Been a retirement home for last 4 years .And found out this year with our new overseas players we are on easy street

The rules have changed now, players from the Southern Hemisphere have to have played first grade NRL, have represented an first grade international side or have family heritage in the UK / France to be able to gain a visa to play in the Super League. If this rule had stood back in the day, players such as Henry Paul and Jason Demetriou et al, would not have been able to come across. It's a shame. Add that to the ever growing spectacle that is the NRL and their increasing salary cap, the quality from down under just isn't available anymore, unless they are young and really willing to take a chance like Croft, Hastings, Clifford etc - but even then, they are short term signings as their ideal destination is to play NRL again.

It's a tough position that our side of the game has found ourselves in.

...actually JD might have been okay as he played for Canada before signing for Super League but Henry Paul would not have qualified.

Or you can pay them £100k a year.

I saw a rumour mentioning Shenton who has been with HullFC youth set up mentioned.

I wonder if this role is the one he’s been targeted or considered for with it involving youth and scholarship talent.

"unless they are an international or you pay them an obscene amount of money, then they'll struggle to get a visa"
Not sure what you mean by 'pay them an obscene amount or they'll struggle to get a visa imwakey,I thought it was determined by NRL games.
Leigh had about a dozen overseas players in 2022 and reduced them down to the SL quota for promotion,(2 could have been Marquee
players?),but stayed within the salary cap,presumably.Not cheap admittedly,but one would think within our scope now.

It would be great to get Andy Kelly back. A phrase he once used to me, when discussing Trinity, was "it's in the blood". I'm not sure he's involved with recruitment at open cheque book Shudds though as their signings all seem to be who Ian Watson wants.

There's loopholes around international games and the World Cup, but you can also pay them over £100k which overrides the criteria. I'm assuming that's how Leigh did it, but they also run with a smaller squad than most so would have no trouble fitting within the cap.

The govenment is not going to turn down the tax from that kind of wage.

Pretty sure that isn't right. Whilst its one of the factors that goes into consideration there has to be other mitigating circumstances alongside to enable the visa to be passed, it's not just simply a case of a pay hundred grand and their in.

I don't know the rules but part of the general rules for work permits is to prove that the person is an expert in their field and the role can't be simply filled locally.
I wonder if the high salary would be part of that explanation.

I can't remember the exact wording, but it was definitely in there. Jai Field wouldn't have met the criteria when he signed for Wigan, but I assume he's on a fair whack.

I can't remember the wording exactly, but it's something along those lines. I think the salary would effectively make him a skilled worker.

New recruit https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A ... mgcb30_SXQ

New recruit https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A ... mgcb30_SXQ

Yes he would, he played 17 NRL games by the time he signed for Wigan.

No he wouldn't. It's not about how many NRL games you've played. The criteria is 50% or more over the previous two seasons, although when he signed I'm sure it was 75%. Either way he falls short, and he hasn't played at rep level either.

Found it. It looks like the guidance was updated in April for 2024. But for this season and previous years the secondary criteria was £100k salary and 20% of NRL games.

Do you have that guidance to hand? I'm not disputing what you're saying, i've just never seen / read / heard of this before.

Here's last years, so relevant for this season. I also believe it was similar for previous years as well. https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/do ... 022-23.pdf And the one that was updated in April this year, so will effect next season more. https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/do ... 023-24.pdf

Here's last years, so relevant for this season. I also believe it was similar for previous years as well. https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/do ... 022-23.pdf And the one that was updated in April this year, so will effect next season more. https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/do ... 023-24.pdf

Whoever is looking after the money, they won’t be getting much from Central Funding e.leeds-live.co.uk/_act/link.php ... d=13619805

Whoever is looking after the money, they won’t be getting much from Central Funding e.leeds-live.co.uk/_act/link.php ... d=13619805

I know it all comes out of the same pot but when do we stop getting SuperLeague funding and just get Championship funding instead and how much is the difference ??

I think it runs in line with the contracts so the end of November.

As for the difference, over a million quid!

So just a bit of loose change for our new owner then ??

Hope so.

Ultimately a few factors could claw that investment back.

- 1895 final
- winning championship
- having a decent challenge cup run
- a few decent friendlies booked in

Ultimately if we have a successful season the fans will start returning.

Deffo a massive step up but I'm not convinced he's the best. Man manager.
I'm sure he doesn't mind whoes toes he stands on and can either take friendship or leave it.
Anyway let's hope his 4 year contract unfolds for the best