Are they any DR agreements between teams who have a realistic chance of meeting in the Middle 8's?

Thinking back to last season, I'm struggling to remember Leigh or Bradford fielding any DR players. Not sure about Halifax or Sheffield.

Can't DR players only play for one club in the second phase of the season, even if their registered clubs are in different 8s? If so, I'd imagine all the Leeds players will be recalled from Fev because you can't say two months in advance how injuries will hit come the end of the season. Might be wrong on the rules though.

That's what it was last season, rule change this year means they can carry on being duel registered. Probably to do with the under 23s and teams not being involved and then it'd mean some players like Handley and Golding could be without a game from August.

So if Leeds have a shocker of a season, have no chance of finishing in the top 4 by say round 25, we could send a load of seasoned players on DR to Fev and get them promoted, while blooding the youngsters at Leeds. Leigh and Bradford would love that.

Think there's a maximum number of DR players in your matchday 17. Five, is it?

Plus, why would Leeds risk key players suffering potential career-ending injuries just to help Fev out?

its all a bit of a mess isnt it.

Not really, no. It's no more of a mess than say short-term player loans would be.

Unless you've got an agenda, anyway.

When we reached the CC Final in 2012, if Hudds had won the other semi final then Lunt wouldn't have been allowed to play. It's essentially the same as that except it might be 2/3 players you'd be without if the unlikely scenario of DR clubs meeting in the Middle 8's ever happen.

I still think that if 12 SL clubs agree DR deals with 12 Championship clubs, then at some stage there will be a conflict of interest, RFL would be as well preparing for that day now and looking at the likely scenarios and then putting in place rules to that all are aware of to avoid red faces and national/local papers suggesting that our game is at best and at worst corrupt.

Mind you, they will need to plan for the next 2/3 years, because after that they will have a new different format for the playoffs to consider.

I dont mean dual reg in itself, i dont really have a problem with it, i mean the
unclear/changing rules and the possibility of multiple players playing for the same two clubs in the same competition as well as the whole situation leaving us with some clubs using dual reg, some not, some having an u23's comp, some not involved, some having academies, some not.

Dual reg isnt ideal, but its better than the nonsense of an u23s comp which has been proposed as its alternative. I dont think its an 'agenda' to think we should have a player pathway which is the same at all clubs and the rules surrounding which players can play where are consistent, clear and tidy.

The likelihood that the top 4 clubs in the Championship (who are likely to be the full time sides) would have a DR deal with a bottom four SL side is so small, that you're really worrying about something that has such a small chance of happening as to be negligible.

Leigh aren't going to take players who can't get in Salford's side for example, as they are unlikely to be better than the players they already have.

Surely the only reason for that's because they've signed most of the better Salford players already

To be fair to the likes of Hock, Chase and Paterson it must be good to get away from egocentric, wealthy club owners who think it's all about them.

golding,lilley,handley,baldwinson & mullally will all get plenty of game time at featherstone this season