: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:29 am  

adam9641 wrote:

Off the sun website, was on there yesterday.

Not too fussed if he stays or goes TBH, I will let Leeds worry about that.

Its a much wider issue than Leeds'.

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:30 am  

jonh wrote:

Its a much wider issue than Leeds'.

Not for me it's not, but hey that's just me.

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:34 am  

TRB wrote:

Are you saying that you don't rate Lee Smith? I do, I reckon he's a very talented athelete and Rugby player and we are only just beginning to see the best of him!

i think he is a good super league player, please don't get me wrong and would have him here. But i don't think he is the cream of the crop by any means and if all GB/England players were fit, i wouldn't have him in the national team. There are a few backs at Leeds that i rate higher fwiw.

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:35 am  

adam9641 wrote:

Not for me it's not, but hey that's just me.

It really should be!! IMHO

When will it be an issue for you?? when they target wakey players??

Surley you are a fan of the game first then a wakey fan!????

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:45 am  

SimonBarrett wrote:

It really should be!! IMHO

When will it be an issue for you?? when they target wakey players??

Surley you are a fan of the game first then a wakey fan!????

If Smith leaves thern good luck to him, this will give another young player a chance, just look at Wakefield nearly half the team missing and our young guns have stepped up and done a great job.

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:08 am  

it is a worrying trend and those that are apathetic to the issue can be of they want to be, but the health of Wakefield is obviously dependant on the health of the game long term.

what can be done though?

RL clearly doesn't have the financial clout that union does, and the goes for down under as well, where NRL stars are constantly linked with union clubs; not just in Oz, but in France, Japan and other places. I don't think it is just down to the salary cap.

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:08 am  

It is a fact that we as a code are going to have to rely less and less on imports to make up the numbers, the change in laws of the game ensure this.

It is also a fact that there are not enough quatity young players coming through the systems.

To have the best of that developing talent simply plucked from our code at will will harm the game, and the standard of play, which will in turn harm the backing of the game.

Any club trying to grow its fan base has to do so first and foremost with its onfield product and the quality and value for money, if the quality is not there the potential for growth is greatly reduced.

It attitudes of, its not my club so i do not care that really frustrates me.

To truely grow we need to breath life into the International game losing our best junior talent and International players weakens International game, and we are already struggling on this level.

I honestly do not think anyone who could not be worried by this trend can call themselves a rugby league fan.

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:11 am  

If Leeds didn't pay Brent Webb however much money they are paying him, then they could affoad to offer Smith a better contract.

Rugby is a young mans game and you only really get a good 6-7 years when you earn good money (if you are a good player that is) so you can't blame Smith for trying to get the best money he can.

Perhaps some execptions need to be added to the cap, British players under 25 don't count towards it or something like that.

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:22 am  

We fought for 100 years for a free gangway for players - it works both ways. There will always be players coming up through the ranks to replace them.....and that's because there is no serious union played in our 'heartlands' - Sale and Leeds excepted, just two clubs across the M62 corridor.

Kids aren't growing up wanting to play for Sandal or Stanley Rodillions are they?

The funnier story is union losing it's 'talent' to French RU where there is money galore to be had, and trying to force those players not to leave because they won't be watched by the England management team. Even the 'Man of Biscuit' has been linked with a cross-channel move.

: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:23 am  

t-r-i-n-i-t-y wrote:

We fought for 100 years for a free gangway for players - it works both ways. There will always be players coming up through the ranks to replace them.....and that's because there is no serious union played in our 'heartlands' - Sale and Leeds excepted, just two clubs across the M62 corridor.

Kids aren't growing up wanting to play for Sandal or Stanley Rodillions are they?

The funnier story is union losing it's 'talent' to French RU where there is money galore to be had, and trying to force those players not to leave because they won't be watched by the England management team. Even the 'Man of Biscuit' has been linked with a cross-channel move.

No it works one way, and that is the problem.

The quality of our International team is reliant on both quantity and quality, we occasionally have quality but we never have the quantity.

The cap works in Australia as they have both, we in England do not. I have no idea how losing one of the British games best prospects who is a bloody good player already can be brushed off as ok as they will be others coming through.

Smith a few years ago was rated along with Inglis as the top prospect in World rugby league, Inglis kicked on Smith had a few lean years but he is now moving forward again and who knows where he could finish as a player.......well if he is any good in union like the rest of them.

As someone who has invested time and money into the development of junior players at 3 SL clubs including Wakefield this kind of it does not matter attitude stuns me.