I SUPPOSE it was always going to happen at some stage.
After 53 competitive games in charge of Huddersfield Giants, I've had a man sent off.
Compared with some sides, that's not a bad track record, and I have always prided myself on coaching sides that are well disciplined.
So, it was obviously disappointing to see Paul Reilly shown the red card for his off-the-ball challenge on Leigh's Danny Halliwell at the weekend.
What disappointed me most of all was the player's actions, and the fact Paul was handed a three-match ban speaks for itself.
But even though this was the first time in several years that the Giants were reduced to 12 men, I thought everyone handled it exceptionally well.
Yet I have to admit that it was no fluke.
Playing with a man down is something we practise in training, so when Paul was given his marching orders the boys just went into 12-man mode.
It still poses a logistical nightmare when it happens, and means the gameplan you have put together during the week is just ripped up and put in the bin.
And it also means you're back to the drawing board in the way you have to use your substitutes.
But, as I say, I thought we handled a potentially destructive situation exceptionally well.
In fact, the boys were all having a little smile to themselves at half-time (Paul was, of course, sent off after just 15 minutes) because the time had finally come to put their 12-man training technique into practise.
At the end of the day, however, we would all rather have played from start to finish with a full complement of players.
But even though I was highly delighted with the enormous effort, both physically and mentally, the boys put into this particular game, it was still bitterly disappointing to see us concede so many penalties.
In all, we had nine penalties awarded against us, although I believe a couple of those were extremely harsh.
On the other hand, there were times I thought we were well controlled after taking a couple of high shots.
That's something that really pleased me.
As I've stated on numerous occasions before, I'm very strong on discipline.
That area of our game was a concern to me in the defeat at Salford 12 days ago, and was again a concern against Leigh.
Until that trip to Salford, only Bradford Bulls had conceded less penalties than ourselves for foul play and our overall record on penalties is up with the best in Super League.
If we now start to let our standards slip, we will put added pressure on ourselves at what is a vitally important part of the season.
Nothing would disappoint me more than to lose out on a top six play-off spot because our discipline has let us down.
That's something I simply wouldn't tolerate.
