Was there ever an ACTUAL contract SIGNED? If there was surely the RFL would say he can't play as he has signed a contract and that would held up in court.. Sounds like there is no contract apart from Tommy's humerous mock up stating Sam can't play and if this is a VERBAL contract or the RFL would surely have stepped in and said no so would a verbal contract hold up in court?

Also all this fuss.. Didn't the Eagles let Sam go in the first place and only kicked up a fuss when Fax showed an interest and they thought they could be cheeky and get a few quid but to save on that we said he wouldn't play against them?

I would tell them to do one the cheeky gits..

Don't think Aston can take the moral or legal high ground at all in this

hmmm might be just an agreement and not on his employment terms or job description
I think its done a great job Ferguson'esc of deflecting stories away from what MC knows will be a tough game without him, leaving Sheffield fuming and not knowing what side they are up against.
fingers crossed

I think UC (and others) point about what type of contract this is is what people are subjective to. I can't believe that if there was a contract on any level saying...

'Sam Barlow may sign for Halifax for the remainder of the 2010 season if he does not play versus our club (Sheffield Eagles) in said 2010 season or 2010 Play-off series

Signed.....
Signed.....
Signed......'


..that it would get to Wednesday night and Sam Barlow is looking like playing. That seems black and white and not something you can get away from, therefore, it clearly isn't that which means whatever is in place is not concrete by a long way.

No - obviously Fax would take the moral and legal high ground with their record this season.

Trouble is that now you have a track record.

I think the track record at the shay was 68 seconds by Eric Boocock

Integrity.
That is a word that just does not exist in RL at all.
One thing I have learned from a lifetime of supporting Fax and RL (although less RL and more Fax nowadays as the RFL have basically stuck two fingers up to fans of clubs like ours with the franchise system so why support THEIR game? I just support Fax now not RL anymore) is that clubs and the bafoons who run the game have no integrity at all.
They are just like politicians and just look after themselves and their cliche. One thing they all do is tell us what they want to tell us so that they and/or their club get an advantage at ANY cost to the opposition or even the game of RL itself. All one family? You must be joking.
My take on this is yes IF the agreement was made when Sam Barlow moved to us not to play against Sheffield then he techincally should not play BUT what kind of clause is that anyway and should it apply in the play offs? Is this kind of clause allowed in other sports and also is it in the spirit of the game? Talking of which if Sheffield care to look at our injury list surely they could let him play 'in the spirit of the game'?
But no they won't and are even according to some are claiming that we poached him?
Not from what I have heard he asked to leave and come to Fax - but there lies the problem clubs tell you what they want to to try and undermine a fellow club.
Sheffield know this will put petrol on the fire after all what went on earlier in the season with the CC debacle but thats what they want.
Yes some might question why take the risk, I do myself but we need the guy on the pitch with our injuries we are down to the bare bones and this is huge match, we will not be doing this surely without being confident that we can?
If Sheffield know this why are they stirring things?
The truth is out there somewhere but in the world of RL you begin to wonder if the truth ever comes out???

Rob Worrincy was supposedly threatened with injury before the match at the Don Valley last season, and subsequently didnt play, He also didnt play at Bramall Lane despite been fit,

They'll no doubt take similar tactics with Barlow, play them both, suck sheffield in, and with a bit of luck we'll be playing most of the game against 12 men

Sheffield are a joke.They cant handle 1500 fans let alone 5000if they were in sl. Siddal have more fans! Aston is a first class knob.kicked up a fuss over worrincy and now barlow.sendd out threats to injure players
the pigeons are running scared and the poisoned dwarf knows it.i hope the pigeons get a real stuffing due to how they do things.

I think it will be Mr Astons integrity you will be asking about if the truth comes out. I hope big Sam has a stormer tonight and sticks Astons threats down his throat.

Is he definately playing?

Not definate.. in the 19 squad...

I bloody love this game, anyone else sat at their desk getting wound up and angry reading all this, the same way you feel after you've watched Rocky and wanna do push ups and sh/t?

I hope Barlow plays and we smash them all over the park and I'm sure there will be plenty of biff tonight, can feel it. I do however hope he keeps his cool Barlow as I agree with Sheffield he can be wound up and tensions are running at defcon 1 now. Aston can go suck monkey balls.