Story in brief:
Willie Mason has been cleared to play on Sunday 13th March against Crusaders RL and will be announced within Justin Morgan’s 19man squad tomorrow...

At the present time, the club awaits final clearance on Willie's Tongan passport which is anticipated in the next few days.
In the circumstances, Michael Dobson has been de-registered to free up a quote place.

Once Willie's passport formalities are completed and Michael Dobson is again fit to be selected, he will be re-registered.

The club will be making no further comment on this matter.

What's the problem?

KR have an overseas player who can't play due to injury. They have an overseas player who is fit. So they de-register one to allow the other to play.

It's unlikely they're breaking any cap rules as the RFL will monitor the live cap and they won't be fielding ineligible players.

why should it be allowed? if he doesnt have his passport he shouldnt be allowed to play end of. Not re register dobson to sneak his way in, its wrong.

Don't see the problem, it's within the rules. Maybe not the original spirit but there's nothing to stop them. Before they did this Dobson could play and Mason couldn't. Now Mason can play and Dobson can't. Meanwhile they have to pay someone who can't play. Their money, their gamble. There's a part of me that wants Dobson to be fit before Mason's passport is sorted though, just for the lulz.

No cap issues. They can shower money on random passers by who are also not registered to play for them if they want.

Don't remember anyone making such a big deal of it when Catalans did the same thing and de-registered Stacey Jones to allow Michael Dobson himself to play for them while Stacey was injured.

Mountain being made out of a molehill because it's Willie Mason and the media want to prattle on about him every 5 minutes.

Should Marc Herbert, Brett Kearney & Patrick Ah Van not be allowed to play for us either then? Because they're in the same situation Willie Mason is (i.e. no UK or Kolpak passport).

didnt we have to de-register rob parker to give us a 20/25 spot to register morley when we had him on loan in 2005? Dont see what big deal is. Its been common practice for a number of years to de-register players, particularly injured overseas players, to allow someone else to be registered in there place.

De-registering is nothing, it's just because you've got to have a 25 man squad named. If you're the person to drop out of the 25 man squad, you obviously weren't going to be playing anyway. When we registered Morley, the only person who actually lost out was Lynch, who lost his place in the 17 to him.

This "news" is absolutely nothing and can't believe the big deal being made out of it. But then, the way they've banged on about Mason all week, you'd think he was the only player actually turning out this weekend.

Where can I get my Tongan passport from?

Are they? So who did we have to de-register to let them play? I'm not sure any of they have change nationality to get a place have they?

Mind you Mr Ah Van sounds pretty Dutch to me...

Besides we have 4 Quota Spots full. Hull KR have all 5, however they wanted Mason to play and found a loophole in the rules by making him change his nationality to his mothers side (Tongan) so he can register as a Non-Federation trained player. Simple really. Would you complain if we deregistered Orford (when he was injured) last year and signed Herbert??

No, we would not complain. Others might have though.

So does this mean that Willie will not be able to play for NZ anymore?

International Selection doesn't appear to rely on such out dated concepts as nationality

Tongashop.com