[quote="FAXFOREVER"]It's pretty clear that a lot more people than you'd be led to believe actually see what handforth brings to the team.
Harrison signed him because he knew better than anyone what he is all about. He was never going to be the fast, crowd pleasing, side stepping half back that black was. A lot of the abuse he cops is unjust and a little naive.
His defence is solid, he is our best kicker, best reader of the game and if you watch closely enough you'll see he is the guy in charge on the pitch. This is why Karl trusts him and brought him over.
It's worth mentioning that handforth has, even when being slated, won us a lot of close games, including keighley. Sheffield at home, with the chip and break for Thacks to score, switching to hooker when Penky went off against swinton I think when he ripped them apart, and basically ripping the ball away from Penky in the challenge cup with thirty seconds left, taking the penalty to ensure extra time, fair dos, we lost that one but he got us the draw and chance of extra time.
Plenty more examples, the problem handforth faces is not being the stand out crowd hero that many half backs are. He is a solid, reliable player, and maybe cops a little unfair treatment sometimes. I'd guess he's used to it tho and just takes it as part of the job.
All I know is we have at least one, and hopefully three big knock out matches left. I believe we have more chance of winning them with him than without him so that's enough of a reason for me to back the lad.[/quote]
Absolutely spot on. He makes other players play to their potential. He did it time and again at Batley, and did exactly that against us last week. It was no surprise that against us, you suddenly looked organised when he came on. KH was always going to take Handforth to Halifax, because he appreciated his skills, as I did. I would still rate PH really highly amongst the bast half-backs in our division.
