Leeds chase George Ford

[MatthewWoody]

6 minutes ago, absentee thoughtlord said:

You can when you realise that most of them can see the writing on the wall for half the premiership clubs - they are effectively the financial living dead, supporting vast numbers of squad players by pouring money down a black hole. 

Domestic RU is within a couple of years of implosion. Some clubs are sensible and solvent (Exeter), but most have been living beyond their means for too long. Alas, that debt ultimately has to be paid, no matter how serviceable it has been in the past.

Well, even if the Premiership implodes, I'd see them moving to the Top 14 before even thinking about league...

Imho

[M j M]

10 minutes ago, absentee thoughtlord said:

You can when you realise that most of them can see the writing on the wall for half the premiership clubs - they are effectively the financial living dead, supporting vast numbers of squad players by pouring money down a black hole. 

Domestic RU is within a couple of years of implosion. Some clubs are sensible and solvent (Exeter), but most have been living beyond their means for too long. Alas, that debt ultimately has to be paid, no matter how serviceable it has been in the past.

This is no different to most SL clubs though. And the debt doesn't have to be repaid; like at Wigan and London and Huddersfield in most cases it will probably just end up being written off by the club owner.

[M j M]

double post

[M j M]

triple post.

[The Future is League]

1 minute ago, MatthewWoody said:

Well, even if the Premiership implodes, I'd see them moving to the Top 14 before even thinking about league...

Imho

If they move to the French comp they will lose their place in the England squad, which means a big drop in money and sponsorship money and I'm not sure how long the French comp can keep paying OTT wages before the chickens come home to roost.

[DavidM]

Maybe a few playing for saracens looking for a way out ...

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, Mark S said:

More gorilla marketing, the games needs more of it. 

Don't want to make a monkey out of you, but possibly the term is guerilla marketing.

[MatthewWoody]

16 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

If they move to the French comp they will lose their place in the England squad, which means a big drop in money and sponsorship money and I'm not sure how long the French comp can keep paying OTT wages before the chickens come home to roost.

If all the stars leave, the RFU will change its policy.

[The Future is League]

5 minutes ago, MatthewWoody said:

If all the stars leave, the RFU will change its policy.

But they wont on both counts.

[Lowdesert]

35 minutes ago, absentee thoughtlord said:

You can when you realise that most of them can see the writing on the wall for half the premiership clubs - they are effectively the financial living dead, supporting vast numbers of squad players by pouring money down a black hole. 

Domestic RU is within a couple of years of implosion. Some clubs are sensible and solvent (Exeter), but most have been living beyond their means for too long. Alas, that debt ultimately has to be paid, no matter how serviceable it has been in the past.

Fingers crossed eh?

[Damien]

1 hour ago, MatthewWoody said:

In terms of achievements, he can play and win the Champions Cup, the 6 N and the World Cup

Well he has already played and achieved everything already in RU, bar actually winning the RU World Cup.

[The Future is League]

I know UK Rugby League couldn't afford, but to get the England union captain coming back to Rugby League would be gargantuan for the game beyond belief.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Without a decent international schedule, we won't get top internationals. That's an unfortunate fact.

Down Under, they have now developed a good rep period. I can see the Oceanic Cup becoming a big event over the next few years with the developments in PNG and Fiji and the recruitment drives of Tonga and Samoa.

We don't have any opponents up here at all. Unless we arrange for nations to come to us or we go to them, we're going to get further and further behind.

[MrPosh]

2 hours ago, JohnM said:

Don't want to make a monkey out of you, but possibly the term is guerilla marketing.

I was going to point this out, but this is rugby league. Gorilla marketing is entirely plausible. 

[Rhinoferg]

Would rather sign Phil Ford

[westside]

Ford isn’t the best tackler but he is tough and has a pinpoint boot. I could see him setting up cross kicks pretty well.

Ross Moriarty (son of Paul) would be another one for SL clubs to look at. Born in St Helens and a very abrasive player. Would definitely fit in RL.

[Rupert Prince]

4 hours ago, Mr Frisky said:

It would have to be some financial package as a regular England RU player earns a fortune.

And that's only from the property deals.

[Cheshire Setter]

I haven’t really seen Ford play.

Would he be in the mould of Luke Gale, or is his talent purely tactical kicking?

Let’s not forget, Stephen Myler was a fantastic Union fly-half but didn’t really stand out in the halves in League.

[Rupert Prince]

3 hours ago, M j M said:

This is no different to most SL clubs though. And the debt doesn't have to be repaid; like at Wigan and London and Huddersfield in most cases it will probably just end up being written off by the club owner.

Premiership clubs have just received 14 million through some investment company.   They will probably be looking to get a return on their investment.

[Man of Kent]

6 minutes ago, Cheshire Setter said:

I haven’t really seen Ford play.

Would he be in the mould of Luke Gale, or is his talent purely tactical kicking?

Let’s not forget, Stephen Myler was a fantastic Union fly-half but didn’t really stand out in the halves in League.

Think he’d be a organising half who, unlike Gale, would threaten the line with a running game.

Can see why Leeds are linked to him but hard to see it coming off when they have Gale, Lui and McLelland.

[Cheshire Setter]

3 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

Can see why Leeds are linked to him but hard to see it coming off when they have Gale, Lui and McLelland.

Probably just for publicity.   Nothing wrong with a bit of publicity at this current position in Rugby League’s existence.

[GeordieSaint]

Ford would be a great signing for Leeds and the game over here.

[Oxford]

6 hours ago, Dunbar said:

I would imagine for the likes of Ford and Farrell there would be some motivation to see if they could perform in the game

LOL !

[Dunbar]

6 minutes ago, Oxford said:

LOL !

Any chance of a sensible conversation where you explain why you don't think that proving themselves in the sport where their fathers made their names wouldn't motivate Ford and Farrell rather than a childish LOL?

[redjonn]

Whilst it would be good to see Top RU players coming across I wonder if I'm just too cynical...

That is Leeds right in the middle of season ticket selling, trying to show they are prepared to spend to get top talent...or mmmmm are fans murmuring about lack of signing, hence a sop to say we are chasing top talent (happens a lot in soccer)...

Time will tell....