Joined: Jun 17 2009 Posts: 1839 Location: West Hull, (enemy territory)
MrPhilb wrote:Honestly though? they will do a job. Think both should have been signed as short term measures though. Hopefully thats what Phelps has come in as
Geez... you've talked about Phelps more than some FC fans i can think of...
He was born in New Zealand, has played for Australia, and now after a couple of beers with a prime minister, Willie Mason is Tongan.
In an extraordinary bid to earn a quota-free spot in the English Super League, Mason flew to the small Pacific island nation and wined and dined the Tonga prime minister in a bid to earn a Tongan passport.
"I had to meet the prime minister," Mason said. "I think it was a big formality, but that is what I had to do to fast track it and make sure it went through.
"We had a few beers and chatted. He was a good bloke and it was pretty fun actually."
Mason was due in England six weeks ago but was held up by his failure to secure a Tongan passport.(so he had already applied for the tongan passport at this point, a good few weeks prior to this meeting)
He rushed to Tonga fearing his deal with Hull KR would be terminated.
Mason's mother was born in Tonga and he previously visited the country to see relatives when he was six.
"I have had some trouble getting (the passport) so I had to go over," Mason said.(so again he'd already applied for passport)
"I need the passport to be registered in the Super League with an off-quota spot. I can't go over until I get it and I'm expecting to go over on January 7."(he was clearly hoping to have had passport by then)
Mason was not short on company, with AFL recruits Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt also in Tonga on a promotional visit.
"It was pretty strange bumping into them," Mason said. "But we made the most of it."
Stranded in Australia with his new team deep in the English pre-season, Mason has been training on his own in a bid to keep fit.
He was born in New Zealand, has played for Australia, and now after a couple of beers with a prime minister, Willie Mason is Tongan.
In an extraordinary bid to earn a quota-free spot in the English Super League, Mason flew to the small Pacific island nation and wined and dined the Tonga prime minister in a bid to earn a Tongan passport.
"I had to meet the prime minister," Mason said. "I think it was a big formality, but that is what I had to do to fast track it and make sure it went through.
"We had a few beers and chatted. He was a good bloke and it was pretty fun actually."
Mason was due in England six weeks ago but was held up by his failure to secure a Tongan passport.(so he had already applied for the tongan passport at this point, a good few weeks prior to this meeting)
He rushed to Tonga fearing his deal with Hull KR would be terminated.
Mason's mother was born in Tonga and he previously visited the country to see relatives when he was six.
"I have had some trouble getting (the passport) so I had to go over," Mason said.(so again he'd already applied for passport)
"I need the passport to be registered in the Super League with an off-quota spot. I can't go over until I get it and I'm expecting to go over on January 7."(he was clearly hoping to have had passport by then)
Mason was not short on company, with AFL recruits Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt also in Tonga on a promotional visit.
"It was pretty strange bumping into them," Mason said. "But we made the most of it."
Stranded in Australia with his new team deep in the English pre-season, Mason has been training on his own in a bid to keep fit.
Rovers were vague, (no surprise there then open an honest as ever ) and the Rugby Football League refused to comment, on whether the club will be allowed to pay Dobson while he is de-registered. There are no salary cap issues, as Hull KR have budgeted to pay Mason and Dobson for the whole season.
Each Super League club is theoretically limited to five overseas players but even discounting Dobson, Rovers still employ seven Australians and a New Zealander – plus Mason, whatever he is. Of the Australians, three – Rhys Lovegrove, Ben Fisher and Clint Newton – hold UK passports through their parents. The club captain, Michael Vella, is exempt from the quota because of his Maltese heritage.
SirStan wrote:In the world you live in, January to March = 4 months?
Rovers were vague, (no surprise there then open an honest as ever ) and the Rugby Football League refused to comment, on whether the club will be allowed to pay Dobson while he is de-registered. There are no salary cap issues, as Hull KR have budgeted to pay Mason and Dobson for the whole season.
Each Super League club is theoretically limited to five overseas players but even discounting Dobson, Rovers still employ seven Australians and a New Zealander – plus Mason, whatever he is. Of the Australians, three – Rhys Lovegrove, Ben Fisher and Clint Newton – hold UK passports through their parents. The club captain, Michael Vella, is exempt from the quota because of his Maltese heritage.
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