THE BOARD wrote:Massive Loss that would be !!!!
I agree, because there won't be a British winger (or possibly player in any position, depending on renewals at other clubs) of similar quality available.
As always though, it'd free up cash for other options. For example Webster could be played on the wing to accomodate him, Welham and Walker. We could then make a marquee signing from the NRL or, perhaps better, give full-time contracts to 4 or 5 youngsters. The latter would mean swapping quality for quantity, but it'd give us some valuable extra depth in the squad. It'd also show a commitment to producing our own players ahead of the next round of licensing. Even if only 1 or 2 make the grade, that'd be a decent medium-term return.
I 100% hope Fox stays, of course, but if somebody else offers crazy money, we shouldn't match it. Probably at Saints and definately at Leeds he'd have a better chance of trophies in the next couple of years, and the NRL is the ultimate challenge, but after that I imagine he'll only go if another club's valuation differs from Rovers'. As far as international recognition, I'd hope that the practice of picking all the English players from the best English clubs will change to picking the best English players from all the English clubs, after the World Cup fiasco.