That is correct, and they have the most successful coach of all time, Wayne Bennett.

England’s 2017 World Cup performance wasn’t because Leigh gained promotion at the end of 2016 and then were relegated again in 2017.

Featherstone are heavily reliant on Leeds’s dual registration players. The had Jordan Lilley, Josh Walters and Nathaniel Peteru playing for them today. These players won’t be available in the middle 8’s, if Featherstone qualify and as such, Featherstone will not be a threat to anybody in that competition.

Toulouse Olympique vs Featherstone Rovers in Toulouse is next Saturday. That should be a cracker.

How do you know kevjean?

It also might be a drubbing by Fev, and tbh i hope it is.

Heavily reliant...the 3 you've named there all made their first appearance of the season today for us. I guess the fact that we have free scoring wingers, one of which has just matched Offiah's record of scoring in 15 consecutive games and probably the best half back in the competition in Martyn Ridyard doesn't fit your narrative of us being "heavily reliant" on Leeds.

Grrr!!

Are you seriously suggesting that Martin Ridyard is a better half back than William Barthau or Stanislaus Robin?

I think you could say the same in 2013.

In a word, yes.

No .....
he is suggesting that =#FF0000Martyn Ridyard is a better half back !

Standards Kev, standards.

The 3 named, Josh Walters, Jordan Lilley and Nathaniel Peteru played for Featherstone this weekend. Other Leeds players, such as Ash Handley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Harry Newman and Jack Ormondroyd have played earlier in the season. I would say that’s heavily reliant.

These players can be recalled by their club, Leeds Rhinos, at a moments notice. However after round 23 they can only play for either Leeds or Featherstone. Leeds will keep the players for the Super 8’s incase they pick up injuries.

Stanislas is his name I believe, albeit your spelling is apparently the "Latinized" version of that. Regardless, of the three I'd certainly rather have Riddy in my team.

Wrong - if the 2 clubs are in different 8s (almost certain) and a player has played in 5 or more games either on loan or DR, they can play for both.

I believe it is the case that in order to play for a club on DR during the post-split section of the season that any given player has to have played the 5+ games pre-split as you say (to protect the integrity of the business end of the competition). However they can't switch between the parent club and DR club post-split, they can only play for one (it is up to the parent club if they allow them to stay on DR or not). This is due to the post split games being an extended play off system. If Lilley (for example) was allowed to play for Fev post-split he would only be allowed to play for them.

How can you possibly use the word "integrity" when discussing modern day Rugby League?

I don't think trying to explain actual scenarios to Jean / Kev, whatever personality is at the fore today is of any use, their / his mind is made up on a narrative and that is being stuck to. Their fear that "Frivolous Featherstone" may pip their darling Toulouse to anything is quite hilarious however.

The second paragraph of Operational Rule C1:2:7 (pages 87-88 of the Tier 1-3 ORs) is quite specific that if a player is DR'd and has played 5 or more games on loan or DR the 'one club rule' only applies when both clubs are in the same competition.

I suspect that this keeps changing. I'm pretty sure that what wiganermike said used to be the case (a DR player can only play for either the DR club or his registered club). The 2017 rules allowed a DR player to swap and change in the 8's (so long as in a different competition) as long as they'd played at least 8 times for the DR club in the regular season. The 2018 rules reduce that to 5 times or more.

Yep, these rules change every year so it's no wonder clubs get confused, nevermind supporters!
up to 2016: you had to play 8 or more times (I think, but could have been 7- although at least one club ignored this rule and escaped with no more than a slap on the wrist even though they avoided relegation through winning the game the player was involved in) as a DR to be able to play for the DR club in the 8s but you could only play for one or the other club
2017: play 8 times or more and you could play for both if they were in different competitions (8s)
2018: play 5 times or more and you can play for both if they are in different competitions (8s)

I wasn't aware that they had changed the rules, let alone on such a regular basis. I know that Wigan were quite vocal a few years ago about it (I don't think they were the only club either) as there were a few fringe players who ended up not playing post-split as it was too risky to let them stay on DR in case injuries hit, and when injuries didn't happen lads too old for the U19s were left to kick their heels.

The rules as they are now are better for players as they can still be sent out to get game time should they qualify to do so if not needed.

I recall it being 9.

Quote ="atomic"I recall it being 9.'" It's not easy to find the rules going back but it was, for players with a DR Salary Cap value of over £20k, 3 to play in games for the DR club after the end of season transfer deadline in 2014....although I'm sure they could then only play for 1 or other club. [iEdit: just found an article confirming 8 games in 2016 (and it would appear continue to play for both clubs which I wasn't aware of until reading it): www.totalrl.com/championship-foc ... istration/ So, 2013 - ? (one club), 2014 - 3 (one club), 2015 - ? (one club?), 2016 - 8 (both), 2017 - 8(pretty sure from checking posts on Fev TRL forum, both), 2018 - 5 (both)[/i

Quote ="atomic"I recall it being 9.'" It's not easy to find the rules going back but it was, for players with a DR Salary Cap value of over £20k, 3 to play in games for the DR club after the end of season transfer deadline in 2014....although I'm sure they could then only play for 1 or other club. [iEdit: just found an article confirming 8 games in 2016 (and it would appear continue to play for both clubs which I wasn't aware of until reading it): www.totalrl.com/championship-foc ... istration/ So, 2013 - ? (one club), 2014 - 3 (one club), 2015 - ? (one club?), 2016 - 8 (both), 2017 - 8(pretty sure from checking posts on Fev TRL forum, both), 2018 - 5 (both)[/i

Meanwhile Toronto have continued their promotion push, not by playing other clubs players on dual registration, but by signing experienced international Super League players, such as Matty Russell.

Russell said “I’m really looking forward to playing in Toronto. I kept an eye on the club last year and to see how well it was going was great to see for rugby league. For my family to watch me play in Toronto will be an unreal experience!”

Hopefully his wish will come true at some point this season.