Great post this , win or lose , that was a great game on sunday , I brought 3 neutrals on sunday and they all enjoyed the game , in this division you have to play the ref , as well as the opponents ,as i dont think theres a great ref out there in the championships

Mr Negative that i usually am is not all that concerned, nearly beating one of the best sides in the league a man down would have certainly sent a clear and strong message, it wasn't to be though.
Karls job wont be too difficult moving forward from this, discipline, discipline, discipline etc..
And Batley away was always going to be one of the toughest fixtures of the year.

Its a forum though and people will let off steam, Handforth was never the Fax future, hes too old for that, but im sure he can do a job this year, it was a bad day at the office, I've seen him play good and bad games, but i also dont think we have seen his best yet either.

I will almost guarantee that this young man will climb into the SL ladder, maybe even full time senior referee in years to come, he ticks all the current RFL boxes whether we like it or not.

Oops, whatever.

So Halifax are at their best when the game is fast and flowing.
Im sorry but any opposition coach worth his salt would tell his players to slow it down, lay on, play to the ref.
JK got his tactics spot on and im pretty sure the Halifax fans who say they are likely to stop watching because of games like this have no understanding or appreciation for the game and will frankly not be missed.

You are correct and it is then up to the ref to manage these spoiling tactics, Most teams will try it and it seems like they are being allowed to get away with it.

Of course they will Norman. And if fax were in a position where they needed to slow a game down as much as they could (like us v wigan), then Karl Harrison would have no hesitation in encorporating that into his game plan.
Some games you need to take any advantages you can. Sometimes it comes down to who plays the ref better. On Sunday it was Batley. On another day it will be fax.
But look at this with some balance. i.e. if it was needed, Fax have - and will play the ref if they can take an advantage. Part of the game.

Yes i agree Fax are at their best when the game is fast and flowing.

Yes. JK got his tactics right, is very much worth his salt and to compound it Fax fell in head first.

Yes. I would seriously consider not watching rugby league if ALL games were played and officiated like this.

Yes. I do understand and appreciate all the reasons behind teams being instructed to play games a specific way depending on who they are playing.

As an individual I would not be missed at all if I stopped watching rugby league but rugby league at any level can't afford to lose many more fans because thousands from every club have stopped going.

Can I ask if anyone was going to produce a dvd on promoting rugby league would they want to include Sundays game?

Or the main stand out points of Sudays game, which would be EXCESSIVE holding down, slowing the play the ball. niggling in the tackle, rolling around,constant off sides etc.
Note the word EXCESSIVE because that is what it was.
The result being a bad tempered frustrating afternoon for players and fans alike for BOTH teams.

Any highlights from ANY rugby league game would feature none of it because no one would by next weeks copy.

That being the case why would anyone want to watch the full live version?

Every tv show, dvd, video or whatever you choose to put it on to sell the game and show it how it is meant to be played is the exact opposite.

Fast flowing exciting attacking rugby that makes people stand up and get involved in the excitment of the game, yes good defense with big hits but getting on with it, open running play around the field with maybe great cover defense or a fantastic try at the end of it.

This is the MODERN game of rugby league with the CHANGE to summer rugby and vast majority of rule changes built around speeding the game up to make it more exciting to live and TV audiences.

If this is not obvious that is how it needs to be then someone else is lacking in understanding of TODAYS game and are living in the past with not much hope for the future.

i agree with faxcar - awful to watch, discuss and remember - roll on friday!

Might be worth a little flutter on Sheffield tonight at -4 as i reckon Batley will be shattered after Sunday.

Good to watch this, two very good sides and a bit of Black magic!

Yep not a bad game Sheffield looking on top and Batley trying to spoil at the PTB to slow them down, lets see if they start to tire from Sunday......

I was saying lol

Ronnie starting to crack down on the messing about now.

Nice cheap shot there.

Batley wobbling, should be a try here.

Bombed try as Batley tire. Funny watching Batley trying to give away the two.

He's definitely getting them up quicker and boy has it changed the game!

Teams that play us will always struggle the week after they play us. Batley look to be suffering the same fate and looking very very tired.

Do with Sheffield taking the bonus point off them.

Nice mention about Clinchy.

fast open rugby - good to watch

Don't let the Batley fans see that!



But yep very open game now, that QLT is a real talent!

They're a bit clueless when they're attacking on the line though Batley, just no idea where to go, but in saying that Sheffields defence is very very good.

Sheffield giving Batley every chance here.

High tackle!!!! What we would have given for Stokes to have spotted them.

Game Over.

Simple stuff...

Stick a fork in them.........

Dosnt look like they can handle a quick game.......

Another Batley break there, clearly 2 men in the tackle.

Surprised Sheffield didnt push harder to take the bonus point away. Pretty slack really.

Great defence by Batley though, 4 losses 4 bonus points!

Considering the heat and the short turnaround I thought both teams did pretty well with spells for both sides to get some points on the board but some top defence by the Eagles in the second half when Batley threw everything at them and taking their chances got them home in the end.