HDM seem to think that "due to some confusion", Kelly's ban started at the same time as Satae, so he isn't available for the wigan match.

It baffles me how a ban can be dished out from A reserve fixture but then future reserve games don’t count towards the ban !

Does that mean that Kelly can still take part in reserve games whilst been banned from super league games ?

It doesn't make any sense to me, we've played 2 SL games since the 2 match ban was imposed. Even reserve games count if there is no SL match on the same weekend.
Hopefully, it's the HDM getting it all wrong.

I just don't see how that's even possible. He got banned and was unavailable for two games. Those games have now been and gone. Where has this even come from?

This is what the HDM say...

@Brooksyhfc: Is Albert Kelly free to play this weekend?

No he is not, he will serve the second game of his ban this weekend unfortunately. There has been some confusion regarding the start date of his suspension, but with the offence coming while playing for the reserves, it seems the ban actually started at the same time of Chris Satae’s.

As such, both will be free to play next week against Catalans Dragons.

Kelly missed the Rovers and Saints games .
Is that not 2 matches ? Otherwise he was available for the derby ?

… looking at the crazy rules, it looks like the HDM could be right. I can't cut and paste the relevant text because it's a wretched flip-book. 1/3 the way down P187. https://www.rugby-league.com/flipbooks/ ... html#p=186

… looking at the crazy rules, it looks like the HDM could be right. I can't cut and paste the relevant text because it's a wretched flip-book. 1/3 the way down P187. https://www.rugby-league.com/flipbooks/ ... html#p=186

Well that, is an absolute pi55 take!

The rovers match didn't count, but then the reserve match @wigan (which would have counted) was postponed.

Abandoned or postponed matches don't count towards a ban.

Catch22.

Infact, it looks like only reserve games will count towards his ban, because he hasn't played SL yet this season??

I’d be challenging that.

It makes a mockery of the reserve grade.

Got it....



So the reserve game against Newcastle Thunder next weekend is the one that counts as the 2nd game of the ban, assuming it is played. The reserve game after that is another 2 weeks away.

Yeah, that’s the bit I found. So basically, if there are no more reserve games then Kelly is effectively banned forever.

You'd have thought that being selected in the SL squad prior to a ban would have been more logical than actually having to play a game.
As you say, he may never play again.

The HDM have now explained why Kelly won't play @ wigan. They've made it all up. (Nothing new there then.) https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... fc-3861044

The HDM have now explained why Kelly won't play @ wigan. They've made it all up. (Nothing new there then.) https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... fc-3861044

Quote ="ccs"The HDM have now explained why Kelly won't play @ wigan. They've made it all up. (Nothing new there then.) https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... fc-3861044'" Based on the operational rules the HDM are talking nonsense. If only reserve games count then surely there is a loophole to exploit? He can't play against Newcastle so that means he becomes available for selection against Wigan.

Quote ="ccs"The HDM have now explained why Kelly won't play @ wigan. They've made it all up. (Nothing new there then.) https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... fc-3861044'" Based on the operational rules the HDM are talking nonsense. If only reserve games count then surely there is a loophole to exploit? He can't play against Newcastle so that means he becomes available for selection against Wigan.

Good try!!…



I guess if wigan hadn't cancelled the reserve game we'd all be assuming (correctly) that the 2 match ban was now complete, and he'd be available to play against...wigan.
We would have been oblivious to the fact that neither SL game counted.

Don't worry, I've got another loophole.

There is nothing in the wording to indicate whether the player needs to have played a first team game this season. It just says "previously." Bans can be carried over from the previous season, so there is no reason to think everything resets just because it's a new season.

That does sound more plausible.

I haven't found anything which may scupper it (yet).

Mentioning warm-up matches kind of suggests a season by season ruling.

Maybe the cancelled reserve game is the key - the rovers game (which didn't count at the time) had already been played before it was cancelled. Can we retrospectively claim the rovers game because there was no reserve match?

I am just interested to know whether the HDM have actually been told about this by someone either from the club or RFL. Or if someone has just stumbled across these rules and made an assumption.

I can't imagine it's the club, the HDM have got it so wrong. Bans start at midnight on the day of the verdict.

I've just edited my previous post....

Agreed. He may well be banned, but not for the reasons they are reporting. There is no such thing as a ban that starts next week.

Personally I think someone has their wires crossed and that he will be selected on Sunday.

The HDM and still running another article with their take on the saga.... https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... an-3861861

The HDM and still running another article with their take on the saga.... https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... an-3861861

Quote ="ccs"The HDM and still running another article with their take on the saga.... https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... an-3861861'" The whole thing just seems odd. Radford doesn't even allude to the confusion or the current situation there. He just talks about the tackle itself. It sounds like a quote from a couple of weeks ago. Who knows?

Quote ="ccs"The HDM and still running another article with their take on the saga.... https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... an-3861861'" The whole thing just seems odd. Radford doesn't even allude to the confusion or the current situation there. He just talks about the tackle itself. It sounds like a quote from a couple of weeks ago. Who knows?

That's how I read it, an old quote by LR added to a crazy theory.