Carney, Crocker and now [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/bradford/7887804.stmBird[/url refused Visa's for having previous. A good thing or bad for Super League?

Personally I would love to see this calliber of player roaming around SL (although it would be bad news for us) along with the likes of Steve Menzies, Stuart Littler*, Danny Buderus, etc etc

Thoughts?

Just a note to the Simms bashers, take a look at how many clubs have had problems this season already with getting their overseas player here, Leeds (Still awaiting Eastwood), Huddersfield, Bradford, Celtic, Hull FC, and yet all our lads arrived without a glitch, strange eh?

*

It's blatently obvious that the vast majority of overseas players we can attract to Super League are either:-

1. Quality player at the right kind of age but have a history of trouble off the field.
2. Average NRL quality players that can get a much bigger contract over here compared to what they would get in Australia.
3. Former international players generally over 30, who are looking for a final big payday.

<takes the moral high ground>

I personally think it's a great thing that the RFL (or whom ever) are not allowing players who find it acceptable to beat up their missus, drive whilst drunk and drive whilst being disqualified a lifeline by giving them a way out of Oz. They've done the crime and they should serve the time for it, whether that be a suspension from the game for 12 months or whatever. They shouldnt however be allowed to upsticks and earn £££'s playing in Super League.

<steps down from the moral high ground>

Also, with regards to Crocker he is as his names suggests, a crock! If it forces Hull to now bring through a young lad to replace Croker then rejecting his Visa has worked and hopefully we'll see the emergence of a decent British lad (ala Craig Hall, Danny Washbrook, Mike Burnett, Danny Houghton etc).

or...........

Paul Carige

Why should people with previous history be allowed into the country to work just because they play RL? Whatever their skill level I want them treated the same as any other person. They're no loss to our game what so ever. IMO.

if it was the other way round he certainly wouldn't be allowed into australia anyone ever watch the programme anything to declare you cant take fruit into the country let alone having a police record..

Well how did Mat Lucas and David Walliams get in then?





Its not just RL it is any line of work, commit a crime abroad you now have problems getting work here if from outside the EU

Come on - it's an entire nation founded by convicts - the prisoners they left in Australia, the officers went on to New Zealand!

One of my favourite stories concerns the England Cricket team's visit to Australia during Ian Botham's day. Having just arrived at Sydney Airport I think after a long flight the team was queuing up to go through Australian Immigration one at a time. When Ian Botham reached the front of the queue, he was asked by the Immigration Officer whether he had any criminal convictions.
Quick as a flash he replied, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry I didn't realise you still needed one."
I believe his team mates appreciated it more than the Immigration Officers.

Add to the list Greg Eastwood at Leeds