Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:40 am  

jonh wrote:

Well it’s a positive on paper but to be honest it isn’t something I feel comfortable with.

Fully agree, it isn’t something we should’ve got ourselves in the position of needing to use but we’re here now. I’m presuming Wane will pick up some of the retention and recruitment work going forward and it certainly needs an overhaul. A club that produces so many homegrown players getting itself in this position is poor tbh.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 10:06 am  

jonh wrote:

Well it’s a positive on paper but to be honest it isn’t something I feel comfortable with.

Me neither, I've always believed that it should be a maximum of four quota players.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 10:25 am  

Slightly unrelated question but would anyone agree that British players should count on the quota for Catalans? It's clearly been a strategy of theirs to recruit British players over the last few years to bypass the quota, meaning they'll likely only have 5-6 French players in their 1st choice side. It's been a successful strategy for them but likely having so few French players represent them was not what was intended when Catalans were admitted 15 years ago.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 10:43 am  

MadDogg wrote:

Slightly unrelated question but would anyone agree that British players should count on the quota for Catalans? It's clearly been a strategy of theirs to recruit British players over the last few years to bypass the quota, meaning they'll likely only have 5-6 French players in their 1st choice side. It's been a successful strategy for them but likely having so few French players represent them was not what was intended when Catalans were admitted 15 years ago.

Yes.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 10:48 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Me neither, I've always believed that it should be a maximum of four quota players.

Agree with you.

It should be just be a maximum of four players who have not been born in the UK.

What chance have we got in beating Australia and New Zealand and more recently Tonga, when the RFL are making up all kinds of exemptions which allow clubs to fill key positions in their teams with players from down under who in many cases are at the end of their careers in the NRL with some just coming for a paid holiday?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 10:49 am  

MadDogg wrote:

Slightly unrelated question but would anyone agree that British players should count on the quota for Catalans? It's clearly been a strategy of theirs to recruit British players over the last few years to bypass the quota, meaning they'll likely only have 5-6 French players in their 1st choice side. It's been a successful strategy for them but likely having so few French players represent them was not what was intended when Catalans were admitted 15 years ago.

Agree 100%

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:19 am  

MadDogg wrote:

Slightly unrelated question but would anyone agree that British players should count on the quota for Catalans? It's clearly been a strategy of theirs to recruit British players over the last few years to bypass the quota, meaning they'll likely only have 5-6 French players in their 1st choice side. It's been a successful strategy for them but likely having so few French players represent them was not what was intended when Catalans were admitted 15 years ago.

It’s getting to that point yes. I can understand they needed more leeway when they first came in to the comp and for a good period after but those allowances should start to be wound back now. They’ve had 15 years now to get themselves in a position where they can rely on a bulk of French players but sadly without them being forced in to going with more French players, I do not see them going full steam ahead in to it. I look at a guy like Artur Morgue and wonder when he’ll get a starting spot? If they don’t trust him which Frenchmen will they trust in a spine position? Did they really need Pearce? Would the natural move not have been to give him the shot alongside Drinkwater or to shift Tomkins up to six and slot him in at fullback?

We’re not in the best position to throw stones at the minute I suppose but you do have to ask questions. They had 12 non French players in their 17 for the Grand Final and by the sounds of it Pearce and at least one more non French player will replace Maloney and Joel Tomkins.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:25 am  

MadDogg wrote:

Slightly unrelated question but would anyone agree that British players should count on the quota for Catalans? It's clearly been a strategy of theirs to recruit British players over the last few years to bypass the quota, meaning they'll likely only have 5-6 French players in their 1st choice side. It's been a successful strategy for them but likely having so few French players represent them was not what was intended when Catalans were admitted 15 years ago.

I think there's a danger that if you do that then Catalans would get relegated, which would ultimately hurt the French national team. Plus making British players count on their quota would hurt our national team too as it results in fewer spots for British players. We have a strong Catalans team, which is surely good for the league and the French National team, I wouldn't do anything unnecessary to hinder them. Looks like I'm in the minority with that view though.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:30 am  

Grimmy wrote:

I think there's a danger that if you do that then Catalans would get relegated, which would ultimately hurt the French national team. Plus making British players count on their quota would hurt our national team too as it results in fewer spots for British players. We have a strong Catalans team, which is surely good for the league and the French National team, I wouldn't do anything unnecessary to hinder them. Looks like I'm in the minority with that view though.

It's only good for the French team if the French players are getting regular game time

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:41 am  

Grimmy wrote:

I think there's a danger that if you do that then Catalans would get relegated, which would ultimately hurt the French national team. Plus making British players count on their quota would hurt our national team too as it results in fewer spots for British players. We have a strong Catalans team, which is surely good for the league and the French National team, I wouldn't do anything unnecessary to hinder them. Looks like I'm in the minority with that view though.

I’m not sure it’s good for the French National side if they only have 5 players in their match day 17, as was the case for the Grand Final.

My idea probably wouldn’t be to take it right down to the 7 clubs here are allowed but I probably would look to maximise it at 10 in say 3 years and then down to 9 after 5 years. Something along those lines.

Ultimately if they can’t survive in superleague with 8 French players in their side by 2027, they’re failing as a club. They’ve had a clear run at the best players in France for 15 years now and you can count on a couple of hands the amount of good French players who they’ve brought through. I can count on zero fingers the amount of World Class French players they’ve developed. I’m a steadfast backer of expansion in to France but they have to commit to working towards the end goal. That should be to provide the French National side with top quality players and I don’t think they’re doing enough personally.