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

[VIKINGMART]

Got to be coach siddal. If he has played super league this isnt the biggest game he is likely to have played in. As a coach with the chance of an upset who knows?

[Steve]

I don't see how he can play the game. Hopefully Harrison will tell him he is dropped well in advance so he can concentrate on the coaching task.

[Dan]

For me its play for Batley, no question.  What when Richie Myler as a Widnes lad, fan and former player comes up against Widnes playing for Wire?  Does he say im not playing cos I support Widnes?

Greenwood can still prepare Siddal all week in the way he normally does as coach, then for the 80 mins the players are on the pitch its up to them to go out and perform.  He is a pro RL players 1st and formost, you go out and do the job.

[POPPY1]

For me its play for Batley, no question.  What when Richie Myler as a Widnes lad, fan and former player comes up against Widnes playing for Wire?  Does he say im not playing cos I support Widnes?

Greenwood can still prepare Siddal all week in the way he normally does as coach, then for the 80 mins the players are on the pitch its up to them to go out and perform.  He is a pro RL players 1st and formost, you go out and do the job.

Spot on mate. Whatever he does as a hobby should come second to something he is paid and contracted to do.

[Ratboy]

I would say play as it his job.Siddal are not going to go much furthur, and probably get beat without greenwood.

[yoda]

For me its play for Batley, no question.  What when Richie Myler as a Widnes lad, fan and former player comes up against Widnes playing for Wire?  Does he say im not playing cos I support Widnes?

Greenwood can still prepare Siddal all week in the way he normally does as coach, then for the 80 mins the players are on the pitch its up to them to go out and perform.  He is a pro RL players 1st and formost, you go out and do the job.

Supporting a team is lot different than coaching one though.

And has been said, what if he made a (genuine) error that gave Siddal the match winning try - would anyone in Batley believe it was an accident...?? 

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

It would have to be more than a tweak to keep him out till 18 April 

[Dan]

He coaches Siddal as a hobby though, something he does in his spare time. I wonder if they are his local club and if he played for them as a youngster? 

Re the Myler example, its not just supporting, its also coming from the town and playing for the under 18's/21's and first team.  I think this would be just as difficult if you have stood on the terraces and then come through with some of the players still at the club who will be your mates.

If he has no previous connection to Siddal and has just been coaching them for a couple of years its not that bad.  If they are his amateur club and he has been brought up playing for them before turning pro then its a bit more difficult.  But I still say Batley come first.

Final point, I wonder if Greewood has a job?  How does he fit in playing and training for Batley and then taking training and games for Siddal.  They arn't a pub team, they are one of the top amateur sides in the country so will take a big commitment.

[yoda]

Final point, I wonder if Greewood has a job?  How does he fit in playing and training for Batley and then taking training and games for Siddal.  They arn't a pub team, they are one of the top amateur sides in the country so will take a big commitment.

He worlks for Calderdale College in the Sport Dept.  I guess he doesn't see much of Mrs Greenwood then..... 

[King Viking]

For me its play for Batley, no question.  What when Richie Myler as a Widnes lad, fan and former player comes up against Widnes playing for Wire?  Does he say im not playing cos I support Widnes?

Greenwood can still prepare Siddal all week in the way he normally does as coach, then for the 80 mins the players are on the pitch its up to them to go out and perform.  He is a pro RL players 1st and formost, you go out and do the job.

But he's not a pro. The only pro players are those in Super League, and a mere handful outside of it.

I personally think the Myler thing is irrelevant too - it's not like he's the coach of Widnes! You could make that argument for hundreds of players in the game, even say Mark Smith when we play Wigan. It's a unique situation that Greenwood is in.

[Peter]

But he's not a pro. The only pro players are those in Super League, and a mere handful outside of it.

I personally think the Myler thing is irrelevant too - it's not like he's the coach of Widnes! You could make that argument for hundreds of players in the game, even say Mark Smith when we play Wigan. It's a unique situation that Greenwood is in.

It is. When Ally Naughton went to Warrington and played against Widnes in the 1950 Cup Final, he had two brothers playing for Widnes, Johny and Danny. Her still played just as hard for Warrington.

[RB]

Karl Harrison has already said he doesn't see how he can play him.
It's a actually a difficult one whether his employers ( even if only as a Semi-Pro ) should let him coach the opposition from the touchline and whether he should attend the training sessions the week of the match.
Best to give him a week off Batley Training and let him prepare Siddal and then for him to sit in the stand.

[POPPY1]

I honestly can't believe this, words fail me.

What happens if he coaches Siddal to win and then the winners get drawn against Leeds and Batley miss out on massive pay day.

Batley pay him to play and what he does as a hobby is unfortunately secondary and irrelevant

[Huggybear]

Thatcher's Britain is alive and well.

Here's a thought - money actually isn't the be all and end all of everything. Don't get me wrong, it puts food on the kitchen table but THIS IS A SPORT! Come on all you Thatcher's kids, step back a bit, Greenwood is doing a great thing for the amateur game and that's what this stage of the competition is all about. Whatever happens the sun will still rise the day after, lets have some perspective.

[Spelly]

Go to www.swintonlionsrlc.co.uk to see what Lee Greenwood and I talked about

After logging on, go to "The Fans" then "Blogs" then "Spelly's World"

Sorry but I can't do links, so perhaps one you technos can oblige please? Thank you!

Spelly.


link....

http://www.swintonlionsrlc.co.uk/04-pages/05-blogs/fanblog.php?fn_mode=fullnews&fn_id=21

[AB]

I honestly can't believe this, words fail me.

What happens if he coaches Siddal to win and then the winners get drawn against Leeds and Batley miss out on massive pay day.

Batley pay him to play and what he does as a hobby is unfortunately secondary and irrelevant

Tbh that's Harrison's fault for not picking him