start chucking brass at over the hill Aussies and would rather us retain the youngsters. Its nice to sit under the cap and have the money available if the right player become available like with Ali. No more Cross types, and more Ali types.

Ali and Webb must have been high earners when they first arrived, although their last deals at Leeds must have been significantly reduced IMO.

IIRC Ali originally signed a 4-year deal, and any later contracts would have reflected his more injury-prone condition.

Webb allegedly received a significant upgrade after his initial 2-year contract to fend off bids from the likes of Warrington, but wasn't his last contract just a one-year extension? I doubt it would have been as lucrative as his previous deal.

Just speculation but I doubt they would have left as especially high earners in the same bracket as Peacock, Sinfield, McGuire, Buderus etc

Not sure if David "Wolfman" Williams was ever on Gary H's list of possible signings but he got badly injured in this weekends match and could be out for the whole of 2013! Hopefully he's not been signed.
Leeds Lover any more news from your contact?

Sorry havent been able to get online for a bit and no nothing as yet from my contact will be seeing him at the weekend and am hoping he will have something to tell me after we cwelebrate winning the Challenge Cup

Cas have released the young half-back Ryan Brierley, last year we were linked with him.

if he isn't good enough for cas where they are at the moment he's nowhere near good enough for us

Leigh bound for 2013!

More baggage than Terminal Five, talented but in the "not with a barge pole" category.

I await Gotcha telling us all what a star he's going to be.

ON SL Back-Chat tonight they were discussing Rhinos perceived poorer quality recruitment from the NRL compared with Warrington. Andy Wilson (again!) said he had been told that Rhinos had lined up a star NRL outside-back for 2013.. He was pushed by colleagues to name the player but refused and said he was been "responsible"! I know we've been here before but the story wont go away. If true who is the player?

Jamie Lyon

Perceived? It's more like a fact with regards to the last 2 seasons.. Still i'd sooner be SL and World champs instead of only winning the cup. But i fear their superior recruitment will come to fruition shortly with a SL title and no doubt about we've slipped back.. you can't stay up there all of the time, every dog has it's day but with a better coach and some minor work to the squad we'd be right up there in the top 2/3 again with maybe a cup win under our belts

Anyways, no idea who it is but i'd have thought they'd be announcing it shortly if it's true.. we certainly need one.

In the past GH has seemd to "softened" the blow of losing a big game by announcing a new arrival or the retention of a quality player reading his recent YEP article where he states Webb is the only departure and thought the game was close doesn't fill me with confidence but i'm hoping it's merely a curve ball type interview to take the heat off the team.