Yes. They are all just as eligible to play as each other but counted as Quota players. Once Willie gets his Tongan passport, he'll then no longer be a quota player. But right now, he's just the same as any other. They've only de-registered another player so that they can get him playing now instead of waiting until his daft passport comes through. They've broken no rules.

Granted, him getting that passport is a complete joke. But what they've done here to get him playing isn't.

It'll be incredibly funny though if he now doesn't get that passport. It'll be interesting to see what they do once Dobson then regained fitness.

Anymore? Unless this was an obvious joke and it has gone over my head.

Or Mancunian, that's Ah Van Ah kid

I'm not sure that Mason is the biggest signing in Super League history to be fair.

I really don't see what the fuss is.

In fact, wasn't there talk of trying to get L'Estrange a french passport just so we could take advantage of exactly this situation? Or was that just silly board talk?

wow what a story,it all started when Ben Galea tried to get a maltese passport but couldnt in time so the rfl agreed to the Tonga route for Big Willie as his mum is Tongan so all ok there me thinks.Then becoz his tonga passport isnt here yet we dereged Dobbo to allow Mason to play while the passport comes thru.You couldnt make this circus up could you ?
Everyone wants Willie Mason in Super league,it will help this game of ours no end not just my team.Dont forget the RFL have agreed to this.
Just cant wait to see his 20 mins on sunday should be a hell of an occason !!!!

With Dobson de registered, he is effectively a free agent. So if any CE fancied waving a pile of used fivers under his nose, there is nothing the codheads could do about it.

Shame he isn't a prop though....

Apart from the tricky business of his contract.

What they have done is fine within the rules of the game. Within the spirit of the game We don't have a leg to stand on with this though after bringing in Morley in 2005. interesting that the rules were changed after we did that though!

...and on further reading, it's possible they've fscked up in hilarious fashion.

one would assume they have already discussed situation with RFL and been told that board will give them a dispensation to re-register dobson this year. Be funny if other clubs kick a stink up and dispensation is withdrawn. wonder how good big willie is in the halves.

Except he's not.

Or are all the Rhino youngsters who aren't registered in the first team's 25 man squad also classed as free agents?

When they stop paying him, he may have a case for being a free agent. Since they haven't done, and they haven't released him, and haven't ripped up his contract, the idea of him being a free agent is complete nonsense.

You can change your 25 man squad at any point. They can de-register and re-register him any time they like without any dispensation surely?

The only problem arrives if Mason's dodgy passport doesn't come through in time. Then KR would have to continue with one of their quota players sat on the sidelines, not registered but getting paid.

just found this dilligaf. makes interesting reading. basically to re-register an overseas player in the same season you need a dispensation from RFL, which hull kr didnt bother getting. so potentially they could be unable to re-register dobson until next season. 1.51806640625:5