It's an interesting situation, if Rovers keep Webster then I would guess he could be behind him and Welham at Rovers.

I still dont think his Hull career is over and has a chance to still make it at Hull, Agar and Hull have given him plenty of chances at Hull, but overall hsa failed to deliver, but you can see the signs of what a good player he is, maybe thats why he needs a new club.

From what I hear he is happy at Hull, and obviously thinks he has a chnace of making it there, maybe he wants to back himself? If he stays (and not too bothered either way, leanign towards staying though), unless we sign a top centre, which is unlikley, he will challenge Turner for the centre position next season.

I think a move to Cas, Wakey or Bradford would suit him IMO.

The new NRL TV deal and the weakness of the pound may make the rules irrelevant. SL will become weaker, as the flow of players is reversed - except they'll be taking our best. There will be more opportunities for British players to develop, here and there, though. The standard of play will drop here, at least temporarily, but the quality of entertainment should remain high.

I'm not sure. T. Briscoe looks committed to the wing now, fair enough. But if Calderwood gets fit or is replaced, I would assume Whiting would move to centre, with Turner and Hall fighting it out to be first reserve.

I agree, although its a fact the club's priority is both signing and developing young home grown players. The youth setup is exceeding expectations, but it is still in its infancy and might be a year or two before it can be relied on to produce decent numbers for the first team squad.

I would like see Whiting move into the pack and used for back up in the backs.

We need a bit of pace in the centres so it should really be Turner or Hall.

I cant see Calderwood being at hull next year, so Hull might decide not to replace him, as maybe their isnt a good enough player available and go with Hall.

Hall would IMO be a starting player now when all are fit at the clubs i mentioned so maybe he would be better off there, Kear has a habit of improving players, Shenton's replacement at Cas and I know Bradford made Hall a good offer last time he was OCC.

If (and massive if) the HDM story is correct, then is clearly isnt a fact.

It was changed to registered with the RFL by Feb 2008. So Galea and Newton would be off quota (passports) and fed-trained (here for 200icon_cool.gif. This makes Galea a much more attractive prospect for Rovers - and other clubs too.



It is the RFL's job to do what is right for the sport, HKR have to do what is best for HKR. I very much see your point, but, in mitigation, with the club-trained quota rising and with us not having veteran club-trained players of the stature of Radford, Yeaman and R. Horne, we do have to carry alot of youngsters in the 25 man squad. The market in fed-trained players is getting very competitive, as antipodeans can't be replaced so easily with other antipodeans. So, perversely, if you are fortunate enough to find a quota spot available, looking to Oz is more attractive than ever. Except for the exchange rate...

You can't just throw money at a youth system and expect it to yield instant results though. Four years into SL to have half our squad developed in our academy was never going to happen.

Our strongest youth players are all at U18 level and below, which is currently too young to expect reasonable numbers to form part of the first team squad.

If you want my opinion, I'd try to sign a good English prop and off half, but who's available that every other SL club won't be interested in?

There isnt any that more attractive teams wouldnt go for, so if weve got the room; to look for a prop and a 6 in Oz and introduced players like Peterson and Bell into Full time training to gain a years experience imo is the best way forward for Rovers as a club.

Props you would have a chance, off half much harder I must agree, but Rovers could release Galea or Fisher (both positions can be replaced easy in the british game) to sign an overseas stand off.

So you reckon we could EASYLY replace Galea with someone in the British game, can you confirm who you have in mind then because im stumped - A dream team player of 2009 with a vast ammount of experience isnt going to be easy to replace at all.

Further to that, Fisher has a contract for 2011. The rumour is (or was) that Morgan would be happy to let Fisher go - although I think a lot of stuff is blown up out of all proportion.

2 weeks to go yet.

The HDM are correct and here's why.

Overseas players who have a European passport are not counted against the quota of the club they signed for provided they signed before Feb 2008, i.e. Fisher (UK), Vella (Malta), Galea (Malta), Newton (UK).

However, if the above players signed for other clubs then they would be counted against their new club's quota as they would have signed after Feb 2008 (obviously).

The idea of this is to smooth the transition of players as the homegrown quota increases.

There's more info regarding this in an article by Ian Lenegan somewhere. if you ask the Pies where it is I'm sure they'll provide you a link.

Finch and Lima will be Robins next year...

=#FF0000You are grinding the wrong axe there. The idea of applying a strictly enforced quota is sometimes attractive...
=#FF0000MR

A bit of good news about signings, and only rumours, and zod pops out!

Haven't heard much of him this season.

Good to see you back



According to a post by Mild Rover on a thread that took me a while to find



The players would have to be signed by June 2007?

Where Newton and Galea signed before that date?

Here is the artical posted by MR.

=#FF0000RFL "RELAX" RESTRICTIONS ON EXISTING OVERSEAS PLAYERS:

The RFL has now announced that clubs will be able to renew or extend the contracts of non-federation players who were signed before the rule was changed in June 2007.

Those players can be retained on top of the non-federation players that clubs are allowed, though the new dispensation will expire if players switch clubs or at the end of any contract extension.

***

SUPER LEAGUE CLUBS AGREE EXTENSION:

Tuesday 21st October 08

After consultation with engage Super League clubs at this week’s end of season meeting, the RFL board has approved an extension to a recent exemption to the club trained rules.

At the meeting held in Harrogate, engage Super League clubs unanimously agreed that the club trained rules should remain and that a number of players registered in the competition prior to the adoption of the club trained rules should count as federation trained players.

Clubs also agreed that any legal case brought against the RFL for introducing such rules should be defended vigorously.

Rod Findlay, the RFL’s in-house lawyer said: “The club trained rules were introduced at the start of the year to increase the number of home produced players in the top flight. Clubs are fully behind these rules and reaffirmed their support this week.

“What this extension does is accommodate those players who have made a career in the game before they were aware of the possibility of club trained rules. Long term once the people qualify for the current exemption retire the club trained rules will do what they were designed to do and that is bring through more home grown talent.”

To take advantage of the extension of the exemption a player must apply to the RFL to be ‘federation trained’ at the end of their current contract. They also must have registered with the RFL prior to 1 February 2008, the date when the club trained rules were introduced.

Their status as a federation trained will then apply throughout their career, even if they move clubs in the future

Priceless....Zoddy returns to tell us Finch & Lima will be robins next year.

Incorrect.

It's the date of registration with the RFL (prior to Feb 01 200icon_cool.gif that counts and not the date of signing for any particular club; and the exemption, once granted, applies for the remainder of the player's career regardless of who they may sign for.

Time for Zod to disappear again?

So in essence, clubs who have managed to keep their imports for more than a season or two are in the driving seat.

Have you closely read what you have posted as there are 2 active dates on there those being June 2007 and 1 February 2008.
Only 1 of those dates is included in a direct quote from the rfl in the piece you have posted that is the date of the 1 Feb 08.
It still reads as I said it did in 08 when I first mentioned it to choruses of me talking horse sh**e.
Any player who was at a club pre feb 08 can be fed trained if he so wishes.
They can even change clubs afterward and keep the fed trained status belive it or not.

That's cos I've been an exceptionally busy chap

I stand corrected.

carefully scrutinising the quota rules and reporting your findings to a desperate Morgan and Hudgell?

Or just crying into your cornflakes?