His Bobness wrote:This season the allowance for overseas trained players is 8. (Rovers have actually been running with 7 due to the early departure of Crossman).
Next season the allowance goes down to 6.
We already have 6 overseas trained players who are contracted for 2010 (Newton, Galea, Webster, Dobson, Vella and Fisher).
That's why Fitzhenry must leave. That's also why Rovers cannot sign any more overseas players unless one of those 6 leaves early. Also bear in mind that for season 2011 the allowance is down again to 5 so someone else must leave in another year also.
Some people seem to think that Vella & Fisher are exempt but that doesn't seem to be the case. Certainly neither Rovers or the RFL have ever made a statement to that effect.
The only foreign players we have been told are exempt are Lovegrove, Aizue and Gene.
There have been lots of rumours that Jake Webster is going home early. If he does then he opens a quota spot and he could be replaced from overseas.
Doesnt Websters contract finish at the end of next season anyway
So with Fitzy gone this year, Webster gone next year, we would be down to the 5 players for 2011 therefore would need to release ANOTHER player to get anyone else in? (unless fisher/Vella become exempt)
Or is my very vague understanding of this wrong?
) assessment is correct (and it sounds right to me), then we can only renew one of their contracts. Or both could go and we could sign somebody else. Others disagree - it is a bit confusing!
