OK I can see that if he develops a bad boy reputation that precedes him (like Timmy did) then he may have to be a bit careful, but he has a long way to go to do that and I don't agree with the comments about him overstepping the mark on a regular basis. I think all he's done so far is play hard and be up for the challenge physically. He's a tough lad and one I want in my pack every week. As has been mentioned before we have a pack now that can really dominate. For me its the best we've had since the one Benson assembled - big difference is this time they have the discipline to go along with the aggression.
And finally, the sinbinning I thought was harsh - I need to re-watch on LCTV but I thought Barlows "offence" was just a swinging arm into the mid-section of the player on his way down. Not cheap or dirty, and something you see in a lot of games. But it was at a point in the game where Haven were wanting to bring the game down to their level, kicking off after every tackle, and the ref (who'd lost control of the game 20 mins earlier) took the bait and binned him. For me the retaliation was as bad as or worse than the tackle itself, and it was either a double-binning for the fight or nothing (maybe simple pen to Haven at a push if the player was down and you see it as a flop)
Every successful team needs a hard nut not afraid to mix it when the going gets tough. That's not just in Rugby League but look at the teams in association football over the years who ever won anything and its also true. Your Tommy Smiths, Nobby Stiles. In recent years Robson, Keane. Look at the Leeds United teams in their glory years.
Even when Blackburn Rovers won the league recently they had a lad called David Batty who made the opposition know they were no soft asses.
Sadly Leigh teams have been lacking someone like young Barlow for far to long now. Paul Rowley has addressed it.
Charlie Pausey was one tough player. That's what I am talking about.We were some team with him in it. Hard as nails on the field. Literally.
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Should be on the Sam Hopkins thread 
