I think this game will be a real test for us. Since we trounced them at The Shay they've gone from strength to strength, but so have we. We need to get over there in numbers, get right behind the lads and see where it takes us. There won't be much in it and if we can finally put two halves together this could be the game to keep us in't top four. Cheery Tree, shuddersfield. Elland 1872 Porter 6.5% Mmm!Up The Fax!

Leigh to sneak it.

Mmm? Mallinsons Vic's Secret 3.9 % Mmm! Sportsman shudds.Up The Fax!

Indeed Pete, this is probably the MOST important game of the season for both Clubs, a MUST win game, a loss for Leigh would be a disaster, and a win for Fax and you are in the driving seat for a top 4 place no doubt.
As Faxers know I'm a hopeless tipper, you will be pleased to know I'm tipping a Leigh win, not by much though, maybe around Leigh 30 v Fax 22, we will probably be without Matutia,and Dawson through suspension, but that's life, no excuse,I hope to see a few of my Fax friends at the LSV and hope for a great game, see you all there.A Leigh win, Charlie knows.

Tough one for us I don't really expect us to win it but hope we can do ourselves justice and give them a real tough game, we need to play for 80 minutes for once to have any sniff of beating them.
We will be there.

Heart says Fax, Head says I can't see anything past a Leigh win

Just too quick across the park for us and if we give away the amount of penalties and possession and have a game of two halves like we have been doing we won't get away with it this time and it could be fairly comprehensive.

No doubt the lads will give a real dig and if they do that fair enough.

We will be without Tyrer as he is suspended. It will be very tight or Leigh will run away with it. We could do our usual and play out of our skins and beat Leigh then struggle next week against Swinton. What ever the outcome we need to be more disciplined and I’m sure the lads will give 100%

Leigh look a much better side than when we played them at the Shay. Add that to the fact we don't get much when we travel to theirs, I honestly can't see much past a win for them. It would be an absolute disaster for them if they lost this one so its like a cup final in that sense for them. We have to put a full 80 mins of quality rugby together to have any chance and to be honest we haven't done that yet this season.As long as we don't get any major injuries and give a good account of ourselves I will be happy with that.For once I think Charlie does know re outcome of the game.

No Tyrer ? better score all ours behind the sticks then !!!


Up the Fax

I think we're without Matautia, banned for the high tackle against Toronto, but Dawson should be available this week, with his hearing next week.

I am thinking with Leigh losing the last two the confidence will be shot.

Fax by 12

Hopefully a strong ref and if we can build pressure early they will lose their heads (and hopefully won’t take ours). If it starts that way then we are in with a chance but if our defence starts like we did the other week then it could be a runaway score.

Heads on from the start and we should have a decent chance.

Dawson's hearing (and Mata'utia's next one!) are tonight. Remember, we were playing a Sooper Dooper League team last week, and we play by their disciplinary rules - not the Championship ones!

Whatever the outcome, I reckon they'll be available for next season against 'Fax!

(if they stay with us

)

Whatever the outcome, I reckon they'll be available for next season against 'Fax! (if they stay with us )

I stand corrected. Can we not transfer their bans to Larne Patrick, he's never going to be picked anyway.

In all seriousness, I think it will be Owens and Bailey for Mata'utia and Dawson, but I fear all the goings on the last couple of weeks will take some recovering from.

A good ref in charge .................. S. Mikalauskas.

Shane Grady a very able deputy for goalkicking duties.

Cas's big win at Hull KR might see minimal (if any) changes for their visit to Warrington. So what's the betting QLT on DR?

Depends on your definition of a 'good' ref! We had him for the Toronto game, at Blackpool, and weren't too thrilled. Still, as you aren't a new team, from foreign lands, things may improve!

Dunno about that, Al, I watched that match (and it was a great game) and thought he had a good game.

I reckon the standard of refereeing in the Championship is the best it's ever been. The one we had at the Bash, Grant, is very good, Jack Smith also as are Pearson and Crashley.

Alan, tonight’s hearing, 5 matches for Matt Dawson and two charges 1 and 4 matches for Peter Mata’utia.

I know!

Can't say the bans are unfair, either. Still, the Disciplinary have now set the benchmark for dangerous tackles and abuse of referees - I wonder if they will continue to dish out similar bans, for similar offences?

Exactly, if it had been one of the blue eyed boys players involved in the abuse the ref would have got the 5 games.

Can't keep pace with rule changes,anyone enlighten ?
1.EGP scrapped ?
2.penalty notice = ban ? if so why not call it a fecking ban ?
3.How can you be banned after being sin binned ? punishment served on day-wasn't on report or unseen by officials ?

Alan, there is plenty of precedent for the Mata'utia ban - for instance Ben Pomeroy for Catalans two or three years ago (6 games) and Luke Briscoe last year (five games) - I'd say the other two were slightly "worse" instances of similar tackles so 4 games seems about right.

As for Dawson-Jones, I think it was fairly plain what he said to the ref. I don't think there have been many clear-cut cases involving questioning the ref's integrity but Paul March got 4 games for a similar offence which was graded at C a couple of years ago (and later a 2-month stadium ban IIRC) and Hardaker got 5 games for homophobic abuse, so it seems reasonably in line with previous sanctions.

No Leigh fan are questioning the bans it's when you get another player with a 1 match ban for foul and abusive language to an official but dawson 5 you can understand fans scratching their heads.What about Tommy leuluai getting no matches for the cannon ball tackle on Westwood never mind bussey from Toronto for the cheap shot on the young lad at swinton..fans are likely to say is it one rule for one and different rules for other teams

Presumably the difference between the 1 game and 5 game ban is that one was for foul and abusive language and the other for questioning the ref's integrity, which I think many would suggest is a whole different ballpark.

For all that I compared some earlier incidents to the Leigh ones, every incident is different. I will agree that Bussey on the Swinton lad was a very surprising decision, for me it was a cheap shot not an attempt at "wrapping", but you are always going to get differences of opinion. Plenty of Fev fans, for instance, are up in arms that the late shot/shoulder charge by a Leigh player on Martyn Ridyard which saw him forced from the field immediately and set for what may be a lengthy spell on the sidelines was worthy of a ban, but I don't think the incident was even discussed at the disciplinary....I'm sure some Fax fans saw the Hock challenge on Will Sharp at the Summer Bash differently to how the disciplinary saw it as another example.

Let's face it, the one thing that seems to unite us on these incidents is that the disciplinary committee is biased against our own team. There is a massive amount of "whataboutism" from fans of most clubs when one of their players are banned.