There should be some limits so that Championship teams can't 'borrow' half a SL team for a few games at the playoffs, or for critical games.
I don't know where SL is atm regarding NRL or overseas imports.
There used to be limits but it looks like open house these days (if you can afford it!)
It does seem ridiculous that some clubs use half their team on dual players. Definitely feels some clubs getting benefits from it and i think Bradford have done this to be honest. Hopefully the balance of our team to get the best team possible. I do not care where players come from if get us results on the pitch. At the end of the day we support Widnes to be the best it can be for our entertainment. Winning gets people interested going the games.
I have absolutely no problem with DR, fair play to the clubs that use it and benefit from it.
There should be some limits so that Championship teams can't 'borrow' half a SL team for a few games at the playoffs, or for critical games.
I don't know where SL is atm regarding NRL or overseas imports.
There used to be limits but it looks like open house these days (if you can afford it!)
There is a limit, as to when it can happen, but not on numbers as far as I know, so..............
As the business end of the season approaches, a DR player has to have played in (I think, but don't quote me) five games in that campaign, so.............
Taking it to the extreme, we couldn't have brought in the likes of Welsby, Percival, Dodd, Walmsley, et al, to help preserve our Championship status.
As I said, it works both ways, we helped Saints, as they did us.
In a perfect scenario, yes we'd "go it alone" but, if they pull on a Lions' shirt, they're (even if it's only temporary) a Lion in my eyes.
Spelly.
Given Widnes' reluctance to partner up with Warrington (and maybe Saints), I'd be surprised if we jumped at a link with Leigh.
I think St Helens would be a no brainer. It was silly that Widnes are losing at home to a Swinton team that had 2 Widnes lads on dual-reg from St Helens, who would have walked in to the Widnes team.
I understand Warrington wanted to dictate what players we had and when in a previous deal and that's why it never came to fruition.
I get that side of things, but when Gilmore gets injured round 1, Widnes could have quite easily had a Warrington/Saints half-back parachuted in to fill the void.
It's fine to have that argument if you are having a proper dig with players you've already got, but with all due respect to Swinton, Widnes finished a place above them having spent a significantly higher amount of wage budget.
Swinton had Delaney for six games, and he IMO should have been shortlisted for Super League Young Player of the Year. Ben Davies, Dan Norman, Dan Hill others who played there.
Older fans might baulk at becoming second fiddle to Saints/Warrington, but that's just the nature of it - they will be hoovering up a lot of local players in their academies/reserves, so it's the next best way of us at least getting some access to them.
@jdgsport couldn't agree more James. We are a PT championship club, it doesn't seem there's much cash to spend and most of our rivals are benefitting from it. Rather than winge about them doing it, I'd much rather us jump on the wagon.
Never ever understood why we dual reg with teams in the league below as the only players we ever sent out was Holroyd or big will and I don’t think either of them made much difference just seems daft that we wouldn’t get a super league club on board
I would have no problem dr with saints, it makes sense
I would have no problem dr with saints, it makes sense
I have heard that Saints are sticking with Swinton for their dual reg.
Wigan might be an option though. Did they have a dual reg partnership with anyone since their link with Newcastle?
Heard we’ve signed Wellington Albert from London for next season
Got no idea if that is true or not but now that he has a few years experience of the British game he is an effective player at Championship level.
I'm not sure we can turn our noses up at any prop that comes in.
We consistently haven't had enough of them during our time in the Championship. We need at least 6 specialist props, with a least 1 more in the squad that can play there.
We're just going round in circles until we sort out our front row.
If the Wellington Albert call is true he is at least big, awkward and has lumpy elbows! Iirc he seemed to have a good relationship with our local lads when he was here.
@sainthamish I would rather go with wigan as I was told saints don't like to dr with us because of concerns over the ipitch
@viking78 a mate was talking to him at London game , Welly told him all we have to do is ask and he'd jump at the chance , was really impressed with how we handled the Ottio situation