From the Dons Official Website ... https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/ ... r-the-dons

From the Dons Official Website ... https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/ ... r-the-dons

Could be some time before they are available though with both requiring visa clearance and Fonua currently out of the country.

Crikey, that's a surprise!

I'd guess that as they're registered as our players, signing before the deadline, there are no requirements to have played a set number of games to be able to play in the play-offs.

Ideally, we need them playing as soon as possible, not just turning up for the first play-off game.

I suspect that it will have cost a few quid for the Dons to have done this as they won't be coming here for peanuts.

With vete as well thats a hell of a statement, for me all 3 could still be playing in the super league. If these calibre of players were signed at the start of the season we go up as champions. You have to be equal with both praise and negativity and this is definitely a praise moment.

They were both good for Hull...not sure about Cas...bog standard.
But they have got to be good in the third tier surely?...
We need them up and running and fit for the play offs....

Championship yes, I would suggest that perhaps SL is beyond them now especially if they are surplus at clubs like Castleford (in the case of the latest two).

Agreed, assuming they can be fit and playing soon enough to have an impact this season.

Nothing further ... hoping this isn't another [i=#FF00004 season long loans from Hull [/ior [i =#FF0000the Albert brothers[/i.

We need both to be in the squad for Sunday. It's an ideal opportunity for them to get to know the systems and structures before we take on Dewsbury. Even good players need to gel. What we really don't want is for their first game to be a play-off match.

Heard today that Oldham will be playing their home play-off games at Boundary Park.

I dared to ask the question on the Farcebook and was shot down how dare I make such an enquiry the club will tell us when they are ready - so it's another Watson who will be back for the start of the season or even worse a Kris Tassell situation.

In unrelated news I've been watching a documentary on Jim Jones

Farcebook! I like it!

Tassell never actually played for us, did he, Steve?

I hope the two new guys are in the squad for Sunday.

The cult (or change 1 letter) have their select 20 or 30 members for high fiving each other and comparing their club doncaster shrines to each other, they're rules are clear 1. No questioning the regime 2. No wanting of information 3. You shall say praise to Baldwin and Hall on the hour of everyday.

Hence my reference to the Jim Jones documentary



No DM Kris Tassell never played I am not sure he even trained with the club, I did read an article last night about Fonua that the reason for returning to AUS was so he could be with his young family, and he's signed for McKay Cutters for next season so is he really going to fly halfway round the world to play 4 maybe 5 games for The Dons?

Faraimo is more likely to feature if he has his visa sorted out but again for 4-5 games it seems odd.

I wouldn't trust Hally to sign his name.

I have joked for years about the quality of side we could put together from players we have "signed" but never played, until they appear these two are in that side in my mind. Sam Hoare was one of my favourites, pictured at the stadium with the kit on and then played the rest of the year for Halifax

The only way it can work for me at this late stage is that they'll partner up on one side and they already know each other very well

Oh no, my attendance at games is so important - they are coming for me again!!!!!

They have unleashed The Kitman!!!!!

PRAISE BE THE HOLY ONES - I repent!!!!!

Who is The Kitman?

If there was a guillotine emoji, I reckon you'd be a prime candidate for it, Steve!



I suspect the club will make an announcement in the next couple of days if either of the new guys aren't in the squad for Sunday.

Expecting the club to make a statement informing the fans?? Awww is this your first week as a dons supporter? Lol

Yes, as soon as I pressed the 'submit' button on that message I realised I might be being too optimistic!

Oh DM you sweet summer child they only announce things when they want you to spend money!

The Kit Man is Martin Rowlands so technically a club employee.

Got ya! Martin Rowlands used to be at the old 'fans forum' meetings. At that time, I believe he was working with the kids in the community leading up to the World Cup. I didn't know he was the kit man.

I'm actually a Sunday's child (born in winter). I'm supposed to be Blithe and Bonny - Happy and Pretty. I'm generally happy but Happy and Ugly would be a better fit!

No offence was meant DM



We'll see today if they are in the squad - my money is on no with a slight chance of Faraimo as at least he's still in the UK I believe.

I do agree with Jemmo that throwing them into playoff rugby could be a massive risk, destabilising the squad and we have no idea how they will perform and how they will sync up with the existing squad.

Again it does smack of trying to paper over the cracks last minute with some "big money" short-term fixes, rather than planning for the longterm at the start of the season, but what do I know I don't even go to the games

No offence taken at all, Steve. It was received in the spirit it was meant.

We seem to be living in crazy times where everybody's afraid to say anything because they may cause offence or you can only have opinions if you satisfy certain criteria. I don't know what the world's coming to.

If we do get promoted and the new guys play, it'll look like a master stroke that could have made all the difference. If we don't get promoted and they play, it could be seen as a disruptive feature that resulted in failure. If they never play, we were sold a pup.

Whichever way it goes, the underlying problem is that we weren't good enough to finish top and earn the right not to have to enter the play-off lottery. If you enter the lottery often enough, there's a fair chance you will win one day but wouldn't it be nice to have a season like Keighley had last season and Dewsbury this?

I don't think we can under-estimate the extra challenges the play-off winning side faces, compared to the league winners. Dewsbury have known for a while they are going up. They can sign players knowing they will be in the Championship.

By the time the play-off team knows they're going up, many of the better players will have already signed for other clubs. This makes life considerably more difficult unless you've already got a 'Championship-ready' squad. We haven't.

Fonua is in the squad

That's good news. Let's hope Faraimo makes it for next week.