Real shame, not the biggest (for second row) but a natural try-scorer who knew just where to be and how to get over the line, will be a big loss.

It’s mentioned in the transfer rumours as done, but not an official thread until the official announcement. That’s how we roll you see.

But yet you have a rumours thread as a sticky with pages of speculation and discussion about other players .....
In there his name is mentioned a couple of times but there’s no discussion.

Butler could well turn out to be the ideal replacement. From my observations he looks abit physically bigger than Mellor. He's a year younger so gives him a year in full time to try get upto Mellors standard. As I've also said previously, as he came to the sport late, he could improve loads in the full time environment.

I watched fax's game against Bradford and was totally underwhelmed by Butler, he had zero impact on that game and never looked dangerous at all. Mellor has an amazing tryscoring record for us and will be a BIG loss, let's try not to make a player seem bad because he's leaving eh? If this was a Mellor signed up for three years thread people would be saying very different things. Other teams fans will respect you a lot more if you are honest with your assessments

He will be a loss but not irreplaceable like some are making out, far from it.

You cant judge Butler off one game though can you? according to most other fans in Championship and all Halifax fans he is a very good prospect.

Not sure anyone suggested he was irreplacable, but nonetheless, i would have preferred to have retained him more that most of our forward pack as he offers a genuine tryscoring threat whereas most of our forwards are defence machines and/or plodders in attack.

Out of our second row forwards I’d put him above Roberts and currently Ferguson (but only because Ferguson hasn’t played- not on previous showings, Ferguson is an attacking threat) He’s not Particularly above Murphy and Hewitt On showings so far, and IMO not as good as wardle or taai (who I still think of as a second row) those two certainly aren’t defensive plodders.
Was everyone waxing lyrical about him until he was suddenly playing for a contract? I don’t recall any great discussion about him last season.
remember how well Roberts played just before he signed his contract, perhaps that’s me being cynical but his form may be linked - we’ve seen it before.
As I’ve already said we will see going forward what kind of character he is by how he performs for a club all now knows he is leaving.
If the choice was between retaining him or wardle it would be wardle for me no question.

7 tries in 15 appearances and you wouldn't put him above Hewitt? None of our current crop of forwards have ever had a 50% tries to game record, and that is in a pretty unspectacular season. He's got one other thing over ferguson and murphy too.. age, he would have been one for the future. Just because Roberts has completely disappeared up his own since he got a new contact you can't really make decisions as to whether give other young players contracts on that basis can you? Of our current back and front row forwards i would have wanted to retain as priority Wardle, Mellor, Taia and Matangi. I would be quite happy to see Murphy, Ferguson, Clough and even Lawrence go for next year as for me they offer little other than defence and are mostly over the hill. I realise i will get criticism for not respecting the dour work ethic of our plodders, but for me Rugby is about entertainment.

So is he mentioned or not? One post your saying he's not, this post your saying he is. What does it matter anyways? Does Leeds fans not disscussing him mean he's a bad player?

You's will know a lot better than Leeds fans how good a player he is.

Other players have gone similar to Roberts after getting big contracts- look at Seb! We’ve seen it a few times before. I’m not saying he would, but We will tell whether he racks up another try every other game going forward won’t we. It’s clear the fact he’s gone to Leeds for him the money is important-you can’t knock him for that their careers are short- but he’s no idea who will be coaching him next season, and Leeds are in a mess off the field the camp is not a happy, stable one.
I would like to keep him- but he’s not irreplaceable. Mellors defence is one of his strengths for me- not his attack. Hinchcliffe was lambasted for being a defensive plodder, barely scored-I’d have kept him in a heartbeat But I guess everyone sees different things.

Ironic Leeds sign him 2 days after releasing Watkins due to salary cap. Not suggesting he is on anything like Watkins, but will be a fair chunk if he has rejected out offer

I think we'll regret this one in the future. Mellor is at a great age for a developing forward and he'll go on to have a very good career with possible England call ups as well down the line. Our loss. Leeds's gain.

the club couldnt do anything

they offered him what they thought he was worth or could fit in the cap

i dont think hes a superstar anyway

glad we got mcintosh now that would have been a bigger loss, nice to keep both but cant always happen.

wouldnt mind seeing taai and ferguson in the second rows with murphy at loose and roberts off the bench if he got back to what he used to be like of the bench! lawrence to prop.. forgot to put joe wardle in the second row options too!

talk of turner going into play loose forward too in future... not a massive loss for me

well at least he will be happy leeds won