With the lack of any meaningful reserve or A team competition I think loans are the only way many young players, particularly in in SL, can bridge the gap between the U19s and open age. Without Loans or DR where would they improve or mature after the age of 19?

There is probably nobody available but we need to make a few permanent signings,
It will settle the squad, and Give Toovey (visa allowing) something to work with...

Absolutely.

Whilst we're grateful for the loans and sometimes, as in our case, other factors intervene, having our own players leaves us in charge of our own destiny. We do though come up against the point that we can't just sign, 'anybody', and that any signing has to be good fit to the squad. I guess that's the real problem, until teams start looking to unload there just isn't the choice. A week or two and things may be 'on'.

That and we don't seem to have the cash to tempt part timers full time or pay for real quality i.e if he was free we couldn't afford to sign lilley full time also the likelihood is he wouldn't leave Leeds for us anyway..

Progress seems to have slowed a little for us, I have been expecting a couple of new faces for a couple of weeks to no avail

I'm still waiting for Lowe to turn up more players from down under - hopefully this will happen once the visa issue is sorted.

As we know there is a lot of quality down under. Surely we'll sign more than just an untried 7s/touch rugby player?

You would have liked to have thought, Leons age was always going to be a bit of a problem on the injury front..
I hope we are all pleasantly surprised soon.

You sure that was Heisenberg and not Schrodinger's Cat?

Im going on the positive side they have a couple lined up but cant do anything until the bank account/vat issue is sorted and when they can announce Toovey's we might see a couple of signings

Just to clarify this, Maher was on the bench for Leeds but wasn't used, thus he played for us on Sunday. Had he played for Leeds on Thursday he wouldn't have been able to play for Batley on the Sunday.

Thanks for that, I did wonder about that, as I posted previously understanding there was a rule preventing people playing for 2 teams in one weekend on dual reg. I never realised that Maher didn't get on for Cas!

Makes the pasting they gave Leeds even more impressive!
Although Leeds' use of subs has got to be the worst in the entire league tbh.

On a different subject; how has Will been doing for you guys? He's a mate of mine and not managed to get to a game yet!

maher is on season long loan , not dual reg , as is tom holmes and jy hitchcox

Will has done a good job so far

That was what I originally thought, but if he is on a loan deal, how could he have been on the bench for Cas and then turn out for Batley 3 days later? If it's loan, he couldn't do that, whether he was used or not.

I think perhaps it was worded as a loan when announced, but is in reality dual reg.

Quote ="HamsterChops"That was what I originally thought, but if he is on a loan deal, how could he have been on the bench for Cas and then turn out for Batley 3 days later? If it's loan, he couldn't do that, whether he was used or not. I think perhaps it was worded as a loan when announced, but is in reality dual reg.'" www.pontefractandcastlefordexpre ... -1-8366506

Quote ="HamsterChops"That was what I originally thought, but if he is on a loan deal, how could he have been on the bench for Cas and then turn out for Batley 3 days later? If it's loan, he couldn't do that, whether he was used or not. I think perhaps it was worded as a loan when announced, but is in reality dual reg.'" www.pontefractandcastlefordexpre ... -1-8366506

Not like dual reg to cause confusion and controversy. Farce of a system.

Had a nosey at the rules earlier in season when it looked like we might need dual reg and it said it is designed to help develop young players who might not be ready for first team. funnt how ageing aussie Brett Delaney turned out for Fev other week.

Fake news. Sad

So Lilley didn't play? So have Leeds just recalled him to be y?

No! He was there to show the 1st Team Players what would happen to them if they played that badly again! Worked well this time!

Do you really believe Leeds would loan us 4 players to help us out and then be "y" to us......Really!

Does this mean he is available for us then? See all the usuals on banter page on fb saying no bujt if Maher was on the bench for cas and didnt play surely he can? I would be pretty sure Maher wasnt in batleys 19 man squad submitted to the RFL for last weeks game

Bartley and Cas are DR that's the difference

Maher was in Batley's 19 last week.


Seriously folks. As I've said elsewhere, unless a new loan agreement comes in, with the month minimum as standard, he won't be playing. We are NOT in Dual Reg with Leeds. Castleford are with Batley. Learn the difference between loan and dual reg.