I think the 4 game ban was harsh but if that's what they are going with then they will have to be consistent.
If it would have been a prop taking it to the line with a late pass and taking the hit I doubt the game would even get stopped, but if it did would probably just be a penalty.
I think the panel used the term excessive force but the same force on a big guy won't make much of a dent but do we still apply the rules the same, because we should.
My other concern is that if Fage dummies the ball and takes the same hit then it's a legal hit (I didn't think it was high) so we are giving 4 game bans for a hard tackle.
Are we going to get to a point as a sport where we say excessive force tackles are not allowed?

We are getting to that point already imo, there was a match of ours where Jacob Miller was penalised for been "too aggressive" in the tackle, as picked up on the refs mic, wasn`t high or anything against the rules of the game.

Cant remember who it was, but an import made a comment in the off season with regards to playmakers getting a lot more protection in the NRL than they do in SL, I tend to agree really re the late hits but again the word is "Consistency", we won`t get it from the dis panel, we never have IMO.

I don't think Walmsley bullies players, however, I did feel he was rattled in the 1st half from the intensity of Oledzki, Leeming, Prior and Tetevano flying out of the blocks to hit him. I felt like he made a few mistakes as a result. He is a top drawer player though and likely just had a poor 1st half.

Yeah good post, I really like Walmsley as a prop and was gutted when we missed out and he ended up at saints.

Some people like a good ball squeeze I know a young lady who earns £200 per hour kicking blokes in the balls. She tells me it’s the up coming enjoyment called BDSM.
Hence 5 games does sound excessive. Maybe two hours with Mandy from Castleford would be more enjoyable and more of a punishment.

I`ll be honest here, I was giving Shabino some stick the other week with regards to the Oledski/Walmsey debate but I didn`t actually realise how much Oledzki had developed.

To be playing at that level, with that confidence in that position is almost unheard of at such a young age or its certainly something that I have rarely seen in a prop, the last one was probably Sam Burges. In my mind, a front rowers "peak" is a little later than the average throughout the other positions, I reckon 30 is around the age where you see the best of them so it certainly looks as though he has a good career ahead of him.

Do you guys think he has much improvement left in him?

mik still improving , after watching the 82 invincibles i often expect more of 20 yr olds but that team was freakish and ahead of it's time , mik was late to the game and was awesome last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1SRnchbgV4 average of gb 28 with crooks playing at 19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1SRnchbgV4 average of gb 28 with crooks playing at 19

When/if we get another equally good prop to partner him, it'll take some pressure off. We've massively over-used him over the past season and now this so far.

Scarily enough, Tom Holroyd could be even better than Mik if he develops. Two fantastic front-row prospects. Tom has the natural aggression which Mik is trying to develop I think. Also better hands. And he's still huge and mobile. Nowhere near as durable though... so far.

Ha ha. We all have opinions and it's fun to debate.
Think we all agree Mik Is fantastic and only going to get better.......
That's scarey for other teams.

Mik's been absolutely brilliant so far this season. Looks to have really stepped up

Yep, even impressed some on the pies board after last week. You know a non-wigan player has to be really going some to receive praise from that direction.

A sin bin instead of send off , same Ref

Going by tonight’s Hull v Wakey game Thaler only has his red card when the game is on BBC...