SCOTT Moore reckons the game has "gone soft" as he makes his Bulls return from a ban.

The experienced skipper sat out the defeats to Halifax and Hull KR after being found guilty of making dangerous contact against Rochdale.

Moore, who was also hit with a £100 fine, had pleaded his innocence to the Grade C charge – and admitted he fell foul of a new clampdown from officials.

The hooker admitted: "It's been a frustrating two weeks. I enjoy playing so just training has been a bit rubbish.

"But I've served my time now and I'm looking forward to getting back on the paddock.

"There have been a few decisions recently that have been tough.

"There was one at London that wasn't too dissimilar from mine against Toulouse and (Mark Ioane) got two games as well.

"It's one of those things they are clamping down on and you can't really change it. You've just got to get on with it.

"The game's gone a little bit soft. They are picking up on anything and everything.

"You're getting a ban for things that aren't even intentional. It's a bit confusing at times – but the officials have got a job to do and they do what they see fit."

Moore has been around the block long enough to pick up on what he sees as the latest contentious area with referees. And he knows you cannot fight the system.

"They seem to get something in their head and they hammer that for a few months. Then it will be something else.

"At the minute it's if you fall on people's legs and stuff like that. That's what is going round right now and you just have to be squeaky clean and avoid it as much as you can."

Moore's comeback is well-timed, with the Bulls effectively facing a nine-game season to save their Championship skins.

Tomorrow's trip to Batley and the league finale against Swinton at Odsal represent Bradford's last chance to take a chunk off the gap to the rest of the relegation pack before the Bottom Eights kick in.

Moore said: "It's crunch time now and it's obvious we need to pick up as many points as we can. But we can take positives out of Hull KR last week.

"I thought we played all right first half but then we ran out of troops.

"You try and get players in all year, finally do that and then they are injured. We're a bit thin on the ground again – but there are no excuses.

"Batley are a good team and it will be an interesting game. The hill's a big factor. I've never played there but I have trained on it. It's a big game for them as well and they will come out firing."

Moore's absence thrust Sam Hallas into the captaincy role and the veteran has been well impressed with his team-mate's progress.

With a new two-year deal signed, as exclusively revealed in the print edition of the Telegraph & Argus yesterday, Hallas looks to have a bright future at Odsal.

Moore said: "Sam's playing really well. He's come back really fit from his (ankle) injury, he's playing big minutes and is doing a lot for the team.

"He also does a lot of the rubbish stuff that fans don't tend to see, like the third man in. He's good to have in the team and we just need to keep him fit."