I'd prefer not to have either

So you've never done anything foolish while drunk?

If GH is compaining about the differences in Immigration Laws between the UK and France, then don't go there.
EU laws are complicated enough and we were happy enough to see Greg Bird play here as, I personnaly, would be to see Todd Carney appear for the Dragons.
If he gets a French EU visa then that's up to the French. Once he has that he can work where he likes within the EU (as I understand it).
As for undermining the integrity of Super League. Where has he got that one from. He needs to stay out of it. Silly man!

So you've never said something bad in the heat of the moment?

It's a nonsense argument from Hetherington.

The nature of having teams from two countries in the same competition means there will always be inconsistencies around things like immigration policies, tax rates etc. This comes as no surprise to anyone, I mean how long have Catalans been in SL now? Deal with it.

Maybe we should also move them to Northern France as they have an unfair advantage in attracting players because it's sunny in Perpignan?

anyone do GCSE Geography in St Helens?

Think you've misread that.

Yep, but being a homophobe wouldn't hamper a performance as much as an alky would it?

I'm relatively comfortable that my education surpasses your own, given the nature of your post.

Thanks for your concern though.

I don't think Todd Carneys performances are in doubt are they?

I think some of them have been [ip*ss[/i poor personally.

He he

He's had some awful seasons

I agree with this post! Time to lie down....

Hetherington is out of order on this issue but would you care to expand on "all" Bailey's "misdemeanours"? Other than the one well-reported incident when he was 18 what else do you refer to???

Don't mind him he's in a World of his own.

Like 2010 when he won the Dally M? Only the very best win that. I can't believe you are questioning his ability?

At what point did I even mention Carney ???
The stench of illiteracy is overwhelming on this one.

This blew up over a discussion about him, but my point is that if ANY player deemed unfit to work in this country, for whatever reason, then that law should be enforced.

Play in France if you want - with their "enlightened" work permit laws - but you cannot play over here.

Anyhing other than that is simply an automatic advantage to Les Cats in terms of player recruitment (if that is really the sort of player that you want).

And I'm not talking about the guys that have been banned for speeding. That (IMO) is just bloody ridiculous.
I'm talking about anyone with a "real" conviction - Decide for yourself what that might be.

It does seem strange that somebody with a murder conviction from another country can work over here, but a bloke with a history of getting ed and ing on himself can't get a work visa!

Seems pretty standard behaviour for a large percentage of late teens/ early twenty year olds. . . .

As the thread is about Carney. You don't really have to mention him, I thought it was implicit.

It seems to me that you are contradicting yourself. You appear to want to take a hardline approach in wanting the law applying, but you then say speeding offences are daft (I agree with you). But you can't really have it both ways by wanting common sense to apply but wanting a hardline approach at the same time.

When you ask - is that really the sort of player you want? - I'm not sure what you mean here?

For example have a read of Terry Newton's/Sean Long's/Barrie McDermott's books and then decide for yourself if Carney is any worse then Terry/Sean/Barrie (just to name 3 ex Wigan players) were in their off the field behaviour?

I might hope that someone calling him/herself 'pie-eyed' would have had a little more understanding! I'm sure you wouldn't prefer all your rugby league players to have been choirboys and live in a monastery between games - or do you?

Matt Orford won it and he wasnt very good at the Bulls...

He was injured the whole time he was there. But his class was evident even in the handful of games he did play. He only played a further 6 games in his career after he left the Bulls. So I'm afraid that's not a very good example to back up your argument.

But just to clarify - Are you now saying that the winner of the Dally M isn't necessarily a great player?

OK. My entry in to this subject:

I am ONLY against the blatant double-standard regarding ANY player who cannot get a work-permit for a UK club (thus stating that he is ineligible to work in this country) who then gets a work-permit to play in France (which is fair enough), but then uses that to come and work in the UK by playing for Les Cats in away games.

It is hypocrisy and a clear circumvention of not the RFL's rules, but the UK Immigration Service and therefore UK law.

What I want to know is simply why it is allowed to happen?
It seems that a blind eye is turned to it by the authorities.

Regarding the REASONS for the bans - These need to be sorted out.

Speeding fines - Why should that prevent you from working over here?

Non-legal issues - Again, why should that affect your immigration ability?

Unfortunately, once UK Immigration have decided against you, that should be it - No working OF ANY SORT in the UK until/unless you have the decision reversed.

As for wanting my players to be whiter than white? Get real.
I know what players get up to. It's no different in football.

However. What we are talking about here is not just the guys who get ed and act the clown, but those who have broken laws serious enough to be banned from living/working here.
(Usually at least. I already referred to the idiocy of the speeding-ticket ban).

If you commit any kind of violent crime over here, you are banned from entering the US (as a good many professional fighters will attest), and it should be the same here.

Just to be absolutely clear:
I am NOT against immigration in general, nor do I want (as was alluded to earlier) the BNP making our immigration policies.
All I want is a FAIR system, whereby a player either IS or IS NOT permitted to work/play in this country.
No grey area, which directly benefits Les Cats by allowing them to play players who would not be allowed to play for anyone else in the competition.
Or at least ONLY allow them to play outside of the UK.

But he's being paid by a French firm. Is it not akin to banning an Air France pilot from flying his plane into Gatwick because he's been convicted of stealing a baguette in Paris?

he played a further 6 games and was released due to his form, he wasnt good for the Bulls, yes they arent nrcessarily great players.

The worst thing about tonight's refereeing performance is that we all knew it would happen 2 weeks ago.