Absolutely, I was hoping we would be reducing the overseas players, ok it might mean a lean season or two, but if our new coach is as good with youth as they say, it should pay dividends.

Was James McManus mentioned aswell on Humberside aswell this morning?

I'd be disappointed if Paea wasn't to sign now. Been really looking forward to seeing him play as he seems exactly the type of forward we need.

During the Mason debacle it was established that because of contru (spelling) agreement, the non-fed list had been extended back to 10 (with 5 of those being quota players).

As far as I understand our current situation is this:-

Webster (Quota)
Green (Quota)
Dobson (Quota)
Clinton (Quota)
Galea (Quota, though actively trying to get a Maltese passport)

Macdonnall (Non-fed due to UK passport)
Withers (Non-Fed due to Crusaders going to pot)
O'Hara (Non-Fed due to Crusaders going to pot)
Paea (Non-Fed due to contru agreement)
Talupapa (Non-Fed due to contru agreement)

Lovegrove (Homegrown, confirmed a few years back)

O'Hara and Withers dont count on either list do they?

Correct, I think. Room for 2 more, plus a quota player if Galea gets his passport. Would that make 14 out of 25?

Not enough. I want some more nations, multi cultural me.

*Sways* We are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving..just beautiful. Could you pick a lovely Gallic forward like Danny Divet please.

I am sure that Rovers have had a couple of players recommended to them from an emerging nation. Could be Norwegian? Give them a trial i say.

The non-fed rule and quota rule are entirely seperate. I might have the odd detail wrong, but I'm pretty sure I've got the principles right. Passports have nothing to do with the non-fed rule for example. It's the Cotonou Agreement, btw, named for a city in Benin.

That bloke out of Thor, hopefully. He was Australian, but Rovers have found a loophole whereby if you've actually played a Norsk god in a film, that counts as the same as a European passport. Cunning as a fox, that Mike Smith.

I didn't think Misi Taulapapa counted on the non fed list due to the kolpak agreement. If that is the case we currently stand at

=redNON-FED(Dispensation/Kolpak)
(1) Blake Green
(2) Joel Clinton
(3) Michael Dobson
(4)
(5)

=redOVERSEAS QUOTA PLAYERS
(1) Ben Galea
(2) Michael Dobson
(3) Jake Webster
(4) Joel Clinton
(5) Blake Green

If we finish above you and stay in the play-offs longer than you next season, would that mean our official final Super League placing would be higher than yours for 5 years in a row?

Kolpak/Cotonou gets you off overseas quota, but the whole point of non-fed is to (effectively) close that loophole. So we need to add Taulapapa to the first list. If Paea signs too, then the list is full, with no room for MacDonnell.

This is about overseas quotas. I'm on topic, you're not. Like a moth to a flame, I'm irresistible to you. But I know how fickle you are. First David Kidwell, then Kevin Moore, now Craig Sandercock. Each one justified as your ideal choice then cast aside as a new favourite emerged. Fickle, fickle, fickle.



In response to your question, Mike Smith (who you are on record as saying "is possibly the best communicator Rovers have ever had"icon_wink.gif has already said it has to be 4th place (at worst), so obviously you will finish above us, as I couldn't see us finishing above Wigan, Warrington, Saints and you, nor Leeds, nor Huddersfield.

Allow me to get the thread back on track after your petty but obsessive derailment. A possible 14 out of 25 overseas players. Would that be the most Rovers have had since promotion? Good work if so.

I think you're wrong mate re the 2 lists being totally separate. I'm sure there's a total of 10 non-fed players with 5 of them allowed to be full quota players.

I'm certain we'll see Paea and Macdonnell sign.

So we stand at

=red:2p7dm9liNON-FED(Dispensation/Kolpak):2p7dm9li
(1) Blake Green
(2) Joel Clinton
(3) Michael Dobson
(4) Misi Taulapapa
(5)

=red:2p7dm9liOVERSEAS QUOTA PLAYERS

No room for Paea & Mcdonnell and the rumour is that Paea will be announced tomorrow. I would have to guess at Joel Clinton being outbound. Personally if possible I'd scratch the Taulapapa signing and pay the kid off.

Nope one player can 100% appear on both the quota & non fed list

Now that 'top 8 is not seen as a barometer of success at Hull FC', in the recent 'Brilliant statement of intent' from Mr Pearson, surely not? Ahh, just like the old days

- but that is enough of that type of nostalgia.
14 isn't realistically possible. Still wouldn't beat 2007 (nostalgia, but nice)...
Dyer, Bauer, Ford, Lovegrove, Lennon, Weisner, Smith, Webster, Fisher, Gene, Aizue, Tangata-Toa, Gannon, Tandy, O'Neill, Vella... 16, off the top of my head, though not all simultaneous.

Do we think that Mickey Paea cant be announced until Joel Clinton finds a new club then?

Possibly, but as Easty says, it'll mean Clinton leaving (or a big surprise). Going back to RBA's OP, unless the rules have changed, that'd be it. And Smith's words being interpreted as 'we're still looking overseas on top of all that' doesn't make sense.

We have a spot left to announce Paea or Mcdonnell

I love Adam Pearson, but he's not got the gravitas and credibility of Mike Smith, that would just be stretching things too far. 7th could be successful for both to be right. Disappointing you're so far short of 2007 standards. Norsk gods are the future.

What is a travisty is that FC have booted out a young British coach for an Aussie. Shame on you.

Thought you were on your jollybobs?