it just sucks

All a non story folks.
Rovers asked the RFL if it was ok and they said yes.
Dobson is a free agent but also still in employ of HKR.
All the stories are mischief making by journos.
Oh and Big Willie was worth it,he was awesome today and to think its his 1st game in 5 months or so !!!

then that breaks the rules as far as quota

the quota is the playing quota and dobbo isnt on the playing staff !

Think the RFL need to have a sit down and look through the whole book and get rid of any loop holes as it's becoming a joke. I don't blame any team for getting around these but would be bit peeved if i was watching a team full of Aussie's talk about losing your identity.

What is he employed as then?

If Mason's Tongan passport doesn't arrive by the time that Dobson is fit, then HKR may be interested in getting him loaned out but retained 'ownership' until the end of the season. They still have him back, and he isn't going completely.

Cleaner, or was that just players wives at some clubs who took on other roles to bump up wages?

The point about loopholes is right, but sadly, legally, there's not much the RFL can do about it thanks to Kolpak rulings and freedom of movement for EU passport holders. While clubs, us included, import a poor standard of player because they have a passport or non-quota, what can we do?

Signings like Mason, even if late in his career, should be welcomed as they are big names and bring something to the competition, especially the media interest in the last week, and I'm sure, when he comes to Belle Vue, he'll add a few on the gate.

A signing like Winterstein (for want of another thousand examples) brings nothing at all to the club or the competition but keeps a British player out of the squad.

Sad fact is that were we to have spent as we have in the past, very few of these lads in the team now would have got a game this year, as we'd have a squad full of the mediocre third-rate Aussie.

Quote: Uptoncat "Didn't we do the same with jd? Can't see the problem with it really. They did this in order to get him to debut at home and cash in on it. Forward thinking really. If masons Tongan passport never materialises then maybe they will have problems and they'd have to release another overseas player in order to reregister dobson'" Not the same as when we did it with JD, we did it so we could field a team not to accommodate an overpriced Australian - Tongan www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/10217

Quote: Uptoncat "Didn't we do the same with jd? Can't see the problem with it really. They did this in order to get him to debut at home and cash in on it. Forward thinking really. If masons Tongan passport never materialises then maybe they will have problems and they'd have to release another overseas player in order to reregister dobson'" Not the same as when we did it with JD, we did it so we could field a team not to accommodate an overpriced Australian - Tongan www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/10217

Dobson's visa will be just to play rugby. If he is employed in any other capacity, HKR will need to prove there is no-one in the UK that could have been employed to do the job.

If we sign him it could save HKR from a Crusaders episode.

Im not privy to any dealings and i certainly dont make out i know exactly whats happened but but we have a solicitor as chairman and the rfl have agreed what we are doing is ok so i cant see any probo tbh.

Your club, helped along by the RFL, has acted within the letter of the rule, that seems clear. What's also clear however, is that they have totally disregarded the [ispirit[/i of the rule.

Genuine question - do you feel proud of your board over the Mason/Dobson episode and more broadly, your mostly Aussie squad?

I think we have been in that position before haven't we

Im proud of my club even if we have too many non british players.We have come on a hell of a long way since we went into admin and are now playing catch up.Its a bit like a question i could ask waky fans,are you happy with having recieved the sky money for a number of years without updating belle vue to a better standard ? and another question is how many players do waky have that are not english ?I reckon Rovers have 10.
Most of the non british players we have,vella,newton were signed before the number rules came in so are exempt but will soon be gone and rovers will have to sign players from these shores.
I could go on and on but to be fair you dont want to hear it,bottom line is that rovers have done everything with RFL backing and thats what counts,not the morals and spirit and fans thinking its not right !!
Sorry forgot to add that Newton is american brought up in australia !
Peter.