KAPOW!!!

Ok, I think it has to be 6 non-federation trained players maximum in 2010 as the operational rules are clear about this, and they must be king, and if Wakey have got it wrong, they need better lawyers. They are silent about it reducing to 5 for 2011 (but were clear about 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the reductions by one non-fed player each year), so at the moment unless that has been passed by the clubs and board already, I think we must take it with a pinch of salt.

Also, until this year there was not much difference between a 'Club Trained Player' and a 'Federation Trained Player' however, from this year you must have been with the club for three full seasons before you are 21 to be classed as a 'Club Trained Player'. Of course as there is currently no restrictions on number of club or federation players, just non-federation players and a minimum number of academy trained players, so unless there is going to be future restrictions, then it makes no real difference at the moment which you are, as long as you are one or the other.

We need to be careful here with Stosic as this may be about the the right to work in the UK and not the so called 'quota'. The operational rules are again quite clear about only being able to be registered with the RFL with the required permission to stay/work in the UK. I think that, given the rules are not that easy to follow maybe John Kear is talking about immigration issues and not registration issues but, as we all know Journo's can sometimes be lazy, and they may not be fully understand the issue themselves?

([ia) ‘Club Trained Player’

[iSeason 2010

Sorry tvoc, I got that wrong, it does now give a minimum of 7 'Club Trained' or Academy juniors, with Academy juniors being classed as any player under 21 at the club listed in the first team squad (or playing in the academy anyway, obviously). Of course to then become a 'Club Trained Player' when they reach 21, they must have been playing at the club for three full seasons prior to their birthday. So if you sign a 20 year old they would not have been at the club long-enough, once they got to 21, to be classed as 'Club Trained'.

Everyone clear so far???

The operational rules may be silent but the reduction is publicised on the Super League web site.

rlSee the bottom of this page.rl

Given that the operational rules are clearly out-dated at section C I wouldn't rely too much on the absence of a mention of any reduction in those rules.

And Bradford too?



And from closer to home - the Bradford T&A


Returning star Steve Menzies has retained one of the spots, while the remaining places are taken by Brett Kearney from Cronulla and Orford, Glenn Hall and Heath L’Estrange, the club’s three off-season signings from Manly. [/i

I'll only be clear when the RFL produce a list of the declared SL Squads and show next to each name how they are designated under the current 'quota' rules.

That's not going to happen anytime soon though I suspect so the debate can go on.....and on...... and on.

What has information overload done to us?

No I think you are correct, if they agreed the change to 2011 after the OR's were last published in 2007 that could be one reason that it is silent. I agree it does look like the 2011 rules are going to increase club trained and academy players by one to eight and reduce non-federation players to 5.

However, as both the OR's and the SL website agree, it clear must be 6 non-federation players for 2010... so god knows tvoc why Wakey and Bratfud think it is 5 this year?

It's OK they're not alone, Leeds think it's 7

TVOC has provided lots of links to media reports.

I wouldn't worry too much about that. Only yesterday TVOC highlighted how completely unreliable media reports are.

Yes, but information is power... unless you are the wife and you can have power without information or any real reasoning, because you can withhold conjugal rites!

Touche...

I don't think that is the issue here as Steve Menzies is not contracted to the Bulls for 2011. They will have Orford, L'Estrange, Hall and Kearney committed to the quota next season but that leaves one place available.

Of course we don't know the status of Chris Nero in all this and whether he is contracted for 2011 either. I'm assuming he's gained exemption.