Fair enough, but with McKinnon signed he'd just be a utility back, ala Todd Byrne. Total waste of a non-fed spot.

Yep, I don't agree with the system but if that's how it is then play it.

We can win the whiter than white trophy for being so completely virtuous. Personally I'd prefer the best possible side and the super league trophy

I don't want us to break any rules but if other clubs stretch the rules in relation to imports or the salary cap then lets do the same if it means being competitive.

If we do free up some quota spots then I would rather keep Phelps than Lauaki but I woudn't mind if they both left.

Aaron has an Italian wife and some efforts were made for him to come off quota in 2006 when he was still with Leigh as I believe it makes him eligible for a dual passport.

Hang on, even if he's off quota, isn't he still non-fed?

Yups, but I thought we had a non fed/non quota spot left (rare as rocking hose poo), so this would free that up to a non fed/quota spot.

Couldn't care less which rule we are bending. If we can get him off, do it.

Not sure how i feel about this, as i think it should be 5 non British players and thats it. No exemptions, no rule bending, no drinks with the Samoan prime minister etc.......
But I am getting desperate now! Was'nt Shillington mentioned before?
We need some more grunt up front and if AP wants to send us all a message about his intent, then that would be a good start. Oh and sack Agar please AP

Not sure how i feel about this, as i think it should be 5 non British players and thats it. No exemptions, no rule bending, no drinks with the Samoan prime minister etc.......
But I am getting desperate now! Was'nt Shillington mentioned before?
We need some more grunt up front and if AP wants to send us all a message about his intent, then that would be a good start. Oh and sack Agar please AP and the rest of the coaching staff, including conditioner as we are not fit enough!

Because Heremaia was signed in this country before the new regulations came in in 2008 (Leigh in 06, Widnes 07), apparently that makes him exempt from the non-fed quota.

Players signed before that change are exempt because it is unfair on them to have basically travelled all the way to this country to make a career here under a different set of rules and then be excluded/have their market value go down because of a new ruling. However, how a player that has gone back to the NRL and then coming back over here can be exempt is a bit beyond me!

For him to also be off quota, he'd need a Kolpak or an EU passport, which I believe he has an Italian one.

Sam Obst is already non-fed, and I believe he is also off-quota.

The off-quota part isn't so important, as we have plenty of space on that with our Tongans being off-quota. It's the non-feds that are hard, and we already have Obst, Heremaia and Manu off it.

Our quota players (max 5) are: O'Meley, McKinnon and Seymour (Manu, Moa, Obst and Heremaia exempt).
Our non-fed players (max 5) are: O'Meley, McKinnon, Seymour and Moa (Many, Obst and Heremaia exempt).

Technically, we have room for one more non-fed player.
And if we can manage to find any available exempt non-fed players who are on the quota, we can have two of them.

Still plenty of shopping to do then!

There have to be exemptions due to the law.

Once all the players with exemptions have retired, then there won't be any more. It's only because of the transition from one quota system to another that we have these exemptions. It'll all clear within a generation. If you change it again, you'll have to wait another generation for it to clear.

whoever we sign, let our new head coach make the decision!!

The off Non-Fed bit is baffling, and the rfl need to get a bleeding grip.
I don't blame any team for exploiting loop holes, its up to the rfl to close them.

Lauki has been poor and phelps hmm would have kept if we didnt sign Mckinnon