I'd like to think there was no intent to injure but only one person would truely know the answer to that. As crushers go it looked about as bad as it could be. IIRC Ferres also had his arm hooked around Gildart's leg pulling up increasing the compression on the upper body. I can't imagine what that would feel like but just by placing your own hand on the back of your neck and pushing forward you can get pretty uncomfortable very quickly and the forces involved here were many multiples greater.

Seriously Smokey? You're usually such a rational poster. How much worse could it be in your opinion?

Long ban well deserved IMO.

I don't think Ferres out him in that position and I don't think he picked Gildart up. I think he was reckless and failed in his duty of care. I think he deserved a ban. Had he put Gildart in to that position, had he picked him had it been malicious and intentional then it should be longer.

it was 100% deliberate - whilst Gildart did turn his body into Ferres to try and walk backwards and gain more yards, Ferres spotted the opportunity to make the tackle as uncomfortable as possible (which I'm fine with), but he then raised his own body to give him space to slump back down on him with force. Ferries knew 100% what he was doing, he intended to hurt, the game was getting spicey and he does have that bit of c*nt in him (something again I'm quite happy for anyforward in the game to have).

Problem is, he's used that 'c*nt' in him to carry out a sh*thouse tackle, and whilst I'm sure he didn't want to cause long term or serious injury, when he's caught in the moment, he will not have thought about that for a nano second, you don't when you're on the pitch and in the zone - he spotted an opportunity to cause a bit of damage and get one up and them and went for it - I doubt it was pre-meditated, the circumstances arrived and he took the opportunity. Now he has to pay the price, and 6 weeks is lucky if you ask me. As for Gildart, it's a real shame for the kid and I hope he recovers soon - we all play the game knowing and accepting the risks (including injury from foul play), I'm sure he won't be crying about it as much as some fans and will just get on with his re-hab, sh*t happens sometimes and is a part of the game.

We have someone with friends 'close to the club' here too.

We're still waiting for Talau, Vainikolo and Brierley to join.

I honestly don't think Ferres has the capacity for that. And I don't mean that in a complimentary way. He gives away 1 or 2 dumb penalties a game, makes 1 or 2 dumb offloads a game, he will make 1 or 2 just plain dumb decisions again like trying to put a kick in or throwing out a pass like he thinks he's Wally Lewis. I think if he had the awareness and wherewithal to donthat deliberately he would be a much better player than he has show so far

Awwwww here it gooooooooooes

Obviously we all hope the injury is not serious. Have Wigan issued a statement explaining the extent of the injury?. It maybe the player is still having examinations and scans. Be interesting to see what the injury is, which in no way deflects from the nature of the tackle.

Any player in the game knows what hurts, and they spend literally hours each week in wrestling practice - of course he has the mental capacity to understand when he's got the opportunity to hurt - and IMO he knew full well what he was doing. He was trying to stamp his authority on them - which I've no problem with, he just went too far and will pay the price for it.

Does make you wonder if it is 3 broken vertebrae if the club itself hasn't said so. The lower end of the 2-3 month timeline they've said he'll miss looks very short for the suggested injury.

I hope they are not broken and Gildart gets well soon.

Perhaps the Wigan fan(s) is/are guilty of over egging the pudding somewhat?

Pretty distasteful and pious for the Wigan lot to peddle these rumours given the sensitivity of the situation and vitriol spouted at others that dare discuss it on terms they don't agree with.

...And then of course you have drivel like this https://twitter.com/angelampowers/statu ... 6171206657

...And then of course you have drivel like this https://twitter.com/angelampowers/statu ... 6171206657