That away game at Dewsbury in 2017 when Keyes had his jaw broken and Thomas was chucked into the barriers is still an uncomfortable memory. We had a team of kids and loanees and we got badly beaten up that day. The ref didn’t want to know and we seemed unable to fight our own corner. It happened a few times that year. I have a feeling a lot of our lads have grown up since then and it won’t happen again.

Watching the full game back there was plenty of house tactics going on from Batley. Its good that the team have the agression to stick up for themselves but not take it overboard like other teams seem to do.

Out of curiosity, how does retrospective action happen? Does it have to be put on report?

There was a blatant headbutt from Manning on Flanagan (skip to 58:45 on the full game video) and its plane as day. George just laughs it off.

Flanagan has had a two game ban for dangerous contact reduced to one - so he misses the Toronto friendly. I only heard about this via the Bulls website. The official disciplinary page on the RFL website isn't up to date (like much of their content). No idea if any Batley players were up for suspension.

On Flanagan he did a great job of putting a few Batley players off their game and getting into their heads. Brown, Manning and Dickinson were all intent on doing some damage to him on occasion. George is certainly no angel either I hasten to add.

I think this ban is from the game the week before,so I expect Sunday's game will be dealt with next week.

Cheers.

Shame the RFL site can't keep up.

The nice thing is that - unlike previous seasons - having a player banned makes very little difference. If George gets a ban, we just go with Wildie and put Hallas on the bench for the hooker interchange.

What a difference to some of our recent situations!

Or go with Keyes and Chisholm in the halves, with Lilley as the interchange 9. Yes, the options when missing players certainly seems better with the current squad, all across the board really.

That competition for places should mean better performances all round. In the recent past some players got in the side simply because there was nobody else and was nothing to do with how well anyone played.

Flanagan will end up costing us some league points this season with his lack of temperament. I'm sure of it.
I'm all for playing with your heart on your sleeve but I don't think he knows how far to push things and when to stop.

You may well be right but he did the trick for us last weekend despite going in the bin twice. There are plenty of knuckleheads in the Championship that can be put off their game by his antics.

I don't think I will ever forget that game. That was the game that nearly finished me with the sport. Referees get stuff wrong, but what went on in that game was criminal. I was bang in line with the shot on Keyes. So was the linesman, who thought it was a fair shot, then 1 minute later, came storming onto the field with his flag as he noticed the interference by ourseleves.. It was disgusting TBH Then Thomas been thrown into the railings. The ref thought it was only fair to sin-bin a player from each team!! Never come away from a game feeling as angry as that. If it happened now, I think the entire team would pile in.

On Flanagan Nothus, I do agree that he may inevitably cost us a game. However he is exactly the horrible b*sta*d of a player we've been lacking. He's also arguably been our best player in the crunch games. The championship is a different league but I'd have him in the team.

agreed Bull Mania. and how many points will he win us to offset those lost? and having him as second shift is sensible to me when opposition players are tiring, for both his quick thinking and for his nettle.

Agree, absolutely need that element in a team......Mr Lowes anyone?

He has the capacity to win us lots of games as well. Towards the back end of last season Kear used to bring Peltier and Flanagan on around the same time and the pair of them caused a lot of trouble going forward. He was the difference maker last week and against Halifax in the previous friendly game.

I agree, he can be a loose canon at times but I feel he'll win us more games than cost us.

He's great fun to watch and the team gets a visible lift when he comes on too.

He's always talking, whether it's berating his team mates, winding up the opposition, or having a 'word' with the ref.

He is one of those players that you're glad to have on your team and that opposing fans hate with a passion. That's good enough for me!