You don't find it ironic that Leeds' reliance on overseas players is increasing as the RFL are actively seeking to reduce it?

Are you been ironic!! or do you not keep up with new signings?

Doesn't Scott Donald qualify under the same rules as Maurie Fa'asavalu (residency)? I hope Tony Smith doesn't use this loophole as I disagree with it but it could happen.

I think you're being rather disingenuous in your accusation to be honest

How can Leeds win with you?



All season long you moaned about or lack of recruitment of a right centre and a forward. We bring two regulars in for next year from the NRL and we're now too reliant on non GB players.

I personally agree with tvoc on the overseas front though - 7 is too many. If you take a step back for a second its actually WAY too many for any side. Quite frankly I'd rather rely on Coady, Ratu and Watkins for centre and Amor and Pitts for prop than bring in Eastwood and Delaney. But they'll be here next year and I'll support them.

I share your sentiment but I wasn;t the one moaning all season that the club hadn't got players like Eastwood and Delaney here.



Players like Worrall, Gibson, Watkins, Ratu and Ablett have always had MY full support.

Where have I said these players must come from the NRL?



There are three possible recruitment areas:



1 - From within the Academy structures

2 - From within the domestic game, including the Championship

3 - From the NRL



The quota next season is set at six, Leeds thus far have contracted seven including extending the deals for Leuluai and Donald. The Donald extension was puzzling as at the time he was out of form, appeared almost dis-interested (Cummins like) and there were several calls on here for him to be replaced. I'd have favoured Watkins and/or Broughton to take that spot for 2010.



Seven overseas players is too high IMO (we're not Wigan) and is at a level not seen at Leeds for many years I would imagine.



Above all else though I find it ironic that Leeds are increasing it's reliance on overseas players at a time the RFL are actively reducing the numbers permitted. I think as I've stated before it highlights a partial failure of the once famed Academy structures run by the club.

He's still overseas trained though.

I've no idea. He'll have been here five seasons by the end of his current contract in 2010.



Quota wise he'll always be overseas trained but now excluded from the limit (probably?) on the grounds of him being contracted before the new regulations came into force. Giving clubs the ability to retain overseas players in addition to the quota while they continue to pay lip service to the development of the British game.



I'm sure Leeds are not alone.

All you have to do to confirm we're not alone is count up the number of overseas players at every other club - we've put ourselves right back to average for next season. Which means every other side will also be exploiting similar loopholes.



I suspect that Gibson won't be the last to leave BTW, as for next year we'll have (presumably) Donald, Delaney, Senior and Hall starting threequarters with Watkins, Ratu and Coady in reserve, plus Broughton. Coady aside, as he's making a massive step up in standard, I can't really see any of the others being that happy with the promise of the odd game due to injury - and neither should they be. You'd almost have to add BJB to that list as well because if he's going to feature as reserve full back he'll need the odd first team game as well I would have thought.



Anyway, it'd be interesting to hear the rationale of the club for such an expansion of overseas players. They'd probably say its down largely to the failure of the Academy to bring kids of sufficient quality into the squad and the cost of signing 'high-profile' English players. Having said that, they must have an awful lot of faith in Amor and Pitts for example, who're both completely unproven yet have three-year deals.

They'll be on peanuts though, and if they prove themselves will be worth an upgrade