The RFL need to come down hard on clubs unable to gather 17 bodies on match day in both the top 2 tiers. With 14 sides in the Championship, it should be a prerequisite that you have 25 of your own players registered prior to any Duel Registrations being permitted......Leeds being on their 'arris's this year didn't do Fev any favours come the end of season jamboree, whilst Leigh's predicament should really result in Derek Beaumont not being allowed into any RL game ever again.
Surely there are 350 players of sufficient quality to fill the 14 squads in 2019......aren't there?

I think the answer to your question is very clearly no. There have been numerous occasions all season where teams have gone into games down to 17 or fewer fit players. On at least one occasion a club has named 17 but only had 16 players at the game. I don't have the numbers to prove it but my impression is that there have been far more injuries throughout all the leagues than usual this season (related to the unusually dry, hard grounds?). Fev have lost 5 (possibly 6 looking at the state of one last Sunday) players to season ending injuries since the end of May, 4 (or maybe 5) of them since the last game of the regular season. Because of the registration deadline these players obviously couldn't be replaced (until now) despite Fev asking for special dispensation.

Whilst I am not happy with the way Leigh have handled things, since failing to make the Middle 8's, and jettisoning seven of their top earners, incredibly they did have 25 players registered for the Championship Shield fixtures:-

=#FF0000Dawson-Jones, Evans, Reynolds, Hutchison, Acton, Larroyer, =#FF0000Hood, Mason, Owens, =#FF0000Richards, Gregson, Ricky Bailey, =#FF0000Cunningham, Blagborough, =#FF0000Bergal, Dezaria, Ryan Bailey, Higham, =#FF0000Adam Walne, Johnson, =#FF0000Dagger, Jordan Walne, plus three amateurs - =#FF0000Cox, Whelan and =#FF0000Peet.

Those highlighted are either injured, or unavailable. Not condoning the situation we are in, just trying to explain that, at times, a squad of 25 doesn't seem enough.

Why are players unavailable other than those that are injured?

Which aren't injured ??

Ilias Bergal....gone home
Jordan Dezaria...gone home
Sam Peet...in Australia
Mitch Cox....not always available because of work commitments
Jonah Cunningham.....left of his own accord, when his Dad did

All the others highlighted are definitely injured, but rumours were that Matty Dawson had left the club.

This is why ALL clubs should have a reserves/academy set up, but unfortunately the RFL have not made it compulsory.

So to force the Championship clubs would have needed another 150 players out of the community game

Toronto ?

Ste, 'A' team's & Colts used to be 'part & parcel' of our game, I'm sure you remember ! (even though you're younger than me)

Fax had 33 first team players this season, albeit two were on season long loans and one hasn't been able to play all season through injury. That doesn't include any short-term loans or DR players. On top of that we have 15 reserve team members (some of the aforementioned first team players obviously play in reserve games). So, a full playing complement of 48 players, or 45 if you discount the season long loans and long term injury.

Reserves or whatever, all pro and semi-pro teams should be mandated to have them and then this ludicrous situation would never occur.

Where will all these extra players come from? They'll come from initiatives like this... [urlhttps://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/squads/halifax_academy[/url

You are right about all but Cunningham, Budgie. He's had/needs a shoulder operation, and has been present, watching the home games.

In summary, the evidence quite clearly shows that Championship clubs need to follow the Halifax model.

Don't forget they are the best part-time team in the UK.

I agree Halifax are run well.
Bulls run a full scholarship programme also full academy and reserves other clubs struggling for players should take note.

Absolutely, Bradford is probably the second best part-time team in the UK too.

We have sold over 600 tickets for the game at Featherstone. Not a bad effort considering what is going on at the club, and that we have had to borrow 7 SL academy players to make it a 17 v 17 game.
Obviously the 'usual suspects' will wade in with their size 9's tomorrow night....all 3 of them !

I hope it's a great game and despite the troubles still a shame it's not on TV. All the best for both teams next season in expectation of an even more competitive and exciting time than SL.

Nice one Sparky !

Weddings will keep, Fulham/Harlequins/Virgin Broncos/London Nomads going !

FFS..I fell for it. You made me give me a long explanation when basically you couldn't give a ****. The words 'live & learn' spring to mind.
Still can't decide who is the most annoying coward on here, you or Lebron James.

Regards

Cambria is mid Wales, maybe thats what Snowie meant.

Mate, Jake was one of (if not the) popular players at Cas. we've let him go for a reason but hope for his sake it goes well.

Remember going down to watch Cas v Fulham. They had a cas based player playing for them and he was waiting outside the ground for us with a huge wad of "complimentary" tickets. Don't think any Cas fans actually paid in that day.

Now workington town are struggling to raise a team ! www.totalrl.com/workington-to-he ... -rejected/

Now workington town are struggling to raise a team ! www.totalrl.com/workington-to-he ... -rejected/

L1 clubs were crazy to agree to this fixture, they should have known they would have difficulty raising a team with holidays booked months previously.

Quote ="Kennedy"Now workington town are struggling to raise a team ! www.totalrl.com/workington-to-he ... -rejected/'" There was always a danger of this happening, when the extra game was slotted in at short notice, after the intended season-end. This is the time when most players have booked a well-earned holiday. The vast majority of Championship/League 1 clubs simply can't afford to pay the players to cancel those holidays.

Quote ="Kennedy"Now workington town are struggling to raise a team ! www.totalrl.com/workington-to-he ... -rejected/'" There was always a danger of this happening, when the extra game was slotted in at short notice, after the intended season-end. This is the time when most players have booked a well-earned holiday. The vast majority of Championship/League 1 clubs simply can't afford to pay the players to cancel those holidays.

Leon Pryce raised this issue when the play off game was first announced. Seems no one bothered to listen.....