It’s a bit more complicated that that, though.
You’re right, Wigan can’t make Hastings work for them through force. Slavery was ended years ago. They also can’t prevent him from working elsewhere. The NRL can refuse to let another club register him whilst Wigan hold his registration, but Wigan themselves have absolutely no legal basis for preventing him working for another company.
Why they can do sue him for BoC. They’d need to prove that they suffered a financial loss as a result of his BoC though. It’s never an easy thing to quantify, as of course they actually gain financially through not having to pay his wages. It’s completely impossible to quantify a financial loss based on supposition and prediction. They can’t turn around and claim that losing him will cost them a Grand Final appearance or a certain proportion of season tickets. All this is also made more complicated when the said ex-employee is no longer in the UK.

How would this actually work out.

If they hold onto his registration, would they not have to pay him and if so, would this not impact on their ability to fund a replacement ?
FWIW it would be great if the NRL did the right thing and not "allow" him to play for any NRL clubs, unless of course Hastings comes to some sort of agreement with Wigan, as it's totally wrong for him to sign a contract and not actually play for that club.

Of course, there could be some unique circumstances that none of us are privy to that make his return down under acceptable, who knows ?

Quote: wrencat1873 "How would this actually work out. If they hold onto his registration, would they not have to pay him and if so, would this not impact on their ability to fund a replacement ? FWIW it would be great if the NRL did the right thing and not "allow" him to play for any NRL clubs, unless of course Hastings comes to some sort of agreement with Wigan, as it's totally wrong for him to sign a contract and not actually play for that club. Of course, there could be some unique circumstances that none of us are privy to that make his return down under acceptable, who knows ?'" When James Segeyaro refused to come back to Leeds the NRL stated he couldn't play down under as his registration had been lodged with the RFL. His contract was terminated following his failure to return (hence no pay) and Leeds signed Matt Parcell as a replacement. JS's registration issue was only resolved once Leeds received an undisclosed fee https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... ton-609061

Quote: wrencat1873 "How would this actually work out. If they hold onto his registration, would they not have to pay him and if so, would this not impact on their ability to fund a replacement ? FWIW it would be great if the NRL did the right thing and not "allow" him to play for any NRL clubs, unless of course Hastings comes to some sort of agreement with Wigan, as it's totally wrong for him to sign a contract and not actually play for that club. Of course, there could be some unique circumstances that none of us are privy to that make his return down under acceptable, who knows ?'" When James Segeyaro refused to come back to Leeds the NRL stated he couldn't play down under as his registration had been lodged with the RFL. His contract was terminated following his failure to return (hence no pay) and Leeds signed Matt Parcell as a replacement. JS's registration issue was only resolved once Leeds received an undisclosed fee https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... ton-609061

Never heard owt if they did. I'd imagine they'd be hard pushed to prove they were out of pocket once they'd picked up a fee.

Yeah as Clearwing has said if he’s not turning up to Wigan then he’s in breach of contract so Wigan don’t have to pay him but his registration would still be lodged with the RFL.

That’s the other fly in the ointment in that is there something else going on?