: Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:36 pm  

tristram wrote: Yet we have this... Hape got his second start for Bath on 27/12. He was on for 61 minutes. and on the 31/12 (yes tomorrow,LOL, that's time zones for ya, LOL) http://sportal.co.nz/rugby-union-news-display/hape-happy-with-progress-62737 So the only link is about him being happy with the switch. The only stuff I've found about him looking to come back to league is internet message board chatter and "my mate's uncle" bumfluff

tristram wrote: Yet we have this... Hape got his second start for Bath on 27/12. He was on for 61 minutes. and on the 31/12 (yes tomorrow,LOL, that's time zones for ya, LOL) http://sportal.co.nz/rugby-union-news-display/hape-happy-with-progress-62737 So the only link is about him being happy with the switch. The only stuff I've found about him looking to come back to league is internet message board chatter and "my mate's uncle" bumfluff

: Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:54 am  

Roofaldo wrote:

So the only link is about him being happy with the switch. The only stuff I've found about him looking to come back to league is internet message board chatter and "my mate's uncle" bumfluff

Considering that Bath will have paid compensation to Bradford, a signing on fee to Hape and his contract up to now. I doubt they'd be that keen to release him from his contract before the end of his first season there.

Unless, the team singing him agreed a decent compensation figure with Bath or the player bought his own contract out. Rugby players aren't on the same wages as a Champions League level soccer player so the latter is unlikely and can you really see Mcmanus or Hetherington paying out a substantial amount of money to sign a player who's knees are shot and who hasn't had a break since November 2007.

: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:03 am  

Shonny was a good servant to the club.

His top flight RL, IMHO, is well behind him now. Given his last year or so with us I don't think we ought to be even consider signing him, if any of this rumor is true of course. . .

[Bullseye]

: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:14 am  

I hope we signed him up to a "Harris" agreement before he left, that way we'd benefit again if he came back to RL.

Would I take him back at the Bulls? Going on what he showed for us last season I'd say no, unless he was on a much reduced contract. As an attacking threat he seemed to have lost it. Any club wanting to sign him ought to check out some videos of him in action in 2008 before putting any big money up.

: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:30 am  

Bullseye wrote:

I hope we signed him up to a "Harris" agreement before he left, that way we'd benefit again if he came back to RL.

Would I take him back at the Bulls? Going on what he showed for us last season I'd say no, unless he was on a much reduced contract. As an attacking threat he seemed to have lost it. Any club wanting to sign him ought to check out some videos of him in action in 2008 before putting any big money up.

Hang on, shouldn't the club first head north and consult stuck record DJ Marquee Eddie as to whether signing Hape would count as a "marquee signing"?

: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:47 am  

Bullseye wrote:

I hope we signed him up to a "Harris" agreement before he left, that way we'd benefit again if he came back to RL.

Would I take him back at the Bulls? Going on what he showed for us last season I'd say no, unless he was on a much reduced contract. As an attacking threat he seemed to have lost it. Any club wanting to sign him ought to check out some videos of him in action in 2008 before putting any big money up.

If we could get him back on a significantly reduced deal then it could be a shrewd bit of business. we get paid by bath, dont have to pay him for second half of last season and get him re-signed on less money. Big question is whether he can ever get his fitness back up to an acceptable level. imo a lot of last years performances were due to him not wanting to get injured and jeopardise the move to union for big money. If he came back fully committed and with a point to prove then it might be a different story and he's not too old to successfully turn it round.

could be interesting to watch

: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:13 pm  

Times move on and I'll remember Shonny as the best centre I ever saw (including Newlove) in a Bulls shirt. His last two seasons were a sign of things to come and he should stay at Bath if he's any sense.

: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:15 pm  

Maccbull_BigBullyBooaza wrote:

Considering that Bath will have paid compensation to Bradford, a signing on fee to Hape and his contract up to now. I doubt they'd be that keen to release him from his contract before the end of his first season there.

Unless, the team singing him agreed a decent compensation figure with Bath or the player bought his own contract out. Rugby players aren't on the same wages as a Champions League level soccer player so the latter is unlikely and can you really see Mcmanus or Hetherington paying out a substantial amount of money to sign a player who's knees are shot and who hasn't had a break since November 2007.

Gareth Raynor bought out his Leicester contract to return to us. Think it was quite a big one iirc, maybe not as big a one as Hape, but still

: Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:28 pm  

The Key wrote:

Gareth Raynor bought out his Leicester contract to return to us. Think it was quite a big one iirc, maybe not as big a one as Hape, but still

How long did Raynor have left on his contract though?

I think Hape signed quite a long deal and he's only been there half of his first season.

: Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:10 am  

Unless stevo#4 confirms it, ignore this rumour is all I'm saying.