Bulls consider appeal over Sykes ban (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

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Bulls consider appeal over Sykes ban

8:25pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

comment Comments (11) Have your say »

By Dave Craven »

The Bulls are considering appealing against England centre Paul Sykes' one-match ban.

He was hit by the suspension tonight after being found guilty of using foul and abusive language to referee Steve Ganson.

An RFL disciplinary also fined the player £300 and he is now set to miss Friday's testing trip to resurgent Warrington - munless Bradford push ahead with initial plans to contest the verdict.

Adamant Sykes insists he never spoke out of turn to the official who red-carded him after he protested against the decision to blow for time while the teams were preparing to pack down for a scrum.

He pleaded innocence before the panel in Leeds tonight and hopes more evidence could clear his name.

With England star Sam Burgess (shoulder) definitely out this weekend and Andy Lynch and Terry Newton both struggling with injuries, Bulls boss Steve McNamara can ill-afford to see another of his main strike players sidelined.

If they do appeal, Sykes - third in Super League's try-scoring list with 13 touchdowns - will still be named in their 19-man squad tomorrow with Craig Kopczak likely to return for Burgess.

Huddersfield skipper Chris Thorman, meanwhile, was found not guilty of biting the finger of Bulls' Michael Platt.

The full back made the allegation towards the end of the 25-24 defeat but the case was thrown out tonight.

Ganson, who flashed four yellow cards on Sunday as well as dismissing Sykes, has not been given a match to officiate this weekend, with Frenchman Thierry Alibert getting a rare Super League appointment instead.

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TEX, Dewsbury says...
10:03pm Tue 8 Jul 08

Ganson deserved being banned and fined for that display on Sunday, but whats the betting spineless Cummings is right behind him?

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haitch, Louth Lincolnshire says...
10:27pm Tue 8 Jul 08

At the risk of repeating myself (posted once, nothing happened!)No player should argue with the ref. There can only be one outcome. Bulls discipline problems must be addressed and soon. It's costing us week in, week out.

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Mickster, Bradford says...
11:50pm Tue 8 Jul 08

Well pt it this way, at least our right edge will be less penetrable without Sykes, onl problms is we have a even bigger donkey out on the left hand side in Nero.

Something seriously needs to be done about these very poor backs we currently have.

PS, Wonder just how strong our "Strength In Depth" will be on Friday eve?

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andy j, liversedge says...
12:00am Wed 9 Jul 08

haitch wrote:
At the risk of repeating myself (posted once, nothing happened!)No player should argue with the ref. There can only be one outcome. Bulls discipline problems must be addressed and soon. It's costing us week in, week out.

hi haitch its taken me 2 weeks to get onto this new site it wouldent let me use my original screen name or password i was ready for throwing my laptop out of the window!

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HANLEY IS A LEGEND, SCHOLES says...
8:18am Wed 9 Jul 08

Mickster never a truer word said.
Sykes is not bad going forward but is hopeless on defence coming out of the line too often.ZERO SORRY NERO is an absolute digrace stealing money at the moment.
Watching from the 2nd row of the stand in the 2nd half Nero took a pass & ran the ball in with as much passion dead fish.He literally was terrified to run forward and was duely dispatched into a heap.

To be honest you have to balame the coaching and the recruitment for the prediciment we are in.

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Adey, Bradford says...
4:32pm Wed 9 Jul 08

OK, I don't agree with dissent because it's ruined Football but Sykes had a fair point and voiced what most of the fans saw. Clearly Ganson called time off and the scrum was formed...by the RFL's own rules he has to continue until the end of the next play AFTER the resulting scrum. It just seems to me that the 50/50 calls don't seem to be going our way and you can understand the frustration setting in. They are only human afterall!

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haitch, Louth Lincolnshire says...
5:30pm Wed 9 Jul 08

andy j wrote:
haitch wrote:At the risk of repeating myself (posted once, nothing happened!)No player should argue with the ref. There can only be one outcome. Bulls discipline problems must be addressed and soon. It's costing us week in, week out. hi haitch its taken me 2 weeks to get onto this new site it wouldent let me use my original screen name or password i was ready for throwing my laptop out of the window!

Hi andy, Nice to have you back, lots are having or have had probs but at least you're here now and can keep people like me in check!! Cheers.

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haitch, Louth Lincolnshire says...
5:36pm Wed 9 Jul 08

Adey wrote:
OK, I don't agree with dissent because it's ruined Football but Sykes had a fair point and voiced what most of the fans saw. Clearly Ganson called time off and the scrum was formed...by the RFL's own rules he has to continue until the end of the next play AFTER the resulting scrum. It just seems to me that the 50/50 calls don't seem to be going our way and you can understand the frustration setting in. They are only human afterall!

Spot on adey, trouble is Ganson and many other ref,s don't need an excuse to punish us. So to the players its "button it" no matter how frustrated because the Bulls just can't afford to be playing men short.

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graham smith, bradford says...
7:40pm Wed 9 Jul 08

yep Adey i'm with you there but if your name is St Helens if you dont like how the ref played you get Daniel Anderson to shout up and you dont get Smith ever again and some how the Sts get to be top of the leauge and top of the fair play index, look how you get on in the world when St Helens call the shots.I thought Cummings was the boss.

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haitch, Louth Lincolnshire says...
1:49pm Thu 10 Jul 08

graham smith wrote:
yep Adey i'm with you there but if your name is St Helens if you dont like how the ref played you get Daniel Anderson to shout up and you dont get Smith ever again and some how the Sts get to be top of the leauge and top of the fair play index, look how you get on in the world when St Helens call the shots.I thought Cummings was the boss.

Cummins IS the boss. He doesn't like Bradford either. You forgot to mention Saints salary cap exclusion!!

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Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
9:04am Fri 11 Jul 08

Irrespective of all the Postings one has to accept that a referee is right even when he is wrong. If you cannot accept that as both a team and an individual you are not going to win.

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