Not sure if it only counts on the 25 players registered for the squad? And if we didn't register him but kept his playing registration then I guess he couldn't register to play for another team!

I'm pretty sure his manger wouldn't leave Orford clubless. They'd take it to court and expect us to honour his contract at least. Obviously we can't let that happen so how far do the Bulls push this?

Guess it depends if we need anything from the deal to use elsewhere, for a stand off maybe?

If we don't need the cash for elsewhere they'll push it as far as they can but short of court action I guess.

Indeed, the rumours are we need the compo to get Leon are they not?

That is indeed the received wisdom. Though, as has been pointed out earlier in the piece, the idea of us wanting £200K is (to the best of [imy[/i knowledge) just paper talk and we're probably unlikely to get that. There are two distinct choices; either negotiate the best deal we can and be happy, or go to court. I can't imagine for a second the club [iwant[/i to go to court because a) it's expensive (on legal representation alone) and b) there is no certainty of outcome, and in a worst case scenario we might finish up with less than nothing (ie losing the case). I can't think for one second the club would go to court over a principle, tempting as it might be, and I'd guess on a more pragmatic approach.

Obviously the club want compensating as it has been publicly stated from the start and will probably need it should they attempt to sign a standoff currently under contract. My point is that I think we've lost some of our bargaining power by signing Herbert. I appreciate that the Bulls couldn't sit around waiting forever but it hasn't helped our case regarding compo. Before the signing there were two possible outcomes. Either we get a decent payout or Orford comes back to play as we needed him. Now Orford can't come back as our quota is full and I'm guessing that some of his wage will have gone elsewhere. Mimis and the Aussie clubs will be well aware of this and I'm sure will use it to their advantage.

Yep thats the rumour I was implying, I'm still far from convinced that deal will happen, even if we did get some decent compo....hope I'm wrong.

You're right it hasn't helped in the case against Orford. But I suspect the pragmatic approach was that whatever the outcome the club have decided, at least privately, that Orford will not be playing for us again either through his choosing or ours.

So we need a new half, any deal for Leon is still a pipedream, so we had to go for Herbert when we did if he was Potters choice of the halves currently available (which is not many). Other clubs were in for Herbert and if we had held off as a tool for upping the compo we might have been left with no new 7, herbert playing for hull, no orford and still no compo and pondering legal action.

At least now, even if Orford walks away for nothing and we don't get Leon we do have a genuine 7 who wants to be here. (for now at least!) I really don't see what else the club could have done with the situation Orford has left us with. Sooner its wrapped up the better now.

Yup, looks like Orford holding out til the last minute may have paid off for him and we simply had to move for Herbert before we ran out of options.

but there was nothing to stop us signing Herbert but then not annnouncing him until after Orford deal was sorted. Fact that we did announce Herbert suggests to me that club dont feel it affects Orford negotiations significantly. Worst case if we gone down route of not announcing Herbert would have been Orford coming back, and us having to pay Herbert for a year to do nothing without registering him as a player, Which I see as a ridiculously unlikely scenario tbh.

can't we not pay him and hold on to his registration? Thay way he won't play RL until something gets resolved.

I'd have thought once we stop paying him then we're in breach of contract. as long as he's technically injured we have to be very careful how we treat him.

He asked to be excused from reporting back for training 1/11.

That means HE is not performing the requirements of his contract now, so I am sure the club would be quite entitled not to pay him?

There's no way Orford or his manager would allow the player to remain clubless. Not a chance. If an Aussie club won't pay for him I recon its nailed on that they'd take it to court and demand that the Bulls honour his contract at least. Obviously this would stuff us right up after our new signing, so the Bulls would probably have to release him.

The latest statement from Mimis regarding his belief that the Bulls aren't entitled to compo suggests this is exactly what's going to happen. I'm not expecting a bean of compensation out of this (maybe costs).