Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:34 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’ve heard different things on the quarantine period. Some are saying none and some are saying five days. I did read something about Toulouse having more issues with travel than Catalans because they’re not classed as Elite but I can’t say I’m that up to date on it all.

I think they’ll both play if they’re both coming back this week but I sense Lams ‘if they’re ready, we’ll have to see comments’ suggest he wanted them here sooner. As I’ve always said there is no issue with the extended break. You have to negotiate perks to keep good players sometimes but it’s lost it’s balance between being fair to them/helping us keep them and dragging on that long that it affects preparation for the season (which it clearly has done) IMO.

One thing I’ve always tried to do in all this is avoid making it all about Hastings, so I’m glad you mention French. Why people on both sides of the Hastings fence always want to make it just about him is beyond me when there are two lads back in Oz.

Toulouse are part-time so I think that's the issue there.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:36 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Toulouse are part-time so I think that's the issue there.

Looks to be and it’s a potential nightmare that for them and the Championship. Hopefully they’ll iron everything out as I’d love to think we can get them in superleague once the worlds a bit more normal.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:39 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

At the time when Hastings signed his contract did we know the actual start date for the 2021 season?

at then time French signed his did we know?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:41 pm  

Pieman wrote:

at then time French signed his did we know?

French is late back for very understandable personal reasons

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:51 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

French is late back for very understandable personal reasons

how do you know Hastings wasnt?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:57 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Would be interesting to hear what the senior players think about Hastings not being back yet.

My comment about the management of this is key. If AL / KR are constantly speaking with Jackson and Bevan, and the rest of the playing squad, you would think that if there are any issues they could be aired and dealt with behind close doors.

My take on this is that we are in the middle of something that has in our lifetimes never happened before, and hopefully not again. So to make some concessions for players from overseas in this instance is good management imo. From within the playing group i would expect John Bateman would be a good one to speak to as he has just been in the same boat (almost) and did he have any form of dispensation from Canberra to allow him to travel home and see family (i know the season had started, so slightly different), but he could help the club in allowing them to understand how he felt and support the guys in Oz?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 1:28 pm  

Pieman wrote:

how do you know Hastings wasnt?

I don’t. Do you?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 1:32 pm  

The pieman wrote:

My comment about the management of this is key. If AL / KR are constantly speaking with Jackson and Bevan, and the rest of the playing squad, you would think that if there are any issues they could be aired and dealt with behind close doors.

My take on this is that we are in the middle of something that has in our lifetimes never happened before, and hopefully not again. So to make some concessions for players from overseas in this instance is good management imo. From within the playing group i would expect John Bateman would be a good one to speak to as he has just been in the same boat (almost) and did he have any form of dispensation from Canberra to allow him to travel home and see family (i know the season had started, so slightly different), but he could help the club in allowing them to understand how he felt and support the guys in Oz?

Would be interesting to hear the views of Faz and TL

Under the circumstances if French and/or Hastings didn’t want to return then I could understand that and although I’d be disappointed I would be fine with that.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 3:15 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I don’t. Do you?

no, thats why im not passing comment oh it like others....

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 08, 2021 3:20 pm  

Another thing re Hastings which in fairness he alludes to in his interview - he needs a NRL club to make him an offer before he can play there. England has been a god send for his career as his reputation took a real battering after his disciplinary issues in Australia. No-one wanted him so was forced to look to England to continue his career. He's still in a situation where he needs to earn an NRL contract by playing well in SL.