Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 5:22 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Possibly given some leeway though I do think there was significant mitigation in both the Smith and Ellis tackles. I wouldn't have had an issue with Smith and Ellis missing one or two SL games but there's no way they should have been banned for the WCC.

More generally, the sport doesn't have enough depth to cope with this. It didn't have enough with full strength teams but some clubs are going to be a complete mess a few games in.

There was mitigation but then there was plenty on some of the other cases. Liam Watts on for up to 6 games! I mean, just wow!! Micky Mac the same. Those lads are no angels but I can’t help but wonder if they’re trying to run them out the game altogether. Teams will need to be playing 17/18 year old kids in a few weeks at this rate.


Alex Walmsley has come out with some really interesting comments today and I hope all the players follow him and back him. I get things needed to change and they need to penalise players and even throw out yellow and red cards but throwing whopping bans on top for what looks like accidental contacts is just ludicrous.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 5:25 pm  

Jukesays wrote:

Let's see how many games each gets first before the pitchforks

I thought Mickeys was a red
I didn't at the game think Watts was, but after rewatching he's made no arm wrap and caught him with shoulder.
Mitigating circumstances are Dupree is dipping though

I've changed my mind from the day to Westerman is slightly lucky from Watts being unlucky

The Hull lad who raised the knees I think on balance prob deserved red

PS
Amir boroughs sin bin was ridiculous

We’ll see how many games it’ll total but it looks like it’ll be a minimum of early 20’s and as I say, I saw one shocking challenge all weekend (that didn’t do any damage luckily).

You’re right on Westerman btw. They both attempted the same challenge from either side and Westerman made the first contact.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:02 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

Things never change in Rugby League.

If there's any way we can possibly find to ruin the viewing experience for the hard-pressed fans, we will go ahead and do it. Bear in mind, the matchday experience for the RFL, plumply overfed and slinging down gratis G&Ts in whichever boardroom they happen to be watching from at whatever ground, will never be affected by what's happening on the pitch.

But what's happening on the pitch is the only thing the rest of us have got. And now, I suspect, they've found a way to completely spoil it. So watch out for their response to the tide of criticism these next few weeks by being holier than thou and doubling down. They probably won't be happy until there are 80 odd players under suspension at any one time, while the fans keep forking out huge ticket fees to watch a bunch of kids filling the stars' shirts.

If this carries on, boys and girls, the game really is f####d.

It's might seem hyperbole but, imo, it goes way way past just the game.

If this nanny state approach, that we're seeing right across society, continues then everything is f'd. It's not progress, it's regression.

Personal choice is becoming less and less of a thing. People choose to play RL and know the consequences. They also choose to eat junk food, drink too much, smoke and gamble. We all know the pitfalls of each, but each person should be free to decide if it's worth it. We don't need a governing body, doctor of government to tell us what we can, or can't do.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:20 pm  

I overheard Mike Danson on the phone on the back seats of our coach after the game “calling in” a favour or two. Didn’t quite hear who he was talking to but it sounded something like “can I speak to Paul Colander please?” Nobody else heard this but trust me it isn’t a conspiracy theory but just a fact that we still run the rfl when we need to abuse the rules.
Don’t let our beloved friends over on RedVee know about this as they will go ballistic.
Good News Week.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:31 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

Things never change in Rugby League.

If there's any way we can possibly find to ruin the viewing experience for the hard-pressed fans, we will go ahead and do it. Bear in mind, the matchday experience for the RFL, plumply overfed and slinging down gratis G&Ts in whichever boardroom they happen to be watching from at whatever ground, will never be affected by what's happening on the pitch.

But what's happening on the pitch is the only thing the rest of us have got. And now, I suspect, they've found a way to completely spoil it. So watch out for their response to the tide of criticism these next few weeks by being holier than thou and doubling down. They probably won't be happy until there are 80 odd players under suspension at any one time, while the fans keep forking out huge ticket fees to watch a bunch of kids filling the stars' shirts.

If this carries on, boys and girls, the game really is f####d.

The constant penalties/six agains etc will have the same effect as it did in the other code and make the game nothing but stop start and kill the entertainement - I thought that RL was sensible enough not to go down the same route but it looks ineviatable now. Add in bans and the ridiculous theatrics of some players (one cas player in particular more than once falling on the floor clutching his face looking for a penalty and when nothing was given was very quickly back up) and the game will become less about entertainment as time goes by.

Hopefully things will calm down after a few weeks as there is always a big push early rounds for refs to take control which gradually lessens as the weeks go by - we can hope anyway!

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:46 pm  

Harry Smith free to play next Saturday according to the Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... s-32162734 "But England scrum-half Harry Smith, sin-binned in his side’s 32-4 win at Castleford for a tip-tackle on Luke Hooley, has avoided any ban. His challenge was graded as B and he’s been fined £250 with the RFL saying ‘this was because the unnatural actions of the tackled player significantly contributed to the outcome of the tackle."

Harry Smith free to play next Saturday according to the Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... s-32162734 "But England scrum-half Harry Smith, sin-binned in his side’s 32-4 win at Castleford for a tip-tackle on Luke Hooley, has avoided any ban. His challenge was graded as B and he’s been fined £250 with the RFL saying ‘this was because the unnatural actions of the tackled player significantly contributed to the outcome of the tackle."

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:59 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

We’ll see how many games it’ll total but it looks like it’ll be a minimum of early 20’s and as I say, I saw one shocking challenge all weekend (that didn’t do any damage luckily).

You’re right on Westerman btw. They both attempted the same challenge from either side and Westerman made the first contact.

Westerman did attempt very lazily to wrap his arm. Watts on the other hand made no attempt. If Dupree was stood up straight it still would have been a card for a clear shoulder charge. I would like to think there was no malice behind the challenge but he made no attempt to wrap the arm

Harry needs to count himself lucky not to see a card. Regardless there is no place for a tip tackle in the game

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:16 pm  

Can't believe Byrne got nothing after cleaning out Thompson

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:59 pm  

apollosghost wrote:

Can't believe Byrne got nothing after cleaning out Thompson

I know this is tongue in cheek, but if you look at accidental head contact that can often lead to more damage to the tackler than the tackled then what is actually the difference between accidental contact with your own player and opponents?
The real thing here should be the term accidental, often responsibility at speed is taken away by impact from other tackling players, a slip or movement by ball carrier that can all lead to perfect technique and body position being left looking poor within a split second and illegal. How do you realistically differ accidental contact between anyone who's involved in tackles? All shows how you can't take this completely away from the game and sooner we get players input on this the better, mainly because it's a pretty impossible position to play or officiate on.

Re: World Club Challenge - Wigan v Penrith : Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:59 pm  

Now that Smith and Ellis have been cleared it just leaves us poor souls with only who replaces Thompson (and possibly Leeming) to argue about