Ex-Knights Watch

Bold move by Huddersfield to use one of their non English quota spots on a 21 year old who hasn't played firstgrade.
He was an Australian Schoolboy and has played a lot of reserve grade as a junior, but he's never really stood out in seniors so far.
 
Bold move by Huddersfield to use one of their non English quota spots on a 21 year old who hasn't played firstgrade.
He was an Australian Schoolboy and has played a lot of reserve grade as a junior, but he's never really stood out in seniors so far.
Super League lifted their quota spots per squad from 7 to 10 this year, hence the increase of reserve-graders who have signed full-time deals over there.
 
With Paul Bryan being cut by Manly, I'd hope the club monitors his situation. If he doesn't pick up something elsewhere I reckon giving him a shot on a second tier contract could revive his career.
 
Super League lifted their quota spots per squad from 7 to 10 this year, hence the increase of reserve-graders who have signed full-time deals over there.
Wow another depth stressor on NRL clubs. Almost like another expansion club coming in. Every NRL club trying to sign depth players are competing with 42 new ‘slots’ on Super League rosters. Asking guys if they want to be the 28th best player on an NRL roster and play Cup every week, or go over there and have a very good shot at being a week to week top grader.

I’ve never seen so many clubs come into off season with 7-9 roster spots open, half the league behaving like they’re in the middle of a complete tear down rebuild.
 
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Clubs should use ESL spots to get young blokes a bit of experience.
Sending Jack Hilliar, Kane Graham, even Kyle McCarthy or Taulani off to do a year of ESL wouldn't be a terrible idea. Bring them back for pre-seasons and keep them if they have improved enough.
 
Wow another depth stressor on NRL clubs. Almost like another expansion club coming in. Every NRL club trying to sign depth players are competing with 42 new ‘slots’ on Super League rosters. Asking guys if they want to be the 28th best player on an NRL roster and play Cup every week, or go over there and have a very good shot at being a week to week top grader.

I’ve never seen so many clubs come into off season with 7-9 roster spots open, half the league behaving like they’re in the middle of a complete tear down rebuild.
This is true to some extent, though you have to factor the difference in Salary Cap into that matrix - this year both in AUD:
- NRL: $11.95 million (including the minor dispensations available)
- SL: $4 million (Finite cap limit, each club can have two marquees who's recorded cap value is limited to $285k AUD - theoretically earning unlimited beyond that, see SBW's ill-fated Toronto Wolfpack stint as a practical example)

Not to mention they have financial sustainability regulations which can cap the effective spend of the minor clubs below that $4 million and several clubs don't spend to that $4 million limit anyway.

With the NRL going cap going up and SL showing no real indication that their cap will rise, the disparity is large enough that in most cases you'd probably be better off financially playing reggies here.

10 overseas slots is crazy, surely there’s English players who can fill those spaces?
I think it is exceptionally short-sighted and add to the decline of English RL, though it's probably a reflection of the fact that their ranks will be depleted by the introduction of Perth and PNG, paired with ongoing cap increases for the NRL.
 
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