Re: Bateman : Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:08 pm  

Well the RFL have outdone themselves today.

Not content with spelling "Reserve" incorrectly on the medals yesterday for Wigan Reserves, they have now named Bateman in the England Knights squad to exploit a loophole created by their own process.

It just beggars belief it really does.

Re: Bateman : Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:12 pm  

Named in England Knights squad ???
Either it's an incredibly cynical move to use up a couple of his bans or Wane's dropped him from the main squad, personally I think he's been good this season but nowhere near what he can be, reckon there's quite a few in front of him this season

Re: Bateman : Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:16 pm  

apollosghost wrote:

Named in England Knights squad ???
Either it's an incredibly cynical move to use up a couple of his bans or Wane's dropped him from the main squad, personally I think he's been good this season but nowhere near what he can be, reckon there's quite a few in front of him this season

Its purely to exploit a loophole. If he gets a 3 game ban he misses the friendly against Fiji, the England Knights game and the opener against Samoa. Without the Knights game he would miss 2 WC group games.

Re: Bateman : Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:25 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Well the RFL have outdone themselves today.

Not content with spelling "Reserve" incorrectly on the medals yesterday for Wigan Reserves, they have now named Bateman in the England Knights squad to exploit a loophole created by their own process.

It just beggars belief it really does.

That logo too, looks like looking down the toilet! Pass the sick-bucket, Alice!

Re: Bateman : Tue Sep 20, 2022 7:24 pm  

Those medals need to be replaced.
This looks very bad for the RFL and the sport in general.

Re: Bateman : Tue Sep 20, 2022 7:45 pm  

Poor from the RL and once again shows them up to be the tin pot run game it`s fast becoming.
Maybe Knowles might make the Knights squad now.

Re: Bateman : Tue Sep 20, 2022 7:50 pm  

3 game ban for Bateman, so misses the Knights game, Fiji friendly and Samoa group match.

Re: Bateman : Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:35 am  

Stu M wrote:

Its purely to exploit a loophole. If he gets a 3 game ban he misses the friendly against Fiji, the England Knights game and the opener against Samoa. Without the Knights game he would miss 2 WC group games.

Of course it is and why not? Do you honestly think that the Aussies wouldn’t do the same? The RFL
Seem to have changed the disciplinary rules lately as well, do you not think that Bateman’s three match ban and Knowles two match ban are lenient?

Re: Bateman : Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:44 am  

Stu M wrote:

Spot on. Nothing to lose although I really can't see a 2 match ban being reduced to 0. I can't see the ban being increased as it would be England that are disadvantaged so I don't think the RFL will do this. As it stands he misses the GF and the England friendly.

The annoying part of the process is the ones that are missed. I've no complaints with the Knowles one as it was stupid from him but when you look at the clash where Ackers fails his HIA, Bennison is smashed (illegally IMO) and yet this was not cited. There is a clip I shared on Twitter of Watkins hitting Percival in the head with his shoulder, yet this wasn't even commented on by the MRP. Similarly Sneyd does a high tackle on Lomax which is a shocker.

I've no issues with bans if they are deserved but at least be consistent.

Stu, you epitomise the problem with the game. Some of the cases being put in front of the disciplinary committee are very harsh if you watch the incidents at full speed. On the other hand deliberate actions such as twisting a players arm in an unnatural direction or squeezing somebody’s balls are premeditated actions and should be dealt with far more seriously.

Re: Bateman : Wed Sep 21, 2022 6:34 am  

I think fans of the game as a whole are in a confused mess and it’s through no fault of their own. We see bans all season for ridiculous reasons and then when Welsby avoids one, for something bans have absolutely been given out for, we don’t know if we should be saying ‘well that’s a joke’ or ‘finally some common sense’. Make no bones about it, he’s banned if that tackle comes mid season. Now he shouldn’t be because that’s the game and we all know it’s a great tackle but the way in which the rules have been put in place this season means they’ve now backflipped because it’s a final. They’ve also only given Knowles 2 games and Bateman 3 because they have the World Cup to play in (although whoever decided club bans would carry through to the World Cup is a clown).

In summary it’s an absolute mess and needs sorting out for 2023. The game cannot afford to keep having people sat down for nothing incidents but by the same token, it cannot leave itself open to criticism when they move the goalposts because of how important upcoming games are.