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Is Bobbie paying the price for passion?

Mike Floyd
17/ 5/2008

BOBBIE Goulding was left baffled, bemused and downhearted by his appearance before The Rugby League’s disciplinary body on Tuesday evening.

The Hornets’ boss was fined £200, plus a further £300 suspended for 12 months, which will be forfeited if he is found guilty of a similar offence during that time.

What is confusing is the reason for the penalty. Goulding was summoned on a charge of using foul and abusive language to the referee and touchjudge. He was reacting to a kick on David Newton by Danny Tickle towards the end of the Challenge Cup match with Hull FC.

Much to his relief he was found not guilty, but his euphoria was short lived as he was then told he was also being charged with gesticulating to officials, which he denied. He was found guilty and the punishment handed out.

One is left to wonder what rules govern these hearings, or do they just make it up as they go along? Imagine going to court charged with one offence, being cleared and then told you would then face another. It doesn’t make sense.

Find me a coach that doesn’t get involved, doesn’t show emotion, and doesn’t gesticulate. They are human, not automatons. Take the passion out of the game and what are you left with?

I am not suggesting coaches are given free rein to abuse officials, only that those in charge make some allowances for the situation, the heat-of-the-moment outburst, and be allowed to use some common sense.

Official needn’t mean officious. Take for example the Hunslet match at Spotland when the match commissioner insisted on being present at the ‘press conference’ – myself and another journalist, George Dodds, waiting to have a chat with Bobbie. To what purpose? Neither I nor George, and we have a few years under our belts, had ever encountered this before. Bobbie, quite rightly chose not to speak to us.

Goulding didn’t want to say too much about the hearing. He was more concerned with the effect the current state of affairs was having on himself and his players. He said: "I’m baffled, shocked. I was happy with what the referee said and when they said I had been found not guilty I was very happy and ready to leave. They then introduced the second charge.

"I’m passionate about the game, it’s part of my make up.

"A big part of my coaching is about transmitting that passion to the players. I care about them, about the team, about the club. Take that away and I’m downhearted at the moment, it takes the edge off the way I work. Anyway, we’ll see how it goes."

The Hornets’ boss was also concerned about Hull FC being allowed to continue their Challenge Cup campaign despite playing an ineligible player - Jamie Thackray against Hornets and Widnes in earlier rounds.

Hull could face a heavy fine, but the RFL said there were no specific penalties for playing an ineligible player.

They added the breach was ‘a very serious matter’ and suggested the competition’s rules would be altered to avoid a repeat.

Hull FC will now face Bradford Bulls in a quarter-final as planned.

It was another decision which had Goulding scratching his head.

"If they have played an ineligible player surely they should not be allowed to progress in the competition. It creates a dangerous precedent.

"I have left Carl Hughes, John Hill and Carl Sneyd out of matches this season because they were cup tied.

"Perhaps I could sign Sean Long, Kieran Cunningham and Jamie Lyon for our Northern Rail Cup match against Doncaster. They aren’t cup tied," he concluded with a knowing smile.

Call me cynical, but I do wonder what would have happened if Hull had been beaten by Hornets or Widnes in similar circumstances.

A RFL statement read: "In view of the absence of a mandatory provision, the RFL board determined that the results of the Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth and fifth-round matches involving Hull FC will stand and the club will continue in the competition.

"It is, however, clear that playing an ineligible player is a serious breach of the operational rules and the board has referred the matter to the RFL compliance manager to deal with under the misconduct rules.

"The RFL board intends to review the operational rules relating to competitions and will consider whether the rules should be amended so that offences of this nature will lead to mandatory expulsion from the cup in future seasons."