Leeds Rhinos remain centre of attention (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Leeds Rhinos remain centre of attention
4:43pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in Bulls
Leeds made a failed bid for Keith Lulia from Bradford
Leeds’ search for a world-class centre is likely to stretch into the 2013 season, Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has admitted.
The Super League champions switched their focus to a new three-quarter after moving Zak Hardaker to full back to plug the gap created by Brent Webb’s departure but have so far failed in bids for two Australian centres, Joel Moon (Salford) and Keith Lulia (Bradford).
With Australian clubs set to receive around £4.5million each from a new television deal, their Super League counterparts are finding it difficult to attract players from the NRL – a point illustrated this week with Hull losing out to Brisbane in the battle for Gold Coast Titans half-back Scott Prince.
In addition, increased scrutiny over work visas and the shift in exchange rate has resulted in as many players leaving Super League for the NRL as making the more traditional move.
Hetherington remains confident he can land a big-name centre but also believes the shift in spending power in favour of NRL clubs puts an even greater emphasis on English sides being able to nurture their own talent.
“It has been well documented that we are looking to add a quality player to our squad for next season,” he said.
“I have spoken to many NRL clubs directly and player agents, and they are all aware of our situation, but the likelihood is that our search may extend into the start of the next season.
“The majority of NRL clubs have not started back for pre-season yet and I am sure there will be some movement once teams have had the chance to look at their squads and perhaps need to free up space within their salary cap.”
Leeds’ only recruit for 2013 so far has been Penrith Panthers forward Mitch Achurch and coach Brian McDermott believes Super League clubs have already started to become less dependent on overseas aid.
“There is perhaps a need to change our mindset as a game in this country and understand the unique opportunity we have here for our game,” he said.
“I think this is an exciting time to be part of Super League. The factors in Australia, along with our own quota system and the salary cap, have weaned clubs off the reliance of bringing in overseas players to fill out their squad.
“You only need to look at the exciting young talent in the England squad to see how that has allowed clubs to give young players the chance to shine.”
Comments(11)
pweibj67
says...
6:45pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Allow Keith to have a shock move to Bradford Salem .. then nudge leeds he may be available
Keith signs for Leeds but we then take them to court and win .. thus helping Leeds to go bust!
Also we get a few hundred thousand quid out of the deal!!
The only downside i can see is that Shuddersfield Vultures would then try to sign all the good players leeds have?
Shelfrhino
says...
8:49pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Blotto
says...
10:31pm Fri 2 Nov 12
raisemeup
says...
2:42pm Sat 3 Nov 12
Blotto wrote:Does anyone see the irony of the article I wonder?
The big increase in TV money for the NRL means more Jouneymen Aussies coming over and our Top Rated Players going over there. The big difference is that the TV company's don't have to pay stupid money to show EPL, also football is way down the pecking order for money and exposure and rightly so, and the NRL also has the Terrestial TV Ch9 showing 3 live matchs over the weekend the rest on Satelitte plus all the matchs can be seen later in the week on Big Pond internet! The Aussies have got it covered. but AFL is still the top sport at the moment over there!
Australian RL get a figure of 4.5million per team.
A super league club in the UK make a bid for a rival Super league clubs Player or Players, which could be because of a financially boosted TV deal courtesy of the rival Super League club, who have been docked half their TV money by the organising body!
So that extra funding which theoretically may be shared out to those other clubs in the league, who can then make a bid for players of the aforesaid club, who have in theory, reluctantly had to give them the extra cash, to enable them to buy their Star players from them
As I have said before it's like giving someone your watch, and then asking them the time!
Far fetched perhaps????
A non RL person reading the article may wonder at the UK logic, compared to the Aussie logic towards the game.
raisemeup
says...
2:49pm Sat 3 Nov 12
Shelfrhino wrote:Surely the player concerned has some say in this matter?
We will get our man, OK holding out a bit longer to get more ST sales then the deal will go through.
But according to your posts we are a two bit club with two bit players, so why would Leeds wish to sign what you consider are second rate Players???
PS We actually don't mind the ramblings of the deluded or the foolish.
Just that with some of the rubbish posted on the site we get both together.
Shelfrhino
says...
8:47pm Sat 3 Nov 12
raisemeup wrote:You're obviously talking about yourself and your wife here aren't you Brian.
Shelfrhino wrote:Surely the player concerned has some say in this matter?
We will get our man, OK holding out a bit longer to get more ST sales then the deal will go through.
But according to your posts we are a two bit club with two bit players, so why would Leeds wish to sign what you consider are second rate Players???
PS We actually don't mind the ramblings of the deluded or the foolish.
Just that with some of the rubbish posted on the site we get both together.
You are a two bit club, but even two bit club's get hold of the odd half decent player. If Lulia is any kind of ambitious player he will obviously want to come to the SL and World champions, he would be daft not to.
flashdonut
says...
9:34pm Sat 3 Nov 12
Shelfrhino wrote:Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
raisemeup wrote:You're obviously talking about yourself and your wife here aren't you Brian.
Shelfrhino wrote:Surely the player concerned has some say in this matter?
We will get our man, OK holding out a bit longer to get more ST sales then the deal will go through.
But according to your posts we are a two bit club with two bit players, so why would Leeds wish to sign what you consider are second rate Players???
PS We actually don't mind the ramblings of the deluded or the foolish.
Just that with some of the rubbish posted on the site we get both together.
You are a two bit club, but even two bit club's get hold of the odd half decent player. If Lulia is any kind of ambitious player he will obviously want to come to the SL and World champions, he would be daft not to.
Videoref
says...
4:42pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Shelfrhino wrote:He might feel a bit out of place in Dad's Army
raisemeup wrote:You're obviously talking about yourself and your wife here aren't you Brian.
Shelfrhino wrote:Surely the player concerned has some say in this matter?
We will get our man, OK holding out a bit longer to get more ST sales then the deal will go through.
But according to your posts we are a two bit club with two bit players, so why would Leeds wish to sign what you consider are second rate Players???
PS We actually don't mind the ramblings of the deluded or the foolish.
Just that with some of the rubbish posted on the site we get both together.
You are a two bit club, but even two bit club's get hold of the odd half decent player. If Lulia is any kind of ambitious player he will obviously want to come to the SL and World champions, he would be daft not to.
Shelfrhino
says...
8:44pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Videoref wrote:You might be right, but I'm sure he'll feel better about it knowing he'll get paid every month and that a half decent crowd will applaud his efforts, as opposed to playing to a silent few thousand in a disgusting hole in the ground and wondering if the rat trapper has enough funds to pay the bills :)
Shelfrhino wrote:He might feel a bit out of place in Dad's Army
raisemeup wrote:You're obviously talking about yourself and your wife here aren't you Brian.
Shelfrhino wrote:Surely the player concerned has some say in this matter?
We will get our man, OK holding out a bit longer to get more ST sales then the deal will go through.
But according to your posts we are a two bit club with two bit players, so why would Leeds wish to sign what you consider are second rate Players???
PS We actually don't mind the ramblings of the deluded or the foolish.
Just that with some of the rubbish posted on the site we get both together.
You are a two bit club, but even two bit club's get hold of the odd half decent player. If Lulia is any kind of ambitious player he will obviously want to come to the SL and World champions, he would be daft not to.
jkirby85
says...
10:31am Mon 5 Nov 12
pweibj67 wrote:AWESOME!!! ha ha........I see where that's pointed towards
PLAN!!
Allow Keith to have a shock move to Bradford Salem .. then nudge leeds he may be available
Keith signs for Leeds but we then take them to court and win .. thus helping Leeds to go bust!
Also we get a few hundred thousand quid out of the deal!!
The only downside i can see is that Shuddersfield Vultures would then try to sign all the good players leeds have?
Shelfrhino says...
6:19pm Fri 2 Nov 12