Obst is Quota but not Non-Fed as he was here before 2008. Sheldon posted the two lists earlier in the thread.

The exemption stays with a player for the rest of his career, regardless of how many times he changes club.

Lauaki is the opposite to Obst, he's non fed and non-quota. The Obst signing simply means we might not be able to replace both Lauaki and Fitzgibbon with quota players, ergo, has limited our options. Robbo's right on this.

I think we might lose Moa.

Obst only prevents us signing someone who is quota but not non-fed. So basically, Lovegrove.
He hardly limits our options, any Aussie signed now counts on both lists so even if we didn't have Obst we would still only be able to sign 3 due to O'Meley and (hopefully) Moa counting on our non fed list.
Robbo's not right on this.

(Hopefully) to O'meley aswell

He'll be here mate, don't worry.

Hope so

Surely if obst is a quota player then that is one of only 5 spaces we have so he stops us signing another quota player?

But he doesn't count on the non-fed list, which is where people always get confused as its quite rare. If we re-sign Moa he takes the other half of his space.
If we don't sign Moa or any other Non-fed player then technically Obst would stop us signing 4 Aussies or NZ. Don't see that as a bad thing though, tbh.

to be honest,if it comes a choice of having obst next year or someone like tim smith,id sooner have obst.

If I may reply to my learned friend.

Lovegrove isn't quota - he has a UK passport. Jake Webster would be a better example.

I count yours as...

Quota: O'Meley, Fitzgibbon, Phelps, Obst.

Non-fed: O'Meley, Fitzgibbon, Phelps, Lauaki, Moa.

You are short of non-fed spots, rather than quota spots, as things stand. Only if Lauaki and Moa both leave does Obst's presence limit your options in any significant way.

It's still true
Although the wins he's led you too over Crusaders, Quins and Bradford have no doubt turned you into champions elect