Carney lands at Hull but getting into Canada may be another story

Hull KR officials are hopeful new recruit Todd Carney and the club's other players won't have any problems gaining entry to Canada to play Toronto Wolfpack as they battle for Super League survival.

Carney arrived in Hull ahead of the Rugby Football League's player transfer deadline at the end of this week, which coincides with the commencement of the Super 8s Qualifiers to determine promotion and relegation for 2019.

Canberra prop Charlie Gubb is poised to link with Leigh, while former Manly halfback Jackson Hastings has joined Salford, but Warrington have failed in their bid to secure a release for Raiders playmaker Blake Austin before the end of the season.

The Wolfpack, who won the second-tier Championship, are now within sight of fulfilling their ambition to climb from League One last season to Super League within three years but have had to withstand accusations they are being advantaged because some players have been refused entry into Canada.

A number of Championship and League One clubs have been forced to field less than 17 players in matches at Toronto's Lamport Stadium during the past two seasons after some players were unable to secure Canadian visas due to criminal convictions.

The issue is causing concern as the bottom four Super League clubs – Leeds, Hull KR, Salford and Widnes – have to fight to retain their places against Toronto, Toulouse, London Broncos and Halifax.

If the Wolfpack win their way into Super League, clubs may become wary of signing players shown the door by NRL clubs over off-field misbehavior.  

While the draw for the Super 8s Qualifiers is not due to be released until next week, Hull KR and Widnes Vikings are set to have away games in Toronto, along with London Broncos and Toulouse Olympique.

Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell said the club was working with the Wolfpack to avoid any issues with visas for Carney or any other players.

"There are all sorts of issues with regard to confidentiality and people don't want all their personal lives played out and things they did 10 years ago," Hudgell told the Hull Daily Mail.

"I'm told that no visa application has been refused yet if put in on time and that the Toronto club are working hard with the High Commission to iron out any difficulties. Hopefully that won't be a problem."

It is understood that players with a criminal conviction are unlikely to obtain a visa waiver for Canada and need to apply in advance, with some having been turned away at the airport before their departure.

Carney, who has been assigned jersey No.40 for the remainder of the season, is expected to make his debut for the Tim Sheens-coached team in this weekend's derby against Hull FC but the main purpose of his signing is to help the club avoid relegation during the Super 8s Qualifiers.

Hull KR's other former NRL players include Adam Quinlan, Mose Masoe, Maurice Blair, Justin Carney and Kieren Moss.

Former NRL players in the Widnes squad include Rhys Hanbury, Krisnan Inu, Charly Runciman, Chris Houston and Weller Hauraki.