rlYork's prop forward denied visa...rl

It's all the rage...

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.

Er....no

If you have British citizenship on ancestral grounds then work is nothing to do with it.

If you are applying for a visa on ancestral grounds then you do need to intend to seek or take work.

Two separate things.

Could he be loaned to NRL club in the mean time?

Apparently before signing any players from the antipodes in future GH is demanding that they obtain an enhanced CRB check.
Once this has been completed and shown to be clean then he'll start contract negotiations.

apparently GH is absolutely delighted, doesnt have to pay anything and its not his fault and he hasnt used his "we will look inside the squad/trust in youth" line for at least five minutes @)

He's hardly been tight over the last 5 or 6 years has he just very prudent and not put the club at risk for short term gain.

Wonder what GH has up his sleeve for the spare wadd he is now sat on

I'm sure he'll be reviewing it with bluey just in case greg's appeal goes t#ts up.

I heard that the proper reason was that the aeroplane could not carry his weight anyone else heard similiar.
Reliable source too.

Whatever options GH has in his mind, judging on his decisions over last 5 years or so, and 3 GF wins, he hasn't done much wrong.

Thats true.

It doesn't stop clueless gobes from harrangueing the bloke every year to sign "a big name", ie an aussie who is making press releases about wanting to play in England as a ploy to get his salary in the NRL upped a bit.

There was one such no-nowt gobe at the back of the Carnegie when I had a season ticket there, his constant loud mouthed bleating of "get yer 'ands in yer pocket 'etherington and get a decent full back/centre/winger/stand off/second row/forward" (depending onwhich way the wind was blowing that week) was one of the reasons I didn't bother renewing.

I have no idea about the Australian driving penalty system but over here he would get a ban after receiving 12 points so there is a good chance the "string" is only 2 or 3 convictions long.


If eastwood is a crazed 90mph through a pedestrian zone driving nutter then I don't think anyone would want him living in Leeds but I got 3 points and a fine for doing 34mph on a busy A road just following a line of traffic by a mobile camera in a driveway, I would be very p***ed off if that hampered my career or job prospects in any way.

www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

Thats a really, really interesting article, thanks for uncovering it.

Wonder if Mr H would like it forwarding by means of explanation