He commited to the Raiders for three years.

Huge signing for Barrow

This is where the overseas quota is a joke
Yeah, Laffranchi is a typical Italian, stinking of garlic, riding round on scooters all day day and pinching ladies handbags/bottoms (apologies for the obvious stereotypes). The fella's an Aussie. I know it, you know it, we all know it.

As I've said before, why can't the governing RL bodies get together, and have a section on ALL contracts signed from 16 years of age, where there is a country of origin section, and the player states his country. THIS CANNOT BE CHANGED FOR THE LENGTH OF HIS CAREER. This then clears up flip-flopping of countries, and quota limits, which makes us look like Berks to the rest of the sporting world (Willie Mason, anybody).

I thought that had been taken care of by the RFL courtesy of the 'non federation trained' element of the quota? From my understanding you can have 5 overseas players and 5 non federation trained players. So Saints would still have Laffranchi, Puletua, Hohaia, Soliola and Perry on the non-federation trained quota, so any further overseas signings would have had to be trained in the UK, which is how Hull KR get away with so many. Franny Meli is exempt from all elements of it now as he's an honoury scouser.

no but Laffranchi is apparently an Italian passport holder, thus an Italian citizen. Hence, he is not on the quota even though he is Australian, obviously.

But he is on the non-fed trained quota.

There is no way around that, the whole issue of whatever passport you own will become meaningless.

The problem was that the RFL knew that there would be legal challenges if the law changed overnight, so they decided to pre-empt this by allowing exemptions to overseas players who signed before a certain point.

Once these players retire then there will be no away around having any more than 5 non federation trained players in the side.

I think Wigan might only have Pat Richards left next season who is still exempt, Tommy qualifies anyway as fed trained because he was fed trained, and Hansen has been with Wigan since before signing as a pro.I think that leaves us with Lima, Finch, Hoffman (probably leaving), Roberts (Hopefully leaving) and maybe Carmont (who may be exempt but is leaving anyway).

Saints have Meli who is exempt, I think King is exempt for you (?) and Hull KR have a good few as well.

Think King is overseas. Might be Solo that isn't.

Matt King is exempt for you.

King does count on our quota along with both Monaghans and Hodgson. Anderson is Fed trained. Solomona comes under the relaxed restriction rule having played in SL since 2004.

Are you sure, he signed in 2008 didn't he? I thought that would make him exempt.

Fairly sure any quota player would have to have played in SL for five consecutive seasons to be considered for an exemption. King and Mike Monas both joined Warrington in 2008 you're right.
It's looking like King will return to the NRL next year which will allow us to sign Laffranchi (hopefully) if its decided that he counts on the quota.

Waterhouse, even...

Fair enough, sounds like you know more than me on the situation



I take it you mean Waterhouse

Oops yeah, we'll have both of 'em sod it.