“Get out” clause could see Super League star leave immediately

Sometimes short term signings can be a god send as we saw with Leeds Rhinos in 2022 when Zak Hardaker arrived from Wigan Warriors or indeed when Jackson Hastings joined Salford Red Devils at the end of 2018 or in one of the biggest coups in Super League history Warrington Wolves drafted in legend Andrew Johns for the end of the 2005 season.

With injuries mounting at Craven Park with Jordan Abdull out until towards the end of the season and Lachlan Coote forced into early retirement the club chose to make a move for an immediate signing and drafted in NRL starlet Brad Schneider for the rest of the year.

The halfback is set to debut against Leeds Rhinos at Headingley this week in a boost with Mikey Lewis ruled out.

He is also set to feature against Wigan in the Challenge Cup semi-final but the Robins could lose him at any time.

This is because of what the Mole of Wide World of Sports has described as a “get out clause” which allows Canberra Raiders to bring him back at any point if they suffer a long term injury to their halfbacks.

Willie Peters has explained the situation: “So my understanding is if the Raiders halves, obviously touch wood they don’t, but if they have like a four week injury, I think it is then they can recall Brad back at any time.

“If it’s a minor one, my understanding is that Betty stays here. So obviously hoping everyone stays fit, everyone’s playing well and then Brad can stay with us.”

He also confirmed it is not a loan move: “No, no, it’s not a loan deal. It’s a deal but yeah, it’s a deal where they can, the agreement was that they can take him back. So yeah, they see Brad as that next half.

“So you know, naturally if it was a couple of week injury, they would probably move players into, you know, around and make it work that way. But they see Brad, if it was a longer term injury to one of their halves, he’s the next half in line. So, as I say, it would need to be a four-week injury.”

Asked if it is a distraction knowing that he could leave any week for the rest of the season, Peters said:

“Yeah, I’ll be honest, I’m not thinking of it, even though I should with the injury, but it’s just pleasing to get a player, he’s a young player, but he’s a promising young half. So we need that at the moment. What we need to have here is competition for spots.

“There’s situation in games, there’s performances, there’s discipline, there’s a lot of different factors that come into picking your team, and we need to have some competition. So Brad will bring that. And yeah, to be honest mate, we’ve had enough injuries so I’m trying not to think about them.”