Headline's been Changed already

HULL KR: Will Mason deal cost Rovers dear? Aussie could earn sat on bench

Why would special dispensation be needed if Mason did get his Tongan passport? There's nothing new in that.

Let's remember that Mason hasn't been refused his passport. It's been approved, just not issued due to some slight mis-steps on the way to Tongan democracy.

Are Rovers looking to offload? To Toulon or otherwise? If they are it would be clear they aren't anticipating a Passport anytime soon. However, if not, it's a bloody expensive wait!
The whole saga is embarassing from an administration point of view. But I've never got the impression Mason wanted to be here. Even if his passport comes I don't see him staying long.

Because he's been de-registered and would need dispensation from the RFL board to be re-registered this season - as was granted in Dobson's case. The tone of the RFL statement following Mason's de-registration seemed a little huffy and gave the impression that the permission required would not be so readily forthcoming this time around.

east hull FC fan wrote:Are Rovers looking to offload? To Toulon or otherwise? If they are it would be clear they aren't anticipating a Passport anytime soon. However, if not, it's a bloody expensive wait! The whole saga is embarassing from an administration point of view. But I've never got the impression Mason wanted to be here. Even if his passport comes I don't see him staying long. We have a player being paid who can't play until either his passport comes through (supposedly May, but it has been just around the corner for several months) or he moves on. Having come this far, I'd be willing to wait, as long as we are sure he can be re-registered once the passport arrives - that is my interpretation, but it doesn't mean it is right. It's a coping mechanism, but I'd just look at the misfortune with the political problems in Tonga (which has just had its first semi-democratic elections) as being similar to niggling injury that is difficult to assess. There is a legitimate discussion to be had about due diligence, but nobody saw this particular problem coming. If he can't be re-registered, then there is little sense in keeping him - or his staying, if he has other options. Mason did a pretty convincing impression of committed IMO - but the money Toulon could chuck at him would be likely to turn his head, I'd think. They've acknowledged contacting his agent, but no deal is imminent according to their manager: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/21/michael-dobson-willie-mason-hull-kr 4th paragraph. Wait and see - but I do think there is at least an evens chance that the HDM have jumped the gun.

east hull FC fan wrote:Are Rovers looking to offload? To Toulon or otherwise? If they are it would be clear they aren't anticipating a Passport anytime soon. However, if not, it's a bloody expensive wait! The whole saga is embarassing from an administration point of view. But I've never got the impression Mason wanted to be here. Even if his passport comes I don't see him staying long. We have a player being paid who can't play until either his passport comes through (supposedly May, but it has been just around the corner for several months) or he moves on. Having come this far, I'd be willing to wait, as long as we are sure he can be re-registered once the passport arrives - that is my interpretation, but it doesn't mean it is right. It's a coping mechanism, but I'd just look at the misfortune with the political problems in Tonga (which has just had its first semi-democratic elections) as being similar to niggling injury that is difficult to assess. There is a legitimate discussion to be had about due diligence, but nobody saw this particular problem coming. If he can't be re-registered, then there is little sense in keeping him - or his staying, if he has other options. Mason did a pretty convincing impression of committed IMO - but the money Toulon could chuck at him would be likely to turn his head, I'd think. They've acknowledged contacting his agent, but no deal is imminent according to their manager: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/21/michael-dobson-willie-mason-hull-kr 4th paragraph. Wait and see - but I do think there is at least an evens chance that the HDM have jumped the gun.

You can't de- and re-register an overseas player (without special dispensation a la Dobson), but if the passport came through, he wouldn't be an overseas player anymore. He'd still be overseas-trained, of course, which might well be an issue. Certainly I can't see him playing again on his current passport - eg if we released Clinton to Cronulla as the YP suggested the other day.

If there is no way back, then we have to accept that and act accordingly.

The RFL won't trust anything but a hard copy of the passport now - and fair play, they don't want to set a precedent of 'letters of support' counting. But I can't imagine they'd be obstructive either, huffy or not.

I'd take the HDM's assertion that mason wouldn't be allowed to be re-registered even if his passport does come with a pinch of salt, only last week they were telling everyone there was no way dobson could be re-registered unless mason's passport came and would have to sit on the sidelines when fit, then low and behold he plays!

Why anybody believes a word the HDM print is beyond me, time and time again they print 2nd hand rumour and speculation as "news" and in this case it certainly looks like they've made the "story" up.

Sorry MR, I think you're being naive on this. The RFL pulled unprecedented strings to accommodate Rovers' demands on Mason because it suited them and to have Mason playing was good for the British game. They did this based on now (futile) assurances from Rovers that all was in order and, prior to badgering from the Mail, from what they assumed to be behind closed doors. Unfortunately, things did go wrong, in a very public way and the RFL have yolk from a T-Rex-sized egg emerging from the bottom of their trousers.

So whilst I think that they were happy a couple of months ago to assure Rovers that all the necessary dispensations would be granted to re-register Dobson, I get the feeling the mood has well and truly shifted and Rovers are now "club non-grata".

Consider this statement from the RFL when asked for clarification on the Dobson re-registration process once the news was out and other clubs and fans were first cantering around on their high horses:



Already, in direct contrast to this, they have allowed the re-registration of Dobson despite the non-arrival of the passport. More egg.

So to blithely assume that if Berrigan's Bitch finally does relent and retrieve the pesky passport from her knicker drawer the RFL will happily proceed to re-register Mason again is one hopeful assumption too many for the RFL, in my opinion.

Here's what they said when Dobbo was re-registered:



That last sentence indicates to me that patience has left the building. Particularly if, as is inevitable, people start to question the integrity of the Dobbo re-registration in the light of the first statement above.

Still, he is a free agent. Who needs a hardworking, good old-fashioned honest prop forward?

Thats one of the reasons i no longer purchase the HDM, i'd sooner buy the Beano or the Dandy, they are much better comics imo .

Do you have an old leather biker jacket, massive Zapata moustache and drive a Capri?