Not only that, but he has played in every Grand Final & Challenge Cup Final that Leeds have been in while at the club - and every World Club Challenge bar one as well (he missed this year's game through injury).

Not bad going that, for someone who is "not Super League quality"

Yet you'll kiss Ben Westwood's poop-chute? Must be some other reason for your hatred. Hmm!

I'm one of the very few opposition fans who have stuck up for Bailey over the years. Yes he is an annoying bugger who plays to the limit (and sometimes beyond). However every really good team I've ever seen has always had one of his type in their side.
My favourite memory of Bailey was when he and Gaz Hock got stuck into the Aussie academy side (they had never been beaten until then) at Knowsley Road in an U18's game. The Aussie lads didn't like it and finished up in tears and defeat at the end of the game. In the second game at Headingley, a few days later they gave them some more.

Yes,but you know what your talking about,when your being serious.We are all waiting for wire wire wire to come back on on

Rogues is highlighting two players there - Bailey and Hock.

Most of the fans defending Bailey's antics will probably be among the first to criticise Hocks - such is life in the one eyed world of fans.

Hock and Westwood are great forwards, Bailey could be if he concentrated more on the rugby and less on the panto.

Posters will also note that those claiming Bailey makes breaks can only really come up with a single example of him doing so. I can also remember one at Hull KR where he set Watkins away and got knocked out by Briscoe for his trouble - there may have been others but he has played 281 times for Leeds so I guess you'd have to hope so but I don't think making breaks is an aspect he's particularly noted for - if I'm wrong lets have some more examples.

However, my issue is with the unwarranted levels of vitriol and attention Ryan gets. I genuinely believe there is some deep rooted racism, conscious or not, behind it all. "[iThem boys should be playing on the wing after all[/i". I know Bullseye is right and I shouldn't generalise but I can think of no other way to rationalise the disproportionate reaction to someone who, as Bullseye also points out, has a relatively clean record for a forward playing the game as long as he has.'"

---- load of *bo*ll*ks---*disgraceful post* imo! using that old chestnut as an excuse!!!! a thug and a bully is a thug and a bully--regardless of what you are trying to insinuate!!!!!! What?

this probably sums it up fairly well but also shows the lack of knowledge by the general fan.

Bailey does often save his 'antics' for the small blokes, however these are the blokes that are often the most important player for the opposition i.e. stand off / scrum half and are normally the guys that will be most effected by them. Any forward worth his salt isn't bothered by a bit of the rough stuff and plenty actually raise to the occasion once baited, despite his supposed softness has anyone ever seen bailey shy away from a fight with a 'big bloke'?
however most 6 & 7's would prefer to stay away from this stuff so these 'antics' have them thinking twice about playing at the line knowing they'll get smashed. So which as a coach/player would you prefer to target?

The example that always springs to mind to show how stupid some fans are is the rachford indecent, which i think i've already brought up on this thread a long time ago. rachford is seem as some kind of hero for punching a defenceless bailey whilst he lay on the ground with a defender still on top of him, yet bailey is seen as a grub of the game because he uses his brain to target players (with mainly legal tactics) that will give his team a better chance of winning.

so to sum up it seems bailey would be better liked if he was less intelligent

Remember a few years ago a gme against Warington and Bailey had a full on collision with Adrian Morley? Moz this time came off worst he was on the ground and Bailey was stood over him like mohamed Ali.The sound of the collision was heard all round Headingley,then when the aftershock set in on Bailey he went missing for a long period he must have been in agony as well as trying to avoid Moz

Didn’t Ryan make a spectacular break for the Danny Mags try in the play off against Catalan last year?

Don't forget the one against Catalans

Yes ,but please look back at TVOC's comment?

Don't particularly mind Bailey's antics in matches. He pushes it sometimes and gets rightly punished when it's needed but most of the time he's an alright rugby player who doesn't use his size nearly enough but does a good enough job to keep his place, probably not high in the salary cap, in a good side.

What I can't forgive is running up to teenage boys who have tears in their eyes at the end of a Grand Final and goading them and rubbing it in that he's won and they haven't. I'll never respect the man, ever, due to that.

that old chestnut. the one that never happened you mean