Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"The question has been raised in the context of my recommending Kevin Naiqama as to whether the club can find a place for another non-Federation trained player. I don't know the answer to that.
Another issue raised was whether Naiqama as a non-regular NRL player can qualify for a UK visa. I don't know how many NRL games you have to have played to qualify. But Ray Warren pointed out that Naiqama has played 10 first grade games in 2012 and 2013 so far...and scored 9 tries in those 10 games.
Finally, as to Naiqama's availability for a new club, here is part of the transcript of the Newcastle Knights post match press conference with coach Wayne Bennett last Monday night:
[uQuestion[/u: [iIt must be nice to have Akuila Uate pull out and you can bring in Kevin Naiqama and he scores two tries.[/i
[uBennett[/u: [iKevin's a bit of a victim of circumstance here. He should be an NRL player. He should be playing [NRL every week.[/i
Bennett then went on to list the star players who were blocking Naiqama from doing so with the Knights: James McManus (whom Bennett described as the best winger in the NRL), Akuila Uate, who has played wing for Australia, and Darius Boyd, the incumbent Knights full back, who is an Australia rep player.
[uQuestion[/u: [iIs that going to sort of make it hard to retain him at the end of the year?[/i
[uBennett[/u: [iIt probably makes it impossible. But I accept that. He needs to play in the NRL. I've told hold him that. I want him to be successful.[/i'"
Haha, Kevin Naiqama is not going to come to London. He's apparently going to sign for Penrith.
