Probably, but you have to take account that our red /yellow card were much higher than other teams as well. We had a discipline problem that led to bans.

tell yourself what you want, but Martin didnt get a yellow and the match officials/MRP are independant of each other, so not sure how thats relevant?

edit: Catalans are level on us for red cards and only 3 behind in yellow (would be as bad as our record, if not worse, had they mircaulously been let off in our game) yet nowhere near us in bans - so our reputation counts against us, but theirs doesnt against them? seems like bias to me

I think it's easy to get 'incompetence' and 'bias' mixed up sometimes

Whatever we might think about this one-off incident, the RFL clearly have a huge problem with this year's disciplinary process. If they want to keep it, at the least they need to find a way to explain it to fans and the sport's media in a way we can understand, as well as taking greater steps to show fans that the process is genuinely independent (thinking about the histories and allegiances of ex-players on the panel), consistent, equitable and transparent - all things that look massively questionable at present.

I think we can all agree with many of the bans Leeds players have received this season, including those for Bentley and Tetevano, and even Newman's tantrum. It's the small 1-2 game bans that few people comment on during the game (including the match officials, apparently) that need looking at. Perhaps these smaller infringements can be dealt with in a different way?

On bias, while it [iseems [/ithat Leeds are disproportionately targeted in the heat of the moment, I doubt there is any statistically significant bias , even if we have had more bans than most other teams (?).

That said, one thing I'm not sure about is whether Catalans get special preferential treatment when playing at home - Brian Mac made this point a long time ago, and the treatment of Catalans players by match officials in recent years (on and off the field) has tended to confirm this sense (IMO). Remember the play-off game when McIlorum blatantly targeted Leeds players illegally, with no on-field action helping Catalans win the game? McIllorum went on to receive a lengthy ban, allowing Catalans to progress and ultimately benefiting their next round opponents (Saints).

It happened to Saints this year - we lost by two points and two Catalans players picked up bans totalling EIGHT MATCHES afterwards for two bad incidents. Napa only got a yellow then got a five match ban (!) and Mcilorum was just a penalty then three matches.

Both were blatant but the Napa decision in particular was ridiculous.

The whole process is shrouded in mystery which eventually leads to fans drawing their own flawed conclusions. I wonder whether they might do better to focus on offenses that incurred yellow or red cards during the course of games, rather than scouring hours of video footage to "find" foul play. You could also give individual clubs the right to site players who they believe committed offences which they endangered their players. Might lead to an initial bun fight, but it would make both clubs and players accountable to themselves and each other, rather than the recipients of random justice.

Ban increased, what a fkin joke. Gutted for him. We need to use this as extra motivation.

Its about time something was done about those muppets in charge!

I wish I could say I expected anything more than the panels favourite word beginning with F…

I just read it on Twitter and presumed it was a joke account winding Leeds fans up. I’m no Leeds fan but I’ve had enough of this complete and utter shambles the disciplinary has become. This isn’t the game we fell in love with as kids anymore. I get it can’t be, certainly for people who’ve watched the game for a number of decades but it’s becoming a laughing stock. The ban was bad enough in the first place but what rational can they give for the appeal being frivolous? It’s a harsh ban and it’s come before a huge game, so it’s hardly frivolous.

What an absolute joke.

The MRP are not fit for purpose.

I’ve got no issues with bans for foul play with intent but one match for that is ridiculous never mind two, I don’t think they are biased, they are incompetent.

again, if its incompetence, why are our number of bans such a massive outlier?
its hardly a small sample size for comparison, when its now over an entire seasons worth of disciplinaries

anyone who didnt expect this Martin appeal to end in a 'frivolous appeal' has their head in the sand about how we're treated by the MRP, imo

Think its time to watch more Rugby Union, the MRP are ruining my favorite sport!