I'm not one to bag referees usually but Stokes had a shocker today. Batley's gameplan was to slow down our play the ball to stop the massive threat of Penky, nothing wrong with that. However when a player wins the ruck tries to get up to play the ball and the referee let's the tacklers lie on for 5+ seconds, something is wrong. When a mis-timed grab which barely brushes a fore-head is penalised and multiple swinging arms to the head are ignored, something is wrong. His failure to stop the messing about at the ruck from both sides meant he lost control and led to the bad blood near the end of the game. A very Robot Ronnie performance.

However, Fax should know opposite teams tactics and be able to rise above them or play around them. We've got the personel to be able to do it, just brain-farts and naivity like Casey kicking on the 3rd tackle when we should have been lining up for the drop goal cost us as well as other opportunities to win the game.

Agreed,we made some really poor plays yesterday, put that with ill discipline, bad decision making and poor completion rate and it cost us the game. We were very average yesterday but still could have won so im not too concerned. Fair play to batley they wanted it more, took their chances and deserved the win. The batley pack was awesome, 10,15 and 16 were all monsters and we couldnt cope with them. I notice barlow is getting some stick on the batley forum but correct me if im wrong but wasnt it a case of mistaken identity and it was actually ashall who comitted the initial offence by inexplicably punching the batley player as he laid defenceless on the ground? Dont get me wrong barlow got involved in the ruck that followed as did the majority of the players on the pitch or did barlow do something else that i missed?

Every time we play against one of the March's it's the same story, niggling slow play the balls, short 10, try and run the game, and if they can get away with it then so be it. BUT it's about time the refs manned up to them and laid down the law, tell 'em to shut up and get back or put them in the bin. The March's spoil the game of rugby as entertainment and need to retire.

I think the March Brothes should retire too. I'm sure Swinton and Leight were sick of them this week as well as Halifax ????

Quite simply, we didn't "win the ground" on sunday & that was the difference. As I said during the 2nd half to fellow poster Thripdinger, it's up to us to win the ground not look for ref assitance, well done Batley you did a good job. Am not prepared to blame the ref either, he simply didn't penalise at the holding down part of the ruck, so it was there to be taken advantage of.
I'm more bothered about the selection of a four forwards bench & plenty brain farts by our players, notably Reitties sending off, Casey making several wrong options in attack & defence at centre, Patto not securing possession from the penalty kick, we simply didn't handle the pressure game as at Leigh in the cup.
Batley deserved their win on the day & I thought it was a cracking match & well supported judging by their chairman's programme notes re: attendances & their budget for certain games.

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.