Well done, I guess it's always "your year" too !?!?

Indeed and about time too.
This should have been permitted to prevent to "short" squads that have already occurred this season.

Apparently Fev asked for dispensation to sign players earlier in the 8s but we're refused.

Fev's final opponents that year haven't missed the top 4 since IIRC and have a chance at the big time this weekend. I remember feeling totally underwhelmed of being in that final after the fiasco of 2014.......Saturday Afternoon in Toronto is Mr Hughes shot at redemption! COYB.

The RFL need to come down hard on clubs unable to gather 17 bodies on match day in both the top 2 tiers. With 14 sides in the Championship, it should be a prerequisite that you have 25 of your own players registered prior to any Duel Registrations being permitted......Leeds being on their 'arris's this year didn't do Fev any favours come the end of season jamboree, whilst Leigh's predicament should really result in Derek Beaumont not being allowed into any RL game ever again.
Surely there are 350 players of sufficient quality to fill the 14 squads in 2019......aren't there?

I think the answer to your question is very clearly no. There have been numerous occasions all season where teams have gone into games down to 17 or fewer fit players. On at least one occasion a club has named 17 but only had 16 players at the game. I don't have the numbers to prove it but my impression is that there have been far more injuries throughout all the leagues than usual this season (related to the unusually dry, hard grounds?). Fev have lost 5 (possibly 6 looking at the state of one last Sunday) players to season ending injuries since the end of May, 4 (or maybe 5) of them since the last game of the regular season. Because of the registration deadline these players obviously couldn't be replaced (until now) despite Fev asking for special dispensation.

Whilst I am not happy with the way Leigh have handled things, since failing to make the Middle 8's, and jettisoning seven of their top earners, incredibly they did have 25 players registered for the Championship Shield fixturesDawson-Jones, Evans, Reynolds, Hutchison, Acton, Larroyer, Hood, Mason, Owens, Richards, Gregson, Ricky Bailey, Cunningham, Blagborough, Bergal, Dezaria, Ryan Bailey, Higham, Adam Walne, Johnson, Dagger, Jordan Walne, plus three amateurs - Cox, Whelan and Peet.

Those highlighted are either injured, or unavailable. Not condoning the situation we are in, just trying to explain that, at times, a squad of 25 doesn't seem enough.

Why are players unavailable other than those that are injured?

Which aren't injured ??

Ilias Bergal....gone home
Jordan Dezaria...gone home
Sam Peet...in Australia
Mitch Cox....not always available because of work commitments
Jonah Cunningham.....left of his own accord, when his Dad did

All the others highlighted are definitely injured, but rumours were that Matty Dawson had left the club.

This is why ALL clubs should have a reserves/academy set up, but unfortunately the RFL have not made it compulsory.

So to force the Championship clubs would have needed another 150 players out of the community game

Toronto ?

Ste, 'A' team's & Colts used to be 'part & parcel' of our game, I'm sure you remember ! (even though you're younger than me)

Fax had 33 first team players this season, albeit two were on season long loans and one hasn't been able to play all season through injury. That doesn't include any short-term loans or DR players. On top of that we have 15 reserve team members (some of the aforementioned first team players obviously play in reserve games). So, a full playing complement of 48 players, or 45 if you discount the season long loans and long term injury.

Reserves or whatever, all pro and semi-pro teams should be mandated to have them and then this ludicrous situation would never occur.

Where will all these extra players come from? They'll come from initiatives like this... rlhttps://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/squads/halifax_academyrl

You are right about all but Cunningham, Budgie. He's had/needs a shoulder operation, and has been present, watching the home games.