Quote: jonh "I don’t disagree about the 2 year deal was an odd one, we don’t know the full circumstances at the time, cap restrictions, others available etc.
At the moment we have 2 Props in their prime years, not including Burgess, the rest are very young and inexperienced. It could be a lot worse than having a player like Clubb to come in if they need resting or rotating.
The Burgess situation again is what causes the issue in all these discussions.
We are a prop light as it is, assuming no change with him for 2021, Clark is on his way out and now people are talking about “driving Clubb to Leeds”.
I wouldn’t be against him going but we would then need to recruit 2 props if we were to do so and one would have to be a player in their prime, if not both.
I believe the Prop market at the moment is very competitive with quite a few teams still looking for Props (maybe why he is being linked with Leeds) and I’ve no doubt salaries will be inflated for lads on the market.'"
It was me who said I would drive him to Leeds, and I stand by it. In a salary cap sport, no matter how useful in case of injuries, no matter how good for the youngsters, no matter how good in the changing room, you cannot carry a man who at best gives you 10mins and is done.
I would rather have a young lad on the bench who I knew would put in a good shift when needed. Imagine one or 2 of our props were injured in the first 10 mins of a game and Tony has to cover. He would have no hope.
He did a job for 4 years or so, I thank him for it and also and wish him well, but if we can do it we do 2 things, get rid of Clubb and replace and get rid and replace Burgess - or better still get him fit.
Do this and we are the teams to fear next year.
I would suggest what you are describing above is a luxury, and in salary cap sport you cant have a luxury item. You have a squad that's value for money whether they are marquee or a young un coming through, what you dont have is something in the squad that could help but generally wont play, particularly a senior pro.
Its tough, but that's the way it is in League right now.