Especially as they've had to let Adam Swift go to accommodate that plodder

Watkins has played his last game for Leeds. His Gold Coast contract starts July 1st and we play Catalans this Sunday 30th June K/O 3pm....because of the time difference it’ll be past midnight in Australia by then and Gold Coast haven’t given Leeds/Watkins dispensation to play vs Catalans.

Trent Merrin to take over captaincy

cock up/oversight or planned?

I would imagine it was agreed before Leeds knew they were in the mire a bit.

Such a shame for Kallum, a player that has given his career to the Leeds Club only to be thrown to the side without a thought by the club.

how was he thrown to the side?

We are hoping to send him out to our under 16's reserve team.... Leigh

Utter balls. The clubs' circumstances changed and he appeared to have lost some of his magic so they entered into a renegotiation of his deal - these happen all the time, usually in favour of the players (longer contract, better terms etc.) but not always. On this occasion Watkins clearly declared that he'd rather try his luck elsewhere so the club have allowed him to leave, mid-contract, for free, to the NRL where he'll almost certainly be on more money. Watkins has, IMO, been treated very well by Leeds in this.

Yep.

Watkins would rather try his luck elsewhere? No, Leeds were contracted to pay him a certain amount which they no longer wanted to pay him, he was good enough to leave a very good contract so that the club could utilise the salary cap elsewhere, don`t twist it to try and make the player look greedy when its the club that are worming there way out of promises made.

Hes bang average

Where have I implied he is being greedy? The club wanted to try to renegotiate his contract - this happens all the time. Usually it's contracts being extended, this time it wasn't.

Just because Leeds didn't want to pay him what had been agreed doesn't mean they wouldn't have fulfilled their contractual obligations. They didn't try to worm their way out of promises because they're not 9 years old. They tried to renegotiate as that's what happens in business. Watkins could have demanded the terms were stuck to, accepted the new terms on offer or asked to leave. Her choose the latter which is absolutely his right. Leeds could have demanded a fee (Which they would have certainly got) but they agreed not to. I don't think there's a villain here.

indeed, I am far from a Leeds fan (more to do with the Hetherington connection with Hull),but both parties agreed and Watkins gets a gig in Aus, I wish someone would "cast me aside" like that!

What a farce. Bet Watkins cannot wait to get out of the place.

Yeah been another poorly handled situation by Sinfield. Leeds fans argue that because of his struggles since he’s returned from injury that not wanting to make him marquee next season. (which was the promise) is fine.

However we filled up our two marquee spots back in October/November with Hurrell & Merrin whilst Watkins was still rehabbing from his injury and we didn’t know how he’d perform on his return....so what would they have done had Watkins returned strongly and in good form from his injury? They wouldn’t want to get rid surely in that situation but they had no more marquee spots to give to him anyway.

When you think about Watkins must’ve known since as far back as November when the 2 marquee spots were tied up to 3 & 4 year deals respectively that Leeds weren’t going to be able to fulfill their promise, may explain part of his struggles if he’s know that for this long.