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Two extremes here.

You’ve got some opposition fans calling him everything from rubbish to a sheethouse.

Then you’ve got the odd Leeds fan who revs him up to something that he isn’t.

However a majority on Southstander know how good Bailey is and how bad he can be. Its just you nit picking because Hull FC have had a rubbish year.

Damo's been the most commonsense poster on this thread. Hang your heads in shame the rest of you!

The mere fact we now have 4 pages of mostly risible 'my dad's tougher than your dad' stuff sums it up really. Is Bailey the best prop in the world? No. Is he the best prop at Leeds? No. Is he on his day an excellent fourth prop in a squad of 17? Absolutely. And looking at other SL squads, there isn't one that he wouldn't be an asset to in that role.

I think his attitude has a lot to do with why everyone hates him
He just comes across a complete

A lot of RL players talk about the respect they have for each other, and how RL has made them the men they are.
This guy doesnt seem to buy into any of that.

He could have been a fantastic player. He had massive potential.
I believe his attitiude stopped him reaching his potential, but that is just my opinion.

I totally agree. Fantastic prop who could get a contract anywhere. But the original post referred to a suggestion he was "feared." I dont think he is.

Its not his ability I have issue with, its his conduct and attitude which is an anomoly to the vast majority of players in SL. He conducts himself very poorly.

If that could change he could be an even better player

A lot of teams have a niggly player. If anything Bailey is controlled to a point, he'll wind the opposition up and then stick his thumb up and avoid getting in trouble and therefore see opposition players lose there cool and concede numerous penalties.

No one said that though did they.

You keep lying to try and prove your argument though.

There's a good boy.

He takes after his dad.

I must have missed Martin Richardsons 5 grand final appearances, including 4 wins, and being a regular in the Leeds team (when available) for 7 years.

All I can think is that his contract is worth about £18k, or they'd have got shut of him years ago.

As for anyone would take him as a 4th prop, I'd rather Graham/Fas/Fozzard/Puletua/Clough propped at Saints than Bailey, he just isn't very good.

As for feared, every time someone has stood up to him he's ended up on his bum or hiding - doesn't sound all that scary to me.

We've all played against players like him - bark far worse than his bite. He'll happily make his tackles, but for me a good prop carries the ball when his team need it most, which is where Bailey lacks bottle.

I quite enjoy playing count the drives when Leeds are in town, he can go 10 minutes without touching the ball, as a prop off the bench!!

Alot of racism on this thread.

I also think Gardner and Meli are rubbish, so I'm proper racist - that's three people I think are rubbish who aren't white.

I thought Barry Ward was pretty poop too, and if you squinted from the terraces he looked a bit like a fat chinaman.

I remember when we were at Headingly last season, he came on, touched the ball once, yes, once, and then went off.

Even Feka puts in more of a stint than that.

ahhhhhahahahahahaha

I'm struggling to find any racist comments, care to point them out?

Do you remember the last 3 GF'S when he played a part in dismantling the "mighty S"

If it wasn't for Bailey, we'd have won all three finals, no doubt about it.

I think he did very well to convert from prop to wing/fullback and the name change to Lee Smith has done him no end of good.

I wish Smith (nee Bailey) all the best in RU.

Damo that shoulder barge is the worst kind of attack apart from a deliberate punch/knee/head butt, If you have played the game you know the reason why its done and if like a well aimed punch its consequences, the sooner this sort of "non tackle" is deemed illegal the better, no attempt is made in that or another shoulder barge to tackle a player it is banned in RU as they understand why it is done. No skill is needed to perform it; maybe that’s why bailey is obviously good at it!!!!!!!

what an absolutely hilarious thread!

Can we put an end to it by simply saying everyone in everyone's team is the hardest and fairest and every player you have or have ever had is a 'true' RL hardman even when they have been guilty of idiotic, thuggish or cowardly acts. And everyone in everyone elses team is simply thuggish and cowardly

Probably why you've lost the last 3 grand finals.

Do you not grasp the fact that you would have been even better over the past few years with another player in his shirt? You lot suggest he was 'immense' in the GF, when in fact he did bob all as usual.

Leeds are an incredible side, Bailey is your worst player by an incredible distance. I'll be shocked if he's still in the 17 with your pack all fit.

Check the thugs stats. They are comparable with those heavyweights of the prop world, Paul King and Craig Huby

TBF, Ablett is probably still worse than Bailey.

And Damo, don't you think thats taking it a bit far? Comparing the Rhinos to the A Team is just ridiculous. I know Bailey may look a bit like BA, but believe me, he has none of the attributes.

Would that be the same "shoulder barge" that everyone creamed over SBW delivering in the WCC at Elland Road to Marcus Bai? You know, the one that left Bai concussed. I seem to remember the majority view at the time being that it showed how rock hard and brilliant Williams was.

Those who go on about Bailey "being a thug" and "hiding" in that game might want to watch the next couple of minutes after the incident with Fa'asavalu. IIRC the next Leeds set Saint Kieron of Pukka attempts to twist a Leeds player's head off in a grapple. Leeds kick to touch and first up from the tap restart is Bailey, who runs 20 yards infield to go straight at James Graham who had been doing his usual jaw flapping.

Doesn't sound like a player who "goes hiding" to me, but hey what would I, Tony Smith, Brian McLennan and David Waite (IIRC - think Waite was in charge when Bailey played for GB) know about it compared to you folks?

Dont forget the other myth that Bailey was "taught a lesson" by Sculthorpe, what actually happened was that Sculthorpe punched him several times off the ball whilst Bailey kept his cool and didnt retaliate, then the coward referee did nothing to sculthorpe because it was at Knowsley Road