Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:53 am  

Once were Loiners wrote:

JWH is using the Leeds warmup game as part of his suspension. Everybody's doing it. I don't mind for a big event like the World Cup.

Unfortunately the bans handed out this season were due to the insurer for the RFL declining to offer renewal terms and as a result the insurance cost doubling. The bans (agree with them or not) were to deter foul play and head injuries in particular and were severe so that the RFL can attempt to show that they were not negligent if a player tries to sue them in the future and avoid the insurer having to pay out. By allowing players to serve bans for games they wouldn't have played in in normal circumstances totally undermines everything that they've done this season and makes the disruption to teams earlier in the season look unfair (and I know some have already used reserve games already).

If clubs (and England and New Zealand) are going to circumvent the bans then it leads the sport having to pay even more for insurance, having to apply even harsher bans or changing the rules (RU has even hinted at banning tackles above the waist).World Cup or not the players have known the rules all season and if they're banned they should be banned. Remember we are missing a key play maker in a grand final thanks to one of the players that England Knights are bending the rules for.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:59 pm  

I understand the insurance issue. Moving forward a lot will depend on the outcome of the upcoming cases in union and league by ex-players, as that will start to clarify the extent of the potential exposure.

The future risk issue is partly why I was entirely supportive of getting rid of shoulder charges.

Ultimately the solution will have to be based more around detecting issues and routinely stopping players from playing for longer when they have head injuries. I also think there will have to be some form of self insurance by sports, and maybe some discussion as to the extent to which individual players have to accept some risk or not play the game in the first place.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 22, 2022 1:19 pm  

I get all the concern over head injuries.
It`s the tripping or other minor offences that the MRP shouldn`t bother looking at imo.
If it`s missed by the ref on the day then so be it.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Sep 24, 2022 9:53 pm  

Hopefully once the dust settles on the GF we'll start to see some of these rumoured signings announced. The game certainly highlighted again how lacking in grunt we are up the middle, and the lack of threat out wide with Newman out. We really need another halfback with a decent kicking game as without Sezer we're really lacking. Maybe that will be Sinfield, but he's still very young.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Sep 25, 2022 5:31 am  

Once were Loiners wrote:

Hopefully once the dust settles on the GF we'll start to see some of these rumoured signings announced. The game certainly highlighted again how lacking in grunt we are up the middle, and the lack of threat out wide with Newman out. We really need another halfback with a decent kicking game as without Sezer we're really lacking. Maybe that will be Sinfield, but he's still very young.

Leeds have a great Academy use them? Bennison great example?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:09 am  

Once were Loiners wrote:

Hopefully once the dust settles on the GF we'll start to see some of these rumoured signings announced. The game certainly highlighted again how lacking in grunt we are up the middle, and the lack of threat out wide with Newman out. We really need another halfback with a decent kicking game as without Sezer we're really lacking. Maybe that will be Sinfield, but he's still very young.

The pack needs more beef without a doubt. That’s priority imo. Plus we’re losing briscoe and Sutcliffe so cover is a little thin in the backs. We won’t beat Saints in a GF with this pack.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:24 am  

Prior and tetavano will hold us back for another season, ones past it and ones average on superstar money. Really bad retention and recruitment decisions that we have to deal with for another season.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Sep 25, 2022 10:57 am  

Trebor1 wrote:

The pack needs more beef without a doubt. That’s priority imo. Plus we’re losing briscoe and Sutcliffe so cover is a little thin in the backs. We won’t beat Saints in a GF with this pack.

We won’t have this pack, Sangare and hopefully Holroyd will add some size and punch

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:00 am  

Tetevano has been a different player since his big ban for clothes-lining Hurrell. Apparently he's the best trainer at the club (R. Smith). I'm happy with his contributions recently (remember his hit on Smithies a week ago?), and if he carries on in this vein I think he's still a big asset for the team.

Prior seems to be struggling to make the same impact of a season or two ago and I agree it might be better for him to call it a day. But he could still be a useful squad player.

I think with R. Smith at the helm we can perhaps have some hope for some major improvement from players like Holroyd, Walters and Sangare - if one of these steps up to Oledski level and another steps up to being a reliable SL level there's no need to panic in the forwards. Plus we have the bloke from York - even if this does have the whiff of a Brian Mac project signing, again with a more technical coach back at the club then maybe another one for the future.

I'm more interested in what we announce re: Hardaker and the other outside backs. Olpherts sounds a bit underwhelming but as a replacement for Briscoe he's probably an upgrade... Is this still happening?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:18 am  

Leeds wont budge on hardaker 1 year deal.He is considering a hull FC deal.