Rugby league is unfortunately becoming more and more like football and it is turning a lot of fans off for sure. The RFL need to fair and open minded when judging certain people for their actions or risk alienating fans that can see favouritism creeping in. The teams outside superleague already know it's "one rule for us and another rule for them" regarding the disciplinary procedure but more and more fans can see a small band of players within superleague that appear to be above the law. The more the RFL and media fawn over and protect ratboy the more people will be turned off from supporting anything to do with him, including international matches.

Tomkins will be representing England because currently he is the best player in his position. Throughout the history of the game there have been players who have annoyed opposing fans. How many fans have given Tomkons gestures or abusive language, I don't hear anyone saying we should group together and confront these fans because of their lack of acknowledgement of the respect campaign.

WRT Joel, he shouldn't be responding like that but is continually happenning with leeds players as bad as others. IMO the RFL needs to clampdown on this visibly, they need to vociferously back their officials based on the respect campaign, players should be given a warning if their "bleating" is in ther officials face. If they continue then a yellow card should be issued. Thius needs to be consistent within the officials and there should be meetings with coaches and players to confirm what is acceptable.

You've got your own house who thinks its okay to go around headbutting under 20s players! Maybe hayemaker16 should rename himself coward16!

Pathetic.

What is this incident you speak off, and surely you cannot condone the actions of mr tompkins in flicking the "v"s and while were at it abusing a touch judge to the point of being intimidating.

Come on Leeds fans surely you are better than this?

Met some really decent Leeds fans yesterday and I don't approve of Tomkins "V" sign (should face RL and internal disciplinary action) but threads like this really are sad ..... don't support the other England players because of the behaviour of ST?

Wembley is going to look pretty empty regardless of any boycott. Also, people have short memories, so this will all have blown over by next week.

There should be more respect for officials and a proper and strong no tolerance policy introduced for back chat and the like. That said it is not surprising that fans and players get frustrated by wrong decisions and the lack of any acknowledgement from the RFL that they are wrong. There will always be mistakes when under pressure, especially in a high speed game, and this should be respected but why can't such mistakes at least be admitted or acknowledged? Maybe it would be cold comfort after the event, but better than just having to accept it without question. Referees and the head of referees should be far more accountable and far more open which ought to give fans and players a much better insight into how and why decisions are taken, and ought to lead to an improvement in standards.

For example, most people thought there was a spear tackle yesterday, but the ref didn't give it. So why can't this be explained? Did he not see it clearly it? Did he see it differently? Would he have changed his decision with the benefit of hindisght seeing it again? I'm not suggesting every minor decision is scrutinsed just what appear to be the major ones. Just a bit of explanation, even to see say he got it wrong would make us and the players respect them far far more.

So you won't support England because someone may have made a V sign.

Sad. Very sad.

Re-read the thread again ... This time concentrating on 'Abuse Of Match Officials' and come back to us

I agree what Tompkins did was stupid and shows disrespect for the Leeds fans, but it's not like our own players have never done something equally stupid.

Sorry but boycott him from the England team, now that is stupid. He is a damn good player and deserves his position in the team. Let red hall handle him with some form of dicplinery as they see fit. A fine, maybe a one or two match suspension and official apology will be sufficient in my opinion.

Therein lies part of the issue ... When was the last time a player (of any team) missed a major final as the result of an RFL suspension ?

The fact is the governing body of the sport at times behaves like a 3rd world banana republic.

The crux of the issue is what is an appropriate punishment ?

But don't be surprised if a warning and a £250 'slap on the wrist' isn't deemed by some people as sufficent ....

You miss the point ... I'm not suggesting he's dropped from the England team, but if the RFL don't come down and come down hard on him, then don't expect the rest of us to start parting with hard earned cash to 'support' him when he is picked.

Pathetic Leeds fans. This is why RL in this country is pathetic because of fans like you.

What about Bailey headbutting our under20s winger? everyone seems to be avoiding that issue here.