I think it occurs fairly naturally in most players to some degree. Your hero (and one of mine) while previously all pace and majesty became a bit tetchy towards the end. Come to think of it he became a bit tetchy while still at Leeds.

Even previously angelic like figures such as Francis Cummins spent time cooling his heels in the sin bin after a bout of fisticuffs at Halifax IIRC.

I dont think Peacock is a saint either, and appears to get more tetchy (as you put it) each season.

Senior is certainly more up for a bit of Biff this last 12 months, and is definitely more niggly.

Hate to see what Ablett is like at Seniors age

well he is going bald already!

A sweet head butt on Andy Gregory in the JP semi at Bolton comes to mind.

Funnily enough, my fuse got shorter as I hit my 30's. I was the proud recipient of my first yellow card at 33 (I think it might have been the refs nephew I snotted).

"He's spilt a bit of claret there..."

The merry whistleblower/flagwaver.
Grrrhhh.
Mind you almost as annoyiog is the BBC's use of "the square in the air" for any video ref decision.

The hand off to the face is one I've wondered about for a while. Why is it we allow the attacking player to make contact with a defenders head, but not the other way round?

Probably because the hand off is basically a flat of the hand delivered front on to the face/head and isn't likely to do a great deal of damage. Using anything other than the hand (e.g. forearm/elbow) is still a penalty offence.

Most tackles are made with the upper arm/shoulder, which applies considerably more force particularly if swung into the tackle and especially if it lands/wraps around the neck area of someone running at pace.

Basic Health and Safety awareness, innit.

I once turned out for our company team in a local 5-a side footy league. Running down the boards with the ball I instinctively handed off the guy behind me and made a serious mess of his nose. Blood everywhere, probably broke it too. Funniest part was the ref who waved play on shouting "accidental, accidental".

One of the best hand offs I've seen (except the 1000 or so by Alan Smith) was by Paul Anderson on Gary Connolly at Odsal.

That hand off was delivered with some force, just a pity the pass from Deacon was forward though.

It was several weeks after that theywere able to dig Connolly out of the turf at Odsal