Swinton have just signed Craig Harvey (ex warrington) at stand off. If he plays then Mendieka would likely be out.

That'll be the second, too old for the u19s, ex-Warrington Academy player in a week looking to get their way back into professional rugby league signing for Swinton - strange that.

Well I find it all unnecessarily baffling, and TS seemed to be quite clearly indicating that Wires would have first dibs on Mendeika and anyone else on dual reg that had proven themselves SL quality.

I wouldn't be suprised if the bedrock for the arrangement with Swinton is gentlemen's agreements, discreet words in the right ears and token nods to the actual process, whatever that is.

Is he the one who went off to be an oil oligarch?

He sure is

So, if say a club with deep pockets, a new manager and an ambitious owner, made Swinton a tempting offer for any/all of these players (any of who could perhaps be the "next" Chris Hill / Zak Hardaker), then surely the limit of a "gentlemans agreement" would be sorely tested ?

You'd think the contracts will contain provisions to stop that from happening.

Am I the only one laughing at the way Wire are taking the P out of the discredited RFL because you did not want the farce that is 'Twinning' - good on you and keep it up, our governing body are a laughing stock.

And now I admit I am confused - I have looked back at your matchday squads and found no mention of danny Bridge (who has played regularly for Swinton). Initially I thought you were mistaken but have now noticed that your "19" for Keighley on this forum and the Wolves website has disappeared! ("curiouser and curiouser"icon_wink.gif

Must admit I thought I had read it and it did include Danny Bridge who I understand is contracted to Swinton, and on this forum there are a number of comments that he may get his debut.

Maybe there is a limit at the RFL as to how far these rules can be pushed!


Alternatively, following a drubbing from Toulouse we have no game so feel free to loan as many as you need.

Credit where it is due- Red Hall didn't want this any more than Warrington, the blame lies solely with the 12 clubs who voted to bring it in.

Why don't we just buy everyone and loan them all out to all the SL and Championship clubs ffs

Wire are not "taking the P out of the RFL". What they are doing is working within the parameters they have to work in to do the best for the club and for the players involved as far as developing them into Super League players of the future.

I think if anyone is having the P taken out of them, it's the clubs in the championship. They are losing their identify, stability, sense of purpose, fanbase and with no discernible benefit. The argument that, for example, attendances at Swinton, may increase modestly as a result of the opportunity to see a team (in theory) more likely to win, sprinkled with upcoming and experienced SL talent has proven predictably hollow.

Clubs like Swinton find themselves between a rock and a hard place, financially it must work out well for them being in a partnership, but at what cost. Their fans have been moved from pillar to post over the years and it seems the new ground will never materialise. It is now clear what Tony Smith meant when he told Paul Rowley that Leigh were "too ambitious" for them to be partnered with Warrington.

I really feel for clubs like Featherstone who have ambition and want to retain their independence as a club. The system used this year has made a complete mockery of the Championship and discredited what is a great competition. I know a lot of Championship fans and they are completely fed up and disillusioned.