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

ccs wrote: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.

ccs wrote: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.