I concur

I said this about the Martin one before you played us, and his ban was a joke compared to this one.

The MRP give their verdict and then you appeal. After that, you take the punishment.

Another level of appeal just adds the possibility of this happening which makes the MRP look like a joke (their decisions are sometimes but they should be able to then enforce them) and where does it actually stop? If Knowles was still banned does he get another appeal until he's happy?

Guys, can anybody offer me some advice please. Me and my other half are coming down from Edinburgh for a long weekend, and are basing ourselves in the Salford Quays area ready for the game on Sat.

I know normally, there is good banter between rugby league fans generally, but I am aware of the dislike of Manchester and Leeds. Will it be safe to wear Rhinos colours all weekend, or should I just wear them on the Saturday. It’s not something that even occurred to me, until somebody else mentioned it, so don’t want to cause unnecessary grief. I know just wearing colours on Saturday is the safe option, but I enjoy wearing the rhinos colours my 3/4 down a season to watch the games.

Or is it something not to even worry about?

I wouldn't worry about it in the slightest. Wear your colours with pride, you may get some banter but you're inviting that by wearing your colours.
Let me put it this way, I would wear my Leeds shirt there every day without a worry. Leeds United shirt, different story

This is how id go. Probably toughest team to pick this season but I reckon they can get the job done.

33. Zak Hardaker
20. Tom Briscoe
12. Rhyse Martin
4. Liam Sutcliffe

5. Ash Handley
 (Tindall if not fit)
6. Blake Austin
16. Richie Myler

8. Mikolaj Oledzki
24. Jarrod O’Connor

10. Matt Prior

11. James Bentley

13. Zane Tetevano

17. Cameron Smith


Subs
19. Bodene Thompson

22. Sam Walters

25. James Donaldson
9. Kruise Leeming

Missing out
14. Brad Dwyer

29. Liam Tindall
27. Muizz Mustapha
32. Jack Sinfield

Not really, but I do understand that you don't have a clue what you're talking about

I`m not so sure it is a huge scandal especially outside the rugby league world.
But it is a huge mess up by the Panel for allowing a technicality to sour the outcome should Saints win.
Knowles is a great player and it would have helped our cause for sure if he was banned.
Just like us having Sezer out which helps Saints.
Let`s face it we didn`t expect to win on Saturday and we now have our excuses ready if we do lose and for once it might not be the refs fault.
With a bit of luck both Welsby and Knowles will see red on the day


Knowing our luck Knowles will score a late try to take it into golden point and Welsby will kick the one to win it.

Nah the first appeal panel agreed with the assessment that the arm wasn't taken into an unnatural range of motion which was their mistake really. You can't both agree with that and uphold the original ban because the ban was dependent on that fact. Their own verdict actually eradicated Knowles' guilt when it came to the charge levied at him, hence it was overturned. They can't just change the charge

The original Ban from the MRP didn't mention anything to with 'unnatural range of motion' or 'unnatural position'.

This is the original ban

"Dangerous Contact - Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player."

So wether the Appeal panel mentioned unnatural position or whatever is irrelevant to the original Ban

I look forward to seeing whether this method of 'slowing the PTB down' is now more widely used knowing theres no cause to sanction. Id guess if you use it further down the field and not near your own try line itd only result in a penalty and not even a sin binning?

The charge is the "unacceptable risk of injury" if the arm wasn't taken out of the natural range of motion then this can't exist