Only insofar as he isn't eligible for an early guilty plea.

Magennis deserves everything he gets IMO. That should then teach him that if you're going to fight, do it face to face. Preferably, though, concentrate on actually making an impact on the rugby pitch first.

Sad indictment of the softdness of SL these days. I wouldn't have banned any of them.

LMS throws exactly no punches. Him and Hock have a little push into each others heads, not a headbutt either way. Hock then unloads with 6 uppercuts.

Magennis and Tuson then pull each other away from the scrap and have words, Tuson turns to walk back towards the main bunch and Magennis hits in with a dog shot. Tuson rightly retaliates and both go into a swinging frenzy with a number of players catching the brunt of it. Mossop then clocks Magennis which is deserved, but this is also a dog shot from Mossop as he hits him from the side when Magennis is looking at O'Loughlin.

I've watched it in slow motion a few times - that's exactly what happened and ties in with exactly what the disciplinary have said. IMO they got it spot on and I think it should be:

Hock - 2 matches
Mossop - 1 match
Tuson - 2 matches
Magennis - 4 matches

That's looking at it from a completely unbiased point of view, personally I would have given Hock 3, there was no need to start throwing digs.

I also love biff and enjoyed it very much.

MAybe I should give sky a call then as there must be a problem with my box...

After I got home from the game, watched the game replay I had sky+ recorded, then also watched Super League full time and on both of those it shows Gareth Cock trying to headbutt LMS, putting his hands in his face then swinging punches at him...or maybe its just because Hock is so used to getting away with underhand cheap tactics like that you all think that its allowed to be let go if its him??

Got to agree with Mugwump on this. IMO a sin bin would have been sufficient for all and this seems a bit harsh to me. They are big aggressive guys playing a contact sport and sometimes it will boil over. I find it highly embarrassing that you can't have a bit of biff in a Rugby League match anymore without a lengthy ban coming your way!

Yes it will, as will the on-field punishment

I've just watched it on video for first time.

The first incident is something of nothing really between LMS and hock until hock starts throwing some crazy wild poor uppercuts which I can't see any landing, LMS didn't throw one punch and rightly stays on the pitch.

Magennis does hit Tuson with a cheap shot which was side on (not behind) which resulting in Tuson defending himself and righty so.

Lee mossop then sneaks up from all the Wigan players and throws a cheap shot and then cowardly steps back behind the Wigan players which looks embarrising.

Hock - 5 match
Tuson - 1 or 2 match
Mossop - 4 match
Magennis - 4 match

Stop embarrassing yourself

How's that?

I think hocks previous had a bearing on tge red cards, Bentham appeared to take great delight in despatching him, and then probably had to send the other two off as well. Had hock not been involved, I reckon they would have got yellows. Refs are only human, so you can understand them despising him as much as the rest of the world.

BackrowSaint had it far closer than you. How can you seriously say that Hock should get the biggest ban with 5 games? For what exactly, even the RFL have only deemed it a Grade B offence which is a 1/2 Match Ban.

There is no way Mossop deserves a 4 match ban for one punch on an out of control Magennis who was swinging at anyone in sight. Once again the RFL have only deemed it a Grade B offence which is a 1/2 Match Ban. He will get 1 imo.

Tuson has been hard done by by the RFL with a Grade C charge which carries a 2/3 Match Ban. He was on the receiving end of a cheap shot and has every right to retaliate and most players would have done the same. I actually think you are right with this one and that a 1 or 2 match ban would have been right.

Magennis was the most thugish and lowest act of all and deserves the biggest ban, even most open minded Saints fans agree with that. Funnily enough the RFL do too as it is deemed a Grade D offence carrying a 4/5 match ban. Jack Hughes was banned for 8 games in a u20s match a couple of years ago for something similar so he has got off lightly.

But he doesn't though and I reckon that is why he has been cited for a Grade C. The retaliators always get cited.


I agree. Magennis was well out of order. It wasn't even his bloody fight. He just started one up anyway and didn't even have the guts to face the bloke he was thumping.

Case Number ON/413/12
Name =#BF0000Chris Tuson
Club Wigan
Incident considered Fighting in 52nd minute
Decision Charge
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Rule: 15.1(a) Detail – Punching - Sustained Grade C MRP - Referred to tribunal
Range of Recommended Sanctions in relation to Charged Grade* =#BF00002-3 matches

Case Number ON/416/12
Name =#BF0000Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Club St Helens
Incident considered Fighting in 52nd minute
Decision No charge
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Player becomes involved in confrontation with opponent but does not throw punches. MRP - NFA
Range of Recommended Sanctions in relation to Charged Grade* =#BF0000NFA

Case Number ON/414/12
Name =#BF0000Lee Mossop
Club Wigan
Incident considered Fighting in 52nd minute
Decision Charge
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Rule: 15.1(a) Detail – Punching Grade B MRP - Referred to tribunal
Range of Recommended Sanctions in relation to Charged Grade* =#BF00001-2 matches

Case Number ON/415/12
Name =#BF0000Shaun Magennis
Club St Helens
Incident considered Fighting in 52nd minute (Tuson)
Decision Charge
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Rule: 15.1(a) Detail – Punching – Violent/Sustained Grade D MRP - Referred to tribunal
Range of Recommended Sanctions in relation to Charged Grade* =#BF00003-5 matches

Case Number ON/412/12
Name =#BF0000Gareth Hock
Club Wigan
Incident considered Fighting in 52nd minute
Decision Charge
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Rule: 15.1(a) Detail – Punching Grade B MRP - Referred to tribunal
Range of Recommended Sanctions in relation to Charged Grade* =#BF00001-2 matches

Personally I don't think they're far out with this, although given Leeds play Wigan on Friday I think they should ban Charnley, Tomkins, Lima, Leuluai, Finch and Carmont as well.

Couldn't care less if you think backrow in your opinion is closer to what you feel the bans should be.

I took into account hocks utter shocking record for drugs, gouging (lowest of the low), grabbing a ref and whatever else he's done.

I think Magennis was cowardly as was mossops punch.

I don't think Tuson did much wrong other than defend himself.

Not usually one to defend Hock, but he has been charged in accordance with the disciplinary rules, for the offence that took place on the day.

His record may have an influence on whether he receives the minimum (1 game) or the maximum (2 games) but that's in the sentence not the charge.

Mossop launched a punch every bit as cheap as Magennis's and therefore Mossop deserves a lengthier ban than Tuson. AFter watching it a few more times, the bans I'd have gone with:

Hock - 2
Tuson - 1
Mossop - 3
Magennis - 5 (because he didn't just lamp Tuson with a sly one, but went at a few wi*an players)

Compare this 'brawl' with the one in the latest state of origin and its no worse.
That one resulted in a sin bin which is all this deserved.

Send 2 from each team to bin and tell the rest to cool down.

Forwards should be able to trade a few punches without the red card coming out

THREE red cards? FIVE matches for a punch?

Yay for the emasculation of Rugby League!

A punch to the head can kill. It's always going to happen, but that doesn't mean it should be condoned or justified. Entertaining for the fans, but we'd think differently if something bad happened, wouldn't we.

This is comedy. ever thought about stand up?

also lets stop with this lie that mossop's hit was a cheap shot. as he hits him he is being swung at himself. magennis is trying to unload, mossop puts him in his place.

i encourage you to watch it again, as this is plainly obvious. do you stand there and take the shot of magennis? or do you take care of him. Mossop decides to take care of him.

what is cowardly about going head to head with the lad?

if you wish to continue lying about mossop giving a cheap shot go ahead, but the video evidence clearly shows magennis about to hit mossop after teeing off against tuson and lockers.

I can see
hock 1 game
tuson 2 games
mossop (EGP) 1 game
magennis 4 games.

I'm quite sure Magennis didn't get up that morning thinking he'd king-hit a pie-eater. It's very unlikely he was thinking such sixty seconds before the incident occurred and I'm willing to bet he felt very sorry after. Fighting is an unavoidable function of a very, very tough game. A team is losing, an incident occurs somewhere on the pitch, tempers boil over, the red mist descends and suddenly you have a whole load of people [ithinking outside their normal, rational patterns of behaviour[/i. Had Magennis cold-cocked the kid as he was walking out of the tunnel I'd think differently as there would be clear premeditation.

Yes, a punch can kill - but so can any number of other actions. Hell, sportsmen have been known to keel over and die without a finger being laid upon them.

Ultimately it's about where you draw the line (not to mention whether a player accepts the risks and is willing to play regardless). Watching the incident again I saw NOTHING (from players on either side) to stir any card other than yellow (two young packs of testosterone-fuelled stags letting off steam). It's a travesty that such a relatively minor incident has the governing body handing out whopping bans.

I mean, let's just cut the sport's balls off and have done with it.

I think your idea of what you think are justifiable penalties for these offences are guided more by a sense of revenge and hatred for a team, town, and players rather than any real thought of what is appropriate to what actually happened. YELLOW CARDS, 10 MINUTES, COOL OFF, GET BACK ON THE PITCH AND SHAKE HANDS AT FULL-TIME...NO ONE WENT TO HOSPITAL, OR DIED!!!!





Rock 'n' Roll.

It's highly likely he wasn't thinking at all. Unlike LMS, who most definitely was.

Hock should be put down. Is that an option?

Under some rule, somewhere in the RFL vaults, maybe; but I am sure that the DPP may get involved !!