Rival NRL clubs are ropeable that
St George Illawarra is negotiating to sign Warriors prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown on a three-match deal to help them through the short term crisis.
With the Dragons smashed by suspensions in the wake of
Paul Vaughan’s Covid-breaching barbecue, they now want to sign the Warriors prop to take the place of the player they just sacked but only for a three-match period.
The Warriors would then have to re-sign Taunoa-Brown before August 2 so he can then re-register a third contract for the remainder of the season.
There is currently no loan system in the NRL but this contract loophole could actually allow the deal to go ahead without the Dragons breaking any salary cap guidelines.
Contracts can be terminated at any time if both parties agree to it.
However, it seems ludicrous that the governing body wouldn’t step in and try and prevent it from going ahead given the Dragons have lost players for disciplinary reasons.
The Dragons’ finals hopes have copped a hammering with Vaughan sacked and 12 other players facing one match bans to be staggered over the next four rounds.
However, other clubs in contention for the top eight have every right to be questioning how this deal can be allowed.
The Warriors have apparently agreed to the short-term move as a way of repaying clubs for the support they received last year when they were loaned players due to the club’s Covid situation.
However this is an entirely different situation.
The NRL at this point has received no paper work so no agreement has been made.
The Dragons currently sit seventh on 16 points, just one win clear of Cronulla, Newcastle and North Queensland, with Gold Coast, New Zealand and Canberra all on 12 points (two wins back).
If a player was suspended by the judiciary clubs are not allowed to sign outside players for cover, just as they can’t sign players to cover for injuries.
The question being asked around the game is why shouldn’t the Dragons be made to use their reserve grade and Jersey Flegg players to fill the holes.
