I'm not convinced just because Elston says they haven't signed for other clubs they won't have, end of the day they are pushing season tickets on us currently, who's going to say yes we lost 3 or 4 players but we are charging u more for the season tickets? Also weren't we told that agar wasn't going to be our coach at a fans forum thing a few years ago?

So what should we do "as fans" if they are not sold?
Would you suggest we accept that Elston may not be doing a bad job or will you will you hang on to that particular agenda item until something else is rumoured that fits the story?

We should buy some wallpaper paste to help cover the cracks, untill the next crack appears.

We are very much Ying and Yang in our view on life aren't we El Rey.

Can I be Yang poptart please.

I honestly don't see things improving with JE as chief exec. He needs to be removed from post and an alternative given a chance to resurrect something whilst there is still a chance of doing so

Never in the history of fans forums have I read so much guff as that posted by Ovat Bobbin. Agents acting in the best interest of their clients... what a load of tosh. Agents are self serving parasites who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing . They prey on young men and groom them into believing that there is an actual need for their services. They very last thought on an agents mind is the players best interest, its all about creating a situation to make money for themselves. Agents are morally corrupt low life. There should be no need for them in our game and as another poster has highlighted all players should, if they feel the need for representation, be looked after by the RFL. One other disappointment is that parents of young players `allow ` their children to sign up with agents, dispote there been so many examples of really poor management of young players best interests by agents.

With you on all of that.

The thing an agent brings is experience of other negotiations.

Of course their primary goal is to maximise their own profits.....aren't we all?

If a parent goes to a club to negotiate a contract for their potential superstar lad, they don't really know what to ask for and are leaving themselves open to accepting a lower contract than they are worth.
An agent has access to more information and the clubs know this too so would probably do away with any wrangling and just suggest a standard start point.

Although I don't like the idea of agents just touting their players around clubs just to boost their own commission, can you imagine the work involved for Tomkins to negotiate with all the Aussie clubs to find out which is the best deal and what benefits are on offer. He couldn't do that without help.
I'd say a good agent (or manager) is worth a lot to a player. It is just unfortunate that many of them just try it on and give their player a bad name.

It's the same in other careers. I'm pretty sure One Direction didn't call all the venues on their world tour and negotiate the rate to make sure they can play and make money and I'm pretty sure Tom Cruise has a legal team and an agent and management team sorting out his next 20 million gig too.

The same applies now for Joe Schmo on the street. When I started work, if you wanted to get a job you looked in the Yorkshire Post and wrote a letter to a business to get an interview. Now you have web sites with lists of jobs and a hub for both employer and employee to access to get their connection. And that agent who owns the web site gets a commission. Seems easy money to me but a bit of a rip off for the business but I still use them.
The old way worked perfectly well without agents but only on a limited scale. You have got a much better chance of finding a job now, especially if it isn't on your doorstep and it doesn't costs the employee anything.

The bad agents that we are all saying are terrible for the game, still seem to have a player list to work with. Those players clearly think they are getting them the best deal they can (whether they are or not is another question). They probably don't care that it hurts the team or the sport by doing it.....it doesn't cost the player.

I'd suggest teams start doing what many businesses do now. If you come on a recommendation rather than through an agent where I work, they give the cash to the person doing the recommendation. They save money and you gain some. Plenty of people split the money with teh employee.
Players who can negotiate on their own should be rewarded for doing so. The agents would be out of a job in seconds.

on the next season subject, based on those I believe are contracted for next season, the team would look like this....

Mathers 2014
Fox 2014
Collis 2016
Lyne 2014
Cockayne 2014
Sykes 2014
Smith 2014
Poore 2014
Aiton 2015
Raleigh 2014
Tuson 2015
Kirmond 2016
Washbrook 2014

Amor 2014
Tautai 2014
Annakin 2015
Lauitiiti 2014

Walshaw 2014(?)

Trout 2015
Mellars 2014
Molloy 2014

I like the consistent look about it but would like to see a centre there like Smith and /or Cowling

That looks like a hell of a lot of negotiating for the club to keep who it wants for 2015 and beyond. 15 player ooc after next season. These need sorting as I know it can become a bit of a distraction to the player if they don't have security for the next couple of seasons

I suppose players (and agents!) will be waiting to see how next season is panning out. If the club is in danger of relegation they'll be wanting out. At least it will be decided on the field this time rather than the shambolic way it was handled in 2011.

I thought Lyne signed a 3 year deal?

If an agent is remunerated by the player based on the contract he negotiates for the player then therefore both the player and the agent will be better off...Yes or No?!