Lakes United coach Todd Edwards says hooker Chris Randall is being “penalised” for helping out the Knights this season by missing out on the Newcastle RL finals series after he failed to qualify.
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Under the rules, Randall needed to play the majority of his games or five of the last nine at local level to be eligible to play for the Seagulls in the big end of season matches after being called into the Knights NSW Cup squad.
He only played six games all up, three to start the season and a further three including the final round win over South Newcastle to help secure the minor title.
I just think it’s wrong about young Randall being wiped out,” Edwards said.
![Chris Randall [right] contests the footy with Callan Richardson last season.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/barry.toohey/b741b237-e4f4-4ae6-acc6-aa7d08379b4a.jpg/r735_0_3232_1862_w576_h298_fmax.webp "Chris Randall [right] contests the footy with Callan Richardson last season.")
“He’s a Lakes junior who signed with us this season, played the first three games and then got called into the Knights to help them out because of injuries.
“Now he pays the price for that by missing out on playing in the finals which I don’t think is fair on the kid.
“I know there are rules in place but in this situation, I just think he is being really hard done by.
“Don’t get me wrong, we were aware of the rules but at the end of the day, there was no way I was going to stand in his way of trying to better himself or put pressure on him to make a choice.”
Newcastle RL boss Matt Harris said he sympathised with Randall and Lakes and his organisation will review the relationship between the local comp and the Knights during the off-season.
“He signed with Lakes and started the season with them before being called up so I can see where they are coming from but there are rules in place,”he said.
