I posted it at the time Gareth. At Christmas of 2007 Gareth Ellis was still going to resign with Leeds, but negotiating the best deal. I spoke with him personally about it. He told me then that Leeds had already come to an agreement with Buderus.

I have always posted since correcting people who said Buderus was signed to replace Ellis. Because he wasn't. Eastwood was signed to replace Ellis. He was the only signing after Ellis decided to sign for Wests.

As it happens, wether the above is correct or not, Buderus certainly agreed a deal before Hetherington flew out there, just by the timelines alone.

You did right. Anyone saying we signed a hooker to replace a 2nd rower is a bit backward IMO.

[size=150Maybe no replacement for Ellis?[/size
18th March 2008

[iThe Rhinos will “not necessarily” sign a second-rower to replace Wests Tigers-bound Gareth Ellis, chief executive Gary Hetherington said today at the end of his week-long scouting mission in Australia. “Danny Buderus is our replacement for Gareth Ellis, in terms of exchanging one international-standard player for another,” said Hetherington. “In terms of position, Brian has got to look at exactly where he wants to strengthen. We have only just started the season and a lot of things can happen between now and the end of the year.” Hetherington added: “I’ve been meeting up with a number of players’ agents and players themselves and I’ve also been checking out the market for rugby union players for Leeds Carnegie. I’ve been looking at who’s available and who’s keen to join us. We have got a terrific reputation over here, no doubt about that, and Brian has got a great reputation as well. There’s no doubt that players over here are looking towards England, at any age, whereas in the past to get top-class players you’d be looking at the back end of their career.
This trip has been about sewing seeds and progressing things. It’s good to get to meet people, so then you can get a better idea of if they are interested and how enthusiastic they are. It’s been a chance to meet people and answer questions they might have about the club. We may be gearing up to make signings, but it all depends on the salary cap. It may be possible there could be one more overseas signing, but we’re not looking to increase our reliance on overseas players. We have got some outstanding young players coming through, so there’s all sorts of factors, but there’s no shortage of interest in joining Rhinos. One possible option could be to recruit a centre, with Keith Senior moving up into the second-row. Rhinos have been linked with Melbourne Storm back-rower Michael Crocker as a possible direct replacement for Ellis and Sydney Roosters’ Kiwi back Sam Perrett is another name being mentioned in the Australian media. But Hetherington said: “We’ll be linked with a number of players, but I’m not going to comment on speculation.”[/i

Possibly - depends on how much he thinks he will generate from a testimonial against potential increase in salary over 5 years I suppose?

don't know anything either way on diskin, but paul cooke signed for rovers the season before his testimonial obviously due to a dispute he was having with hull, and reputedly collected a nice fat signing on fee to make up for it, or so most people believe in hull. So the testimonial may not necessarily be a sticking point.

A signing on fee going straight to a player won't be easy if KR are spending close to the cap as they reputedly are these days.

He had to move because he needed the money to pay his legal bills for his defence in the assault case?

The Hooker Could Be Ruled Out For Upto 6 Months...