According to the RFL teams may only register 5 non-federation trained players ( Clubs are limited to five ‘Non Federation Trained’ players only."[/i

McGoldrick and Meli are exempt as they were playing in Super League before these rules came into force.
McPherson is exempt next year as an ex-Crusaders player (although he never played for them he did sign a contract to!)
However, Salford have signed.
1. Tim Smith
2. Junior Sau
3. Tony Pulatua
4. Steve Rapira
5. Jake Mullaney
6. Rangi Chase

Surely they cannot register all these players? Or am I missing something?

I was thinking this too.

The only thing I can think of is that Tim Smith is exempt like McGoldrick and Meli. He was playing at Wigan a while ago wasn't he?

I could be very wrong, but it's the only thing that I can think of...

I don't think he was playing before the non-federation rule came into force though.

IIRC Smith went to Wigan mid-season in 2008. As far as I know the non-fed trained rules don't apply to players who were in SL in 2008

2008 he signed for Wigan what year did the Non fed rule come into force?

To be honest I'm not sure.
However, surely this "exemption" cannot be applied to a player who has left SL and then re-signed for another club years later (it goes against the principle of the rule which is to encourage home-grown players)?

Ok what about a player from England who goes to Australia for a good few years e.g (sam burgess) then comes back isn't that the same?

According to the RFL:
"Where a player joined a club prior to the Club Trained Rule coming into effect on 1 February 2008 and has played a total of at least one season for that club then that player will be exempt from the non-federation trained requirement."
Smith signed for Wigan in June 2008 so that counts him out of the exemption (nor had he played a season for the club already).

No, because he is clearly a federation-trained player having played for a European Federation club (Bradford) between the ages of 16-21 (which Tim Smith didn't)!
Widdop would be a non-fed player though as he moved to Australia before he was 16!

You have a bee in your bonnet about this NT. So if RFL decree then Smith goes back to Trinity & the Wildcats repay and the club goes to the wall. Is that what you want? Or a similar situation at Cas & when Rangi returns Cas - who are skint anyway - will have to renege on the lucrative contracts to the new lads who will become free agents again Is that what you want?

At the end of the day - being realistic - the monies invested with Cas & Wakey is desperately needed. If one of the deals fails then one of the clubs fail Surely you do not want to see this.

Feb 08 for players who were at a club or had signed pre-08

If Salford have breached the federation ruling then it has nothing to do with lucrative contracts been signed. It's about making sure no rules are broken.

Anyway If the survival of a club rests on the transfer of one player then more fool that club.

Sounds like Tim Smith is exempt, by those rules. Good on Salford for doing their homework.

In a way you are right.
To be honest I've had a 'been in my bonnet' about a fair few things within the game recently. I don't like the fact the RFL have a vested interest in Bradford, because it's unfair.
I don't like that some of Sam Tomkins' wage doesn't count on the salary cap when every other club has to stick to it, because it's unfair.
For me, any sport has to be played on the metaphorical "level playing field". Allowing some clubs to break the rules undermines the whole game, and allowing Salford to sign more non-federation players than other clubs would be unfair to every other club.
As for your other point - I don't think any players will return to their previous clubs. Salford would need to decide which player to de-register, as Hull KR did when they had more than the permitted number of non-fed players.
Finally, I think you are correct about the money with regards to Wakefield, who have openly said they need the cash to survive. However, Cas could have afforded to keep Chase, and are using the money to re-invest in the playing squad and sped the maximum salary cap.

No he isn't, it came into force in February 2008 and he signed for Wigan in June 2008. June comes after February.