The RFL will grant Dobbos re-registration, it will set a precedent in case Wigan need to do it in the future

Oh, I am sure someone will have

That's not an extenuating circumstance. Hull KR could've avoided de-registering Dobson by simply waiting till Mason had got his passport before registering him. The club knew that until his passport came through, he would count on their quota which was full. How is that an issue that deserves sympathy from the RFL?

Because due to issues outside of Hull KR's control a major player in their team has had some paperwork delayed. This would seem to be a way of enabling Mason to play. Unless there is some fault on the part of Hull KR or Willie Mason for the delay then I don't see why Hull KR can't use existing rules to help them get Willie Mason to play for the club.
If it turns out it was rubbish and Mason isn't going to get his Tongan passport then I still don't see it as a major issue since they have got rid of another player to make way for him.

If Mason were allowed to play (without his Tongan passport) and then Dobson were to be re-registered I too would be annoyed and would expect the RFL to step in, since that isn't what's happening (yet) I don't honestly see what all the fuss is about and I certainly don't see how anyone can blame the RFL for something that hasnt happened yet and, more likely than not, won't happen.

Watch HKR train this Saturday.......................for a fiver!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously www.hullkr.co.uk/article.php?id=1611

Watch HKR train this Saturday.......................for a fiver!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously www.hullkr.co.uk/article.php?id=1611

True they are trying to exploit the loopholes. Like virtually every club in SL is, except IIRC Huddersfield. And yes you are correct about Galea, except Willie Mason has been granted a Tongan passport, he is simply waiting to receive it. That's quite a big difference between him and Ben Galea.


No it's not. Getting Willie Mason a Tongan passport in the first place was an attempt to circumvent the quota rules, as was Pat Richards & Chris McKenna's Irish passports. It's not just Hull KR you know. The de-registration of Dobson is not an attempt to circumvent quota rules, it's an attempt to get playing a major player who would have been playing much earlier had it not been for bureaucratic delays.


This is an exceptional circumstance. I can't honestly recall a situation like it. The RFL anticipated exceptional situations which is why the clause about 'at the discretion of the Board' was inserted into the Operational Rules. If this isn't such a situation that the Board should consider what kind of situation would be?

No, its not 'issues outside the control of HKA' which has meant they have a major player who cant play.

The reason Mason hasnt yet played is HKA havent been able to circumvent the quota rules to bring in a player over and above what the RFL regulations allow.

I cant see any reason why the RFL should grant dispensation to re-register Dobson purely so HKA can expedite their breaking of the quota

Please explain how the quota has been broken, bearing in mind the club has operated within RFL rules throughout.

No other SL club has done anything like this. What loopholes do you think other clubs are using?

And if the passport is in the post and he is simply waiting for it then what an idiotic way of getting Mason in.

Yes getting Mason a Tongan passport was an attempt to circumvent the rules, de-registering Dobson and expecting the RFL to grant dispensation to allow him to be re-registered so than Mason can use his quota spot until he circumvents the rules with his passport of convenience is also circumventing the rules. As was the attempt to get Galea a passport of convenience.


pretty much every rule listed in the operational rules is listed as at the discretion of the board.

This isnt an exceptional circumstance. The only thing which is exceptional about it is HKA failing to circumvent the quota rules in any legal way and needing dispensation to do so.

Hang on their Smokey, have the RFL said they will re-register Dobson? You're having a go at them before anything has even been done.

Simple fact at the moment is that Hull KR have de-registered Michael Dobson, that is Hull KR's right and the RFL (as I understand it) can't stop them from doing that. They have (presumably) now registered Willie Mason. Since Michael Dobson is now no longer a Hull KR player what is your objection to these 2 actions and why do you lay blame at the RFL's door?

No they havent, which is why they will need dispensation to re-register Dobson.

Quote THE Rugby Football League today said they have already given Hull KR assurances Michael Dobson will be allowed to re-register to play again this season. Dobson has been temporarily de-registered by the Robins in order to allow marquee signing Willie Mason to be placed on their overseas quota. But that has placed a question mark over the future of the injured Dobson, with the RFL yesterday claiming he was a "free agent" because his contract had been terminated by Rovers.'" www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... ticle.html

Quote THE Rugby Football League today said they have already given Hull KR assurances Michael Dobson will be allowed to re-register to play again this season. Dobson has been temporarily de-registered by the Robins in order to allow marquee signing Willie Mason to be placed on their overseas quota. But that has placed a question mark over the future of the injured Dobson, with the RFL yesterday claiming he was a "free agent" because his contract had been terminated by Rovers.'" www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... ticle.html

Im not having a go at them. I have prefaced almost everything I have said with the word IF.

If the RFL do grant dispensation, imo they will have failed to uphold their own rules fairly.

If they dont grant dispensation then that is fine. I dont mind, HKA have swapped one quota player for another there is no issue there.

Don't be deliberately thick Smokey. We all know what loopholes other clubs use.


How else is Mason supposed to receive his passport? Stand outside the passport office in Tonga for the last few months?


I don't see it that way at all, I see it as a sensible measure to help mitigate the effects of ridiculously slow bureaucratic paper shuffling.
I think you are letting your antipathy towards Hull KR's recruitment blinker you on this issue.



Quite rightly too, it provides flexibility for exceptional circumstances like this exact incident.



Make your mind up Smokey lad, is it exceptional or not?
If it's not then kindly refresh my memory with another example of this kind of incident.

So you admit if Masons Tongan passport had arrived on trime, and the whole deregistration issue hadn't arisen HK"A" haven't done anything to break the quota rules?

The use of HKA shows your one sided, bile filled hatred which clouds your argument.

Isn't it obvious, if it was Hudds or cas that was involved he would not be posting

Assuming (I know

) that Rovers have to [uapply[/u ro re-register Dobson, doesn't that rather pre-empt the decision of the RFL board?

It goes to show that our 'inept' and 'amatuer' board DO actually know what they are doing, I never doubted that NH and co would NOT have spoken to the RFL BEFORE registering Mason in this manner.

like what? Yes they use passports of convenience, but i havent heard of anyone being granted dispensation for shuffling like this.

who cares how he physically receives it? its seems the point went massively over your head there.


Why should the RFL be expediting Masons arrival because the passport of convenience they have attempted to get to circumvent the rules hasnt yet arrived?

You're argument is basically that HKA have tried to circumvent the rules, they have failed so far but are likely to be successful in the future so why should the RFL bother actually enforcing the rules when it inconveniences HKA

So leeds should just sign the Queensland SoO side and ask for dispensation on the SC and quota, after all no-one has tried it before so it is 'exceptional circumstance' and im sure if GH tried hard enough he could find plenty of kolpak/continou and home nations passports there and they would likely be successful with a restraint of trade claim on the SC, why bother inconveniencing Leeds with actually bothering to do these things.

Cas or Hudds dont need to be doing this merry dance to cover up for the fact they have no youth development.

that is unfortunately true. HKA have exploited our weak quota rules to the Nth degree, and in this case have gone a step further and need dispensation to cover it up.

So what exactly is your beef with the club, who you admit haven't broken any quota rules. Surely if you have a problem it should be with the RFL, who obviously aren't running the game in the particular way, you see fit. It seems rather arrogant of you to think your way is the only right way out of all the thousands of people who watch our great game.
Maybe if we should change our name to Hull Kingston Australians, it's time for The Engage Smokey League then it could be run just how you'd like it!

I have a problem with both, HKA for doing it, the RFL for being so weak as to allow it.

You dont condone the thieves on the basis the police arent doing their job.

There are extra passports & the pre 2008 rule which the vast majority of clubs use.



Apparently you do. It may well have gone over my head, it was that covered in sh[ii[/it I decided to duck.


Yes indeed, why should the RFL want players to arrive and play for their clubs? What a stupid ridiculous use of RFL time, presumably they should stop helping Crusaders with their players visa problems too?
You keep saying circumvent the rules. Hull KR are playing by the rules as you yourself admit. Willie Mason has been granted a Tongan passport, by the Tongan Prime Minister, about as official as you'll ever get, he just hasn't received it yet. So considering Hull KR are playing by the rules set down in the RFL Operation Rules why shouldn't the RFL help them out with some delayed paperwork?


Don't be daft, you do yourself no credit whatsoever with this ridiculous paragraph.

Your dislike for Hull KR, as evidenced by the pathetic continual use of "HKA", has blinkered you to the merits of the situation. I have no doubt if this were another club involved and the RFL had not allowed this action you would be blaming the RFL for not allowing a club to play a top class player.
The RFL have done exactly the right thing so far, they've been flexible and responsive with the rules to an exceptional situation.

I'll ask you again, is this an exceptional situation or not? Because you seem a little confused on the issue





Which is it Smokey? Is it exceptional and worthy of discussion and possible dispensation by the RFL Board? Or not?