Jake Connor who didn't do their homework ?? : Thu Jul 07, 2016 9:53 am
I believe when you examine the facts we have once again allowed ourselves to be 'kippered up' by a lack of due diligence.We wanted to keep Connor but probably missed the fact that under the previous coach he was unsettled due to not getting his own position in the team which should have in all probability been full back.
The Giants made him an offer a good one based on the fact they thought no one could beat their offer as any other club would have had to pay out probably between £35k and £50k on top of his wages due to the RFL operating rules.
At this point no one seems to have clarified with the RFL what triggers this payment, the day he signs the contract or the day he starts a new contract at a new club.
Someone in all probability Jakes agent realises this and believes he can get a better deal from another club based on the fact there is a loophole in the regulations if the contract is delayed beyond the players 22nd birthday.
Hull and who can blame them as they are probably tight on salary cap for next year realise that paying Connor a few quid more and no compensation to the Giants is an excellent deal for them and this leads to the heads of agreement and 'has he signed saga.
Connor goes along with this and you can understand why as his pay is higher and keeps 'stum' not rejecting the Giants offer and signing for Hull partly for the money and partly as he was unsettled at this time.
Thewlis cries 'foul' but at this point he thinks he's covered under the operating rules but no one has checked with the RFL what triggers the compensation payment.
The RFL confirm he's a Hull player but Connor changes his mind and we face the stark possibility of paying to keep our own club trained player.
So who's 'kippered' us well I think there are three areas.
Ourselves for not checking with the RFL where we stand and not anticipating the impact of a delayed contract date if Connor joined another club. Lack of due dillegance
Connor and/or his agent for finding and along with Hull exploiting the loophole in RFL procedure. Jake would have to have known so I have no sympathy whatsoever for his predicament now.
The RFL for wishy washy operating rules and supporting the 'loophole' rather than the rules which were meant to stop this sort of thing happening.
I don't blame Hull whatsoever as any of the teams in the league including us would have done the same. The Kopjack incident was a prime example but again we appeared to lack due dillegance and ended up paying out.
I would very quickly confirm with the RFL which interpretation of the rules they are accepting although it appears it's the Hull one.
If this is the case then Connor wouldn't play again in front of Brierley, Simpson, Grix or Wood as he appears to be as culpable in this as anyone and showed scant regard for Huddersfield until it once again suited him.
The club then wants to overhaul its systems and procedures and possibly its people as mistakes of this magnitude shouldn't happen and this is not the first time.
We appear to have taken for granted we held all the right cards when we didn't but also if Jake had really wanted to stay he would surely have gone back to the club and said he had an alternative offer but he would have risked closing the loophole.
Sorry but he should go and hopefully we should finally learn our lesson about 'assumptions.'
Garden leave as suggested by another poster would be appropriate and Mr Thewlis needs to carry the other can.