You have to feel sorry for Batley's Lee Greenwood after the CC draw

[DJones]

Batley Bulldogs winger Lee Greenwood has divided loyalties going into his side's clash with Pennine League outfit Siddal in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.

The 29-year-old plays for Championship outfit Batley but also coaches his old amateur side Siddal in his spare time.
Greenwood has admitted he was left "gutted" by the draw which has presented Batley coach Karl Harrison with a dilemma, whether to play or drop his star winger on 17 April.

"It puts me in a very awkward situation. Perhaps I could go for a long drive, get away for the weekend," said Greenwood.

Harrison, who represented Great Britain and coached Salford in Super League, is determined to put Batley's interests first.
He said: "It's the worst possible draw for Lee. He's absolutely devastated. He wants to play in the game and he's been playing really well for us.
"He's a big part of our team but it gives me a dilemma. It's really difficult. I don't it's think happened before.
"I don't see how I can play him, to be honest, but I will sit down with the other coaching staff and Lee himself and talk about it."
   
Greenwood, who is a sports co-ordinator at Calderdale College, enjoyed a successful Super League career with London Broncos, Sheffield Eagles, Halifax and Huddersfield.

He ran over two tries in Batley's 70-6 win over Leeds Met University 24 hours after guiding the Halifax-based amateurs to a record 26-0 win over Doncaster in the third round of the Cup last Saturday.

Greenwood reflected: "I'm gutted. It's the worst possible draw for me and it's not a good one from the club's point of view either because they wanted a Super League team.

"I suppose it was going to happen one day, with Siddal always getting through. I will still have an interest in the fifth round. I suppose you could look at it that way."

Siddal chairman Paul McCormack will also be waiting on the outcome, hoping that he will have his coach available to him for the Cup-tie.

"We hope he's on our touchline coaching us but Batley pay his wages," McCormack commented.
"He's a fabulous young coach. I don't think he will be with us much longer. When he finishes playing, he has a big future coaching in the professional game."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/8558400.stm

That's going to be some divided loyalties, if he plays for Batley, how will he feel about, potentially, scoring against the side he coaches, if he doesn't play and coaches Siddal, will he want to to see his own team and team mates potentially knocked out of the cup.

[Spelly]

That is huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!

Can't win or can't lose? Which is it? I'd suggest it's the former!

It's a similar headache for the Batley coach. If you were Harrison, would you select Greenwood in your line-up? I'm not sure I would!

If we're not playing at the same time, I'm gonna try and get to this game!

Spelly.

[Spelly]

Batley Bulldogs winger Lee Greenwood has divided loyalties going into his side's clash with Pennine League outfit Siddal in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.

Aren't Siddal a Conference team?

Spelly.

[Huggybear]

To me it's simple. Harrison doesn't pick him out of respect for the man and what he's doing for the amateur game. Isn't that what this stage of the Challenge Cup is supposed to be about? We are talking about a sport.

[efcviking]

Maybe he could play the first half, and coach the second? 

Or have a twist to a player coach, play for one side while coaching the other 

[yoda]

To me it's simple. Harrison doesn't pick him out of respect for the man and what he's doing for the amateur game. Isn't that what this stage of the Challenge Cup is supposed to be about? We are talking about a sport.

Agreed.

I don't see Siddall getting past Batley, so let him coach them this round and play in the next.

[mick george]

I don't think that he will play,luckily him not playing will not change the result of the game.

I bet that Lee is gutted by the draw but he should be proud as punch at the same time. This guy is giving something back to the game he loves and its great to see.

Well done Lee not the ideal draw but keep your head up and be proud

[King Viking]

It's a no brainer for me - coach Siddal.

[POPPY1]

It's a no brainer for me - coach Siddal.

Maybe it is just me, but for me it is a no brainer the other way round.

He plays his heart out for his employer.

[Spelly]

Who'll make the decision? The player? The coach? The club(s)?

Will Harrison ask Greenwood if he wants to play, or tell him that he is or isn't in the line-up?

From the outside, it's fascinating, but whatever Siddal / Batley / Greenwood / Harrison decide, it'll be wrong to someone!

For what it's worth, if I was Greenwood, I'd sit the match out, spending 40 minutes with the Siddal people, and the other 40 with the Batley folk!

Spelly.

[Glynn]

Maybe it is just me, but for me it is a no brainer the other way round.

He plays his heart out for his employer.

i agree

[rayvon]

Harrison says he doesnt see how he can play him, I would go with that!
Its not like he will cost them the game by not playing really is it?

[The Horses Mouth]

If I was Lee I would probably tweak a calf muscle in training this week.

[Torn Sock]

i think he should be told to stay away. either way he will be bound to annoy some people without trying. avoid the game and be glad both his teams get some publicity. imagine if the game was close and he either
made a mistake as a winger i.e. dropping a bomb, or made a massive coaching error depending on the decision made. not fair on the guy to ask him to represent either side imo

[Peter]

It's a no brainer for me - coach Siddal.

Yes. Very much yes!