This type of idea has been floated for a while now could we now link up with the Warriors;



[urlhttp://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10892276[/url



The inner cynic in me wonders if this is just a by product of the supposed 'done deal' for Sam but I really hope it's more than that!



I'm defo in the camp that thinks that in some areas our academy players have it a little too easy with the best facilities, top coaches and playing against what are sometimes weaker opposition.



If this comes through then the chosen few who go over to NZ aren't going to have it easy. They'll still receive top class rugby coaching but they won't have it all their own way. Travelling to the other side of the world and forcing themselves well outside of their comfort zone is going to test them in a way nothing else can.



They will see the intensity step up, they'll have to look after themselves away from the massive support network of friends and family they have in England. It's going to turn some of our young lads into men.



It works the same way for NZ Warriors as well as everything i've said above about support networks and comfort zones apply to their young lads.

Good news for the junior that go there, however given the current state of the SL U19 competition, how much will the NZ juniors learn from this from a skills perspective ?

Potentially would this mean us using overseas quota spots for U19 players ? I am assuming that it would be the better juniors that would come over, and as we have seen over the last few weeks, these are exactly the type of players that can prove a blessing during an injury crisis.

I don't see what we'll gain tbh. They will get first pick on any of our top players and we'll get what? The money isn't in the game here to allow us to bring any of their best players over so we may get the odd cast off if we're lucky.



We seem determined at the moment to actively encourage our players to go to the NRL. Our youth system is top class but we will hit a brick wall if 4 or 5 of the more experienced lads walk out the door each year. We're in danger of being RL's answer to Arsenal, developing youngsters to a top class level but then selling them on as soon as they're hitting peak form meaning you always end up starting again.



Leeds annoy the life out of me in a lot of ways but I'm bloody jealous of Hetheringtons attitude to the NRL threat in comparison to Lenagans.

Our youth system is world class but the competition outside of a few given sides is ridiculously poor.



We need to find a way to challenge some of these both on and off the field. Playing academy games for Wigan and then going on loan to Leigh or South Wales is proven route but it's nothing compared to what's being suggested here.



Getting out of the Wigan bubble for half a season, seeing a new way of playing rugby whilst getting challenging yourself is an excellent thing for us.

Maybe it will be as successful as our partnership with Saracens.

Actions speak louder than words, Heatherington is all mouth and trousers.

He's a clown but Leeds have managed to keep a winning team together for years and years. We won one grand final in 2010 and since then we must have lost 15+ players.



Lenagan is a legend at this club, I don't doubt that but I feel he's leaving us too open to these raids.

Just posted that on the other forum



Players left since 2010:



Phil Bailey

George Carmont

Andy Coley

Paul Deacon

Stuart Fielden

Brett Finch

Martin Gleeson

Gareth Hock

Ryan Hoffman

Thomas Leuluai

Jeff Lima

Feka

Mark Riddell

Joel Tomkins



Players in the exit lounge:



Lee Mossop

Pat Richards

Sam Tomkins

Chris Tuson

Harrison Hansen?

Leeds have not had to compete with lots of money in Aus and Onion for "years and years", and his key players are too old to interest anybody now. Lets see if he can hold on to his younger players, and/or bring in major signings in the current climate and the future..Time will tell.

Why don't the league just chuck their heads in create an English team in the NRL, send everyone's promising youth products over there, turn our league in to an amateur one so the likes of Woolston, St Pats, Parkside etc have an equal chance of winning the league as Wigan, Leeds and Wire?

Salary cap at it's best, no one can complain about competitive games, because if you CAN'T make teams equally as good you CAN make them equally as crap.

Lets see how good Gary's resolve is when they come knocking for Watkins and Hall.

Don't doubt the sleeve

When the American settlers shared their turkeys with Indians, i bet the Indians thought, 'hey these guys aren't so bad after all'.

HY, do me a favour. Go and look up IL's history, his qualifications and business dealings. If you think you are better placed to run a large organization, and that he is some naive fool who is easily made an idiot, you can clearly see something in this man that i can't.