I think it might be possible sometime in the future to move Hall into the forwards but that's a long way off. If the Rhinos managed to sign Tony Williams from Manly, who is in fantastic form, he is very versitile and has played centre, wing, back-row forward and loose-foward. We would get quality versitility now and it would add to the squad The down-side is I don't know if Garry H is interestd!

Buderus mentioned on Look North that Newcastle & Leeds might start sending young players across to both clubs.

Luke Lewis is a very good example, but I'm pretty certain Gilmour was originally a second rower and has played more centre later in his career.

ryan hates playing in the backrow he told me he's only done it "once or twice and hated it" iv'e watched this kid since he was 12 and he is no backrower he just hasn't the ticker for it, he played all his junior and open age amature rugby at fullback where he was outstanding.

I don't think Tony Williams was ever a major tatget on Gary H's radar screen although he would be a great addition to the squad. However Williams is now in the international squad and in great demand from NRL clubs and his salary will reflect that demand! www.zerotackle.com.au/williams-s ... rama-4211/

I don't think Tony Williams was ever a major tatget on Gary H's radar screen although he would be a great addition to the squad. However Williams is now in the international squad and in great demand from NRL clubs and his salary will reflect that demand! www.zerotackle.com.au/williams-s ... rama-4211/

I heard an interesting one today, but not going to post it as it was not from anyone reliable or official or anything.

But if true, It could be announced early next week, or week after, or week after,

. I know that sounds vague but there is a reason for that.

I'm sure its the other way around. I'm sure he didn't play 2nd row until Millward signed him for Saints.

You say your contact might not be reliable so what makes you think that there might be something in what you've heard? I assume the reference to next week etc is connected with international squads

I didn't say there was. It's a rumours thread, but I purposely stated I wouldn't name the player said due to things getting misconstrued.

Similar to the deal we had with South Sydney whereby none went in either direction

Forgive me for pointing this out, Gotcha, but this isn't going to win the "Most thrilling rumour of the year" award

I've heard that all the moneybags Wire players are fed up of being the bridesmaids. They have found a legal loophole whereby they can join any other team on peanuts and their wives/girlfriends/significant others/mums mate Shirley can still pick up their whopping salaries doing their 2 hour a week shifts in the Wolves shop. its just a rumour mind

Also heard a rumour that someone has found that Rangi Chase has infact got English heritage. Apparantly his childhood pet Bouncer cam from a litter where the grandmother bitch was from Kippax

I know, what the hell. The one somebody mentioned today was Shontane Hape. How can I get this to be clear that this is not me saying it, or putting any crededence to it.

If this was 2005 that would be an awsome signing. I still think he has something to offer, but he'd probably not have the impact we'd expect

I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of players currently at the RWC decided to give league a go at the end of the tournament. Hape seems to have found himself odd man out in England's midfield, with the emergence of Tuilagi and the continued insistence on picking the talentless nerk that is Mike Tindall.

I'm struggling to think of any more than maybe half a dozen players from the home nations who would convert well into league and still have enough time left in their career to do it justice though.

Maybe Jamie Roberts? Gordon Darcy would have been a good one IMO but is the wrong side of 30 now. Delon Armitage?

To be fair, Tindall is past his best now, and it's hard to see what he offers, but in his prime he was a great wrecking ball centre, and one of a pair of options for different game plans (the other being Mike Catt) that served England very well in the early part of this century.

But to business. Armitage and Foden are good runners of the ball. George North has all the attributes you'd want. Not sure where Roberts would fit in RL, perhaps at 11 or 12? Perhaps RU could keep Hape and we could have Tuilagi instead?

The big switch potential is in some of the ball-carrying back rows. Sean O'Brien is one who springs to mind immediately. James Haskell could go quite well too. Elsewhere in the pack, Courtney Lawes is a physical freak who could do well in either code.

However, when you start to think about what it would cost to bring them across the divide, I doubt they'd offer enough to justify the expense.

Haskell's fairly recently gone to Japan for what I suspect will be megabucks, and is contracted to come back to Wasps in 2012-13 I believe.

See what you mean about the likes of O'Brien though (see also Tom Croft), although I wonder about the ball skills of your average union back rower.

I personally would see Roberts playing as a wide-running second rower. Hits the ball really well, runs intelligent lines and isn't afraid of the physical aspects of the game. The latter is the aspect that would worry me with Foden. A rugby league full back can be really isolated, is he tough enough to cope?

The one that I've seen at the kicking tournament who looks the most natural RL player (other than Sonny Bill Williams) is the NZ scrumhalf Piri Weepu, who could play 7/9/13 or even centre at RL. Imagine the NRL will be more attractive to any converting All Blacks though.

Gilmour started his pro career at Wigan in 1997. I don't have any positional stats on his total career but do have the positions he has played when opposing Leeds, which he has done on 37 + =#0000BF11 occasions.

Gilmour V Leeds 1997 to 2011:

Wigan (1997 to 2000): Winger 1, Second Row 3, Loose 1, Sub =#0000BF4

Bradford (2001 to 2003): Centre 5, Sub =#0000BF6

St Helens (2004 to 2009): Centre 5, Second Row 16, Loose 1, Sub =#0000BF1

Huddersfield (2010 to 2011): Centre 1, Second Row 4

Sonny Bill Williams is the one we should be talking to.

He has indicated he will consider a return to League and is happy to play in Europe again. He doesn't want to commit to a long term contract and is keen to further his boxing career (UK would be good for this) He is flexible as he turned down 1 mill pa from a French club to play for the All Blacks on 250K. He will be out of contract after the RU World Cup.

He earns a lot from outside sponsors and IMO in the UK would earn more from these sources + boxing. So GH get on the phone!

sonny bill williams would be able to resurrect his shoulder charge when he moves back to league too,that hit on marcus bai was a beauty

It was a good shot on Bai but a shoulder to the head of an opponent should have been outlawed long ago.

I've never quite understood how such a tackle can escape punishment when using any other part of the arm would be an automatic penalty ...... if picked up by the officials.

Because it would be ludicrous to give a penalty for a high tackle against a player who keeps his arms by his side.

That and it is a tough skill, in a tough game played by tough men.

Is the object of this skill to make contact with the head of an opponent?

It should be fairly irrelevant which part of a defender's body makes contact with an opponent's head. Any contact above the shoulder should be off-limits and pretty much an automatic penalty.

I’ve heard from a very reliable source that Rangi Chase is signing for Leeds.