Was it 2005 when they changed the rules to short term signings after Bradford signed Morley, wire signed Andrew Johns and we signed Faumuina (anyone still got their face mask?) They could for next season look to have a transfer deadline or make loan signings a minimum of a month, but, like with Asiatas tackling, you can't change the rules on something mid season and whilst what rovers are doing might not be within the spirit of super league, it's not breaking any rules and I'm sure will be forgotten about quickly amongst most of the RL community if they win the cup

How would you define the spirit of super league? I’ve always thought it has a devil-take-the-hindmost, dog-eat-dog, every-man-for-himself kind of ethos.

To be forgotten by the RL community, something would first have to be noticed. Outside this lovely intracity bunfight, has it even really registered? A third of SL clubs are party to these specific short-term deals and presumably happy with them.

Corrigendum



No academy fixture this weekend. I did wonder how we were going to field 51 players across three fixtures with most of the first team in HIAding.

Reserves and academy games are generally staggered to give the reassuring illusion of Reserves squads existing. Rovers first team, reserves and academy all scheduled to play on the 25th and 26th of August though. That academy game is against Newcastle who are 0 and 9, with a minus 638 points difference, so probably it’ll be okay.

I wonder if they will get fined by the RFL. I presume it is within the rules to fine a club for fielding a weakened team. I know of at least one other club who have.

Rovers can do what they like obvs. We all know it's not cricket to do this loanee thing however, and I am enjoying the desperate squirming to "justify" it.

18 players named in the squad who are Rovers players, could have named 3 more first teamers and not played them or just named a 18 man squad.

Will get hammered either way, but Rovers players get the experience of playing a SL game rather than give 3 players from other clubs one game and experience. Just doesn't make sense to me.

Wonder if they asked us for any players?

Think it's happened in the past, but not for a while, might have been Saints.

Luckily they play Wigan, imagine if they played Cas or Wakey this week

I am not interested in what HKRs coach does or doesnt do but he is right to protect his first team from potential injury before the C/C final by not playing them if it doesnt break any rules.
Can you imagine if he played his first team against Wigan and had to contend with a couple of injuries and a couple of HIAs to key players so he ends up missing players for what is their biggest game in years.
Say what you like about HKR but they have been very proactive in the transfer and loan market and plugged gaps when necessary like with Schneider.
Its galling for us that KR are at Wembley and are doing better than us in the league but you and others on here should get over it as the criticism of their recent short term loans on here is nothing more than hatred and jealousy for a local rival team that have risen above us this season.
Cant see any other S/L team or supporters reacting the way some on here are to Rovers playing a reserve team including three short term loanees

Said like a true Rovers supporter

Yes, because you always call out poor behaviour..

I see Kendall has been picked for Wakefield - Cas, so place your bets for who will get a controverisal Red card at a key moment, im going for Watts

Isn't the Wakey/Cas game Griffin's first match back? Bet Kendall would love to send him off again.