Quote: Riderofthepalehorse "Hey Ghost, got to agree with a little of that post, but correct me if I’m mistaken, the “ten year policy” which has been used by Leeds so well, has probably also been their Achilles heal so to speak, as with Burrow Mags Watkins Sir Kev Ryan Hall and others, Leeds have been able to manipulate the fifty percent discount cap for ten year service and has been able to sign a nigh complete Australian pack, presumably using the extra cash available because of this system, nothing wrong with this, but it has also made Leeds keep players longer than they needed. The part of your post I don’t agree with is the wise investment of youth, Sinfield and Watkins are Lancashire lads, as Singleton is a Cumbrian, which players would you say in all honesty, in this present Leeds team, do you think will reach the standards of these great players.'"
I think the salary cap discount only applies to a certain level? It's not like Leeds had a whole raft of players whose salaries didn't count on the cap.
As for players who can reach that level, you don't know until you try them out. McDermott has managed to get a few younger guys in the team but, perhaps tellingly, the ones who have flourished are in the forwards. Walker apart and he's such a freak that it's almost impossible for him not to have come through. So who can reach the level of the club legends? Who knows- Walker and Oledzki look the real deal but it's the half back/creative/controlling area that we need to work on. And for that we need a particular type of coach. Someone like, say, Tony Smith. . .