George Mimis. International jet setter, man of mystery, and now a leading expert in International Law of Contract. What a man, I never knew.

And a man who I really really hope gets to live a really interesting life, in very interesting times indeed.

Indeed Adey! Unfortunately, apparently living in a moral vacuum, these people seem have an innate belief in their own abilities, allied with a total lack of any sort of the conscience which would make most people behave more considerately. What is more they always seem to come through life's travails totally unscathed, rising inexorably, scum like, to the surface. You, and I, wouldn't be able to sleep at night, somehow I doubt he's too bothered.

Someone with common sense

Yeah right!



Definition of a contract with the Bradford Bulls :



If you're injured, ill or hopeless you can stay and claim wages for the full duration of the contract.



If you're good and someone else is prepared to offer you a better/preferable opportunity elsewhere you can negotiate said contract while the Bradford Bulls are paying you while at the same time denying you are doing so and promising to return. Despite the cost/inconvenience to the Bulls they will accept 25-30k and move on even though they have paid the player much more than that while he has sat in Sydney chatting numbers with Parramatta.



Unlike any other contract in the world this contract only protects one party.



If Orford had been injured at the end of the season and was not fit to start the coming NRL season he would still be our player because the NRL clubs wouldn't want him. When we accept this behaviour from Orford what do we say to L'Estrange or Kearney should they get homesick mid-season? Despite him being disappointing we have to keep paying Glen Hall for 2 more years. WHY? Because we signed the contract.



Had Orford said in July, let's shake hands and part company, I'd have said yes and best of luck. But he didn't, he lied to keep taking our money.



If you're so magnanimous about Orford's behaviour you write off 100k of your own money, but as a season ticket holder I want mine back and I demand my club stand up to Orford and Mimmis and send a clear message to any who in the future think they can make a deal to take our money and then renege.

Apologies if this has already been discussed earlier. What will happen if the Aussie clubs refuse to pay compo and the Bulls won't let him go for free? I know that Hood said that we'd retain his registration but wouldn't that mean we have too many overseas players now we've signed Herbert? Does having a players registration count on the quota? Wouldn't have thought it would but don't know for sure.



Hope the clubs in Oz don't listen to low life Mimis or I can see this dragging on for ages. What if it went to court and they side with the Bulls, Oz clubs still won't pay compo and Orford has to see out his contract?

Not sure if it only counts on the 25 players registered for the squad? And if we didn't register him but kept his playing registration then I guess he couldn't register to play for another team!

Tame Tupou? Whilst legally that was fine, morally I was not convinced at the time. The boot is on the other foot now. Legally what Orford is doing is fine, we are just negotiating the terms of his release, morally I agree it stinks.

I'm pretty sure his manger wouldn't leave Orford clubless. They'd take it to court and expect us to honour his contract at least. Obviously we can't let that happen so how far do the Bulls push this?

Guess it depends if we need anything from the deal to use elsewhere, for a stand off maybe?



If we don't need the cash for elsewhere they'll push it as far as they can but short of court action I guess.

Indeed, the rumours are we need the compo to get Leon are they not?

That is indeed the received wisdom. Though, as has been pointed out earlier in the piece, the idea of us wanting £200K is (to the best of [imy[/i knowledge) just paper talk and we're probably unlikely to get that. There are two distinct choices; either negotiate the best deal we can and be happy, or go to court. I can't imagine for a second the club [iwant[/i to go to court because a) it's expensive (on legal representation alone) and b) there is no certainty of outcome, and in a worst case scenario we might finish up with less than nothing (ie losing the case). I can't think for one second the club would go to court over a principle, tempting as it might be, and I'd guess on a more pragmatic approach.