Quote ="jools"An Italian with an Italian passport or an Aussie with an Italian passport are not classed as overseas- but surely they are both still classed as non-fed trained. Otherwise why have the non-fed trained rule- there would be no need for it as just about all quota players will be non-fed trained players anyway. The non-fed trained rule was brought in to prevent the loophole that was being exploited in the way you suggest. Some Australian/New Zealandwr who had never set foot in Europe getting a German/French/British passport due to a grandparent lineage. I don't see how the nonfed rule is needed if it doesn't apply to EU and Kolpak members.
There is no rule preventing the player getting a contract to play in SL - the rule is About the playing roster held by a club.'"
Which was the whole point of Finnegans case, if a club is choosing between two potential signings whom are otherwise equal then almost always they would choose the one that gives them more flexibility. The rule as applied was unfair to a Uk citizen (Finnegan).
Simon Finnegan won his case, rather than admit they were wrong the RFL kept the rule but changed Fed Trained status, if you are British/European you are deemed to have it. Fed trained now only applies to a tiny number of people who may have done the opposite of Finnegan e.g. Born in Australia, moved here as a child and lived here ever since.
I'm looking forward to a quality young talent coming in for a centre who is unhappy at the club and has made no secret of his desire to leave for the NRL.
