Serbians in Super League? : Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:42 am  

Two Serbian players have trialed with Warrington Wolves: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/28421222 If each Super League club could take at least two players from a developing nation -- European or Pacific or Middle Eastern -- we could really see a spurt in international development. I don't mean that the SL clubs should make them part of their Super League squad immediately, but rather evaluate them and prepare them for a career that might start in Championship or Championship 1. If the players have the talent they will eventually move up the divisional ladder. Look at the some of the Fijians who are now shining in the NRL. SL clubs should make a special effort with European developing nations, and Lebanon, to find talent to develop in Britain.

Two Serbian players have trialed with Warrington Wolves: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/28421222 If each Super League club could take at least two players from a developing nation -- European or Pacific or Middle Eastern -- we could really see a spurt in international development. I don't mean that the SL clubs should make them part of their Super League squad immediately, but rather evaluate them and prepare them for a career that might start in Championship or Championship 1. If the players have the talent they will eventually move up the divisional ladder. Look at the some of the Fijians who are now shining in the NRL. SL clubs should make a special effort with European developing nations, and Lebanon, to find talent to develop in Britain.

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:49 am  

Saw them at Widnes with the Warrington squad in the crowd - big units and looking like athletes. They did not look out of place physique-wisewith the players and they looked to be very popular with the rest of the players. I think they are getting training time in with Warrington but also with local amateur clubs...

Great idea

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:43 pm  

I really like this idea. Wouldn't cost a great deal either.

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:04 am  

They're certainly big boys, looks like they would be okay with the physical aspect.

Most of Jeans posts tend to be inane ramblings, but actually I fully agree with him here. It would be great to see more schemes like this. Not only does it develop those countries teams but who know a few gems might be unearthed aswell.

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:34 am  

Bloody Eastern Europeans coming over here and taking our jobs; don't you realise there are 45 million of them who can now come and play in SL if they want to and thanks to the Eurocrats in Brussels, there's nothing we can do to stop them?

It's madness!

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:30 am  

bren2k wrote:

Bloody Eastern Europeans coming over here and taking our jobs; don't you realise there are 45 million of them who can now come and play in SL if they want to and thanks to the Eurocrats in Brussels, there's nothing we can do to stop them?

It's madness!

Thank you Nigel Farrage

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Thu Jul 24, 2014 1:24 pm  

Could there be some sort of exemption for players from 'emerging nations' to be incorporated into the salary caps? Maybe 2 per club?

For instance, players from Italy, Russia, Lebanon, Greece, Ukraine, Malta become exempt.

I've not included France in that list as that would obviously decimate Les Catalan, nor Ireland, Wales or Scotland as we'd get a load of players with long lost great grandparents.


This experiment by Warrington goes to show that there are the 'athletes' out there, and if they had access to decent coaching / playing standard from an earlier age, they could've had a better shot at making it.

It would obviously not pay dividends right away, but if clubs had that incentive of the exemption, they ould bring a player over at 18, invest time in their coaching, and hopefully after 2-4 years exposure to that coaching and playing with 'home' players, they'd be ready.

There are plenty of examples where players have come to rugby league 'late' and still managed to make it, Konrad Hurrell is a perfect example.

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Thu Jul 24, 2014 2:30 pm  

I'd have a two player cap exemption for any players signed from developing nations. Criteria
Must have a passport for that country
Must be eligible to play for that countries national team
Must not have played SL or NRL previously

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Thu Jul 24, 2014 3:29 pm  

It would be great for the game if we could have exemptions for players from emerging countries - however I would like to see it as country of birth, not where there parents came from!

Re: Serbians in Super League? : Thu Jul 24, 2014 5:08 pm  

I wonder how these got on? http://www.rlef.eu.com/serbia/news/arti ... e-and-hull http://www.hullkr.tv/?v=428&view=free

I wonder how these got on? http://www.rlef.eu.com/serbia/news/arti ... e-and-hull http://www.hullkr.tv/?v=428&view=free