If Croft wants to leave we'll eventually have to just suck it up, but as a business it would be insane to not force as much compensation as possible.

The argument that we should let a player go because he won't want to play for us again is valid, but so is acting in the best interests of the club financially. I'd also argue the Arthur factor would outweigh any negativity associated with Leeds simply enforcing their rights to not deregister a player just because it suits them.

By the way, I'm not sure Croft would necessarily want to join the Dragons. St George need a replacement for Hunt. Croft is not the lead playmaker they need - someone like Hastings would make more sense. The whole reason Croft left the NRL is because the last time an NRL team tried to make him the centre of the team he collapsed under the pressure. Even at Leeds we've seen that he isn't comfortable as the main organiser.

 Very worrying for the game over here. 

That?d do very nice indeed. Sounds like there?s certainly something there if Peter Smith reporting it 

If true it would surely be a precursor to a Croft return to the NRL in 2026, but in the meantime it would give us huge depth at halfback, and probably have us playing Hastings (when all fit) in the hooker role.

Not sure about Hastings, why are we obsessed with half backs that were good for a bit a few years ago for someone else. Sezar, Austin, Gale, Croft, Frawley (who was no good anywhere) probably others I?ve forgotten.

To be fair, that's how it works. Player does well at a club and other clubs become interested. It means they are generally a good player as the massively maligned Sezer is currently proving at Hull. Of course you can say that Hastings hasn't done well at Newcastle, but the chances of any SL club landing a NRL halback who is doing well are non existent. So you either take a huge gamble on an unproven NSW Wales/Queensland cup half or you go for some pedigree and experience, which Hastings undoubtedly has on both sides of the world. There's no guarantee of success but at least it's based on logic. Who would you go for?