With the high profile players (Crocker, Bird + Eastwood) been declined working visa's, I was just wondering what the wider effects of these cases will be.
Obviously the first point of impact are the clubs who haven't got their new signings, they are left with a weaker squad at present. I can't help but think Bulls and Hull are harder hit than Leeds over this. Hull could have done with a huge presence to off-set Carvell and the Bulls IMO desperatley need some pace and individual skill in the middle of the park. While I think Leeds have enough quality internally to just get on with things. I'm talking about: Kirke, Ali, Ablett, JJB. There's four players to plug the gap. And I suppose we can't miss what we haven't had, if anything we will miss Ellis' dogged displays.
The next point of impact are the player's who have been declined. From a Leeds angle, Eastwood at the minute is in no-mans-land. He's signed up but not in the same country, or playing rugby. Leeds are appealing, but how long are Leeds willing to bat for this guy? And how long will Eastwood (at 21) be interested in not playing? I mean a swift return to the NRL should be easy enough for him to arrange. If there isn't a resolution on this quickly, I can see both parties, quite happily, going in different directions. I mean I bet Leeds at the minute are assessing 'other options'.
What are the wider implications? One that springs to mind, will be the hesitance of Super League clubs to sign imports. If they are harder to get over here and applications fail, maybe we'll see less over here in the next few seasons. Even if its just for precautionary reasons. This must be a positive thing if we spend more focus on our talent and develop our players, to aid our international prospects. But on the other hand the Celtics and Budeus got over here in the end. And will there be implications of staging international tournaments. I mean how many would get over? And I still wouldn't fancy taking on Australia's B Team, Donald hat-trick no question.
