Unfortunately that's not an option in SL for almost every club the wages in the NRL allows SL clubs to sign either squad players or those that have done it and can get another decent chunk in the UK, Catalans is slightly different as they are ruled by the salary ca but its implemented differently and also the lifestyle in the South of France is probably more appealing to some of the Aussies and Kiwis.

I agree, and the fact that SL and the NRL are played at the same time means it won’t happen, but if we reduced the quota spots clubs would be more selective about who they signed, and it’d create more opportunities for homegrown players.

And I agree with that the incentives should be to grow our game at home however that wouldnt work too well for the expansion supporters.

Thought it was five quota spots?

Two of those 3 were excellent signings for us, but Brent Todd, has to be up there amongst, if not the top of our.worst ever signings, and I’ve been watching trinity since 1956,

I've seen him play but not much.
He's clearly more than just a hit up up prop.
He has covered stand off before.

The problem is he has two outstanding moments where he won the State Championship Grand Final and Canterbury NSW Final in two weeks, both with last second plays that won the game from a losing position for Newtown Jets.
That tends to be all people talk about so you don't know whether he's only had two great moments in an average career or he is gifted but just hasn't had the break yet.

He's well regarded but Cronulla have just signed a 13 that will probably be in front of him and he's out of contract.
Wests are apparently interested but maybe he fancies a year where he can get good game time and show his skills.
I reckon he'd be a very good replacement for Westerman but who knows whether it is actually a possibility or just Internet talk.

Do you mean now? If so it's definitely seven, although strictly speak non federation trained. If you mean back then, I'm sure it was three but could be wrong.

Complete range in those 3.

Todd was an international prop that just didn't meet expectation. I've seen him play well for NZ but he just wasn't the player we expected or needed.
Graham was one of the best second rowers in the world. He was absolutely gifted and built like a monster but got unsettled after Todd left as he felt he'd been mistreated. Left early I think.
Ella was already a well established player both for Parramatta and Wigan. One of the best only unfortunate to play on an era of exceptional stand odds. He stayed after the others left and roughed it out at places like Featherstone with Johnny T. One of my favourite players of all time for Trinity.

The Billy Magoulias rumour started because he is suddenly following Trinity on his Insta page. He doesn't follow any other player or club in SL as far as I can see and doesn't follow many NRL clubs either.
Only connection I can see is he follows Willie Peters and Andrew Fifita. Peters recommended Lino to us.

His comments after Todd and Graham had left that "We'll just have to do it without them" earned him some extra brownie points too.

I agree. I felt even though he wasn't here long, he really bought into the club.

Tupou/Fifita/Miller/Lino/Tanginoa/Arona, so we have one spot left, don't know where I got five from