I think the big problem for refs is its tough to see at the speed they see and they have to make a call there and then. Most of these "late shoulder charges" are after the ball has gone. I think the RFL hasn't done the refs any favours with the shoulder charge rule and its hard for them to call.

The walker tackle against Wigan is a good example. Five of us watched it back at my house the following day. Three didnt think the was contact to the head and two thought the was. That was with about 10 replays plus the sky replays. The ref is expected to make that call there and then!

The disciplinary board isn't consistent enough with their bans. One week a player is banned for something and then the next a player has nothing to answer and that's a real problem and why coaches, players and fans get so irate with them.

Another example of not being consistent on the field. Yesterday Lms threw a cracking right hand and landed flush on the frogs nose. It wasn't self defence or protecting himself, he threw the first punch and ended up in the bin (correct IMO). Few weeks back, Wardle from hudds did exactly the same thing and got sent off. Danny maguire threw a punch and didnt get put in the bin.

Three players have threw the first punch. Wardle was sent off, Lms went in the bin and Danny maguire had a warning off the ref!

The RFL need to sort this out and fast!

Couldn't agree more. If they miss it then fair enough. If they see it they should be consistent.

Im glad he is speaking out, puts him in a good light to the players, fans and board. It was late and it wasnt pretty and probably warranted a yellow card with extras coming in the next few days. I
think the On Report is a cop out too, its tougher when the games arent on Sky and the ref only has one go at it but theres 6 officials at those games, if not one of them can make a decision then i'd rather they looked into sorting that problem out because its a disgrace.

Good on LMS for giving a bit back and good craic from O'Brien on Twitter but Wilkin's line to Thaler during the game said it all, " We get bent over by you boys" talking about shoulder charges etc

Somebody may be able to clear this up for me and other confused species!

If an offence occurs in the plays leading up to a try, does the referee have any way of dealing with that offence (yellow card, extra penalty etc.) other than putting it on report?
I seem to think that if he gave a penalty for the shoulder charge - and even a red card he would have had to bring the play back for the offence and not allow the try to stand.
If that is the case, the RFL need to look at why this is the case since late shoulder charges (high or not) can cause serious damage - it is possibly a hole in the rules that needs to be addressed.

The referee can allow advatage after an infringement and then go back to issue a car or on report if its serious enough. They couldn't disallow a try and go back to give a penalty, unless there was a reason why the try couldn't be allowed, such as a knock on putting the ball down. The only other permutation is where he blows his whilstle after the penalty and if he had allowed play on a try would have been scored, but in that case he makes an instant decision and blows up without seeing how play develops.

It's good that Brown's speaking out, eventually something has to be done about these late shoulders/attacking the knee. He might get himself I trouble in the process, but he's speaking the truth.

Tell me if I am misinterpreting what you have said

Ref can allow an advantage but if that advantage leads to a try then he can take no action against the offender except put it on report.

So if that is correct then the only 2 options the ref would have had when seeing that challenge.

Blow up immediately and the fact Saints went on to score meant the try would have been chalked off as play cannot continue after an infringement.
Let advantage happen, as we score a try in that advantage period, the only option he then has is to put the challenge on report, he cannot red card or yellow card the player or even give a penalty for it.

Now what would have suited Saints best is anyone's guess.
If the player had been sent off - Saints could live with that and lose the try
If the player was put on report and we just got a penalty - we would have thought we were hard done by.
Either way we lose our halfback and goal kicker

If all of the above is correct it makes it a bit open season for players to take out halfbacks and take their chance at the disciplinary.

You can give a card for foul play in the build up to a try, after the try has been scored.

If that's the case then nothing more to discuss - I cant ever remember seeing this happen though.

Agreed with that, it isn't easy for the ref, to remove a lot of the doubt make a late shoulder charge a sin bin offence minimum and an referral to the board to see if a furhter ban should be handed out if there is doubt about head contact.



That's an age old issue.

For me it was a yellow for being late. You could tell from the refs Mic he was asking the touchjudge if it was head or shoulder and neither knew. On report and yellow for me.

I think on report is more an indication to fans and players that the ref is questioning it. If there was only citing. Then fans may think the ref has blatantly ignored it. On report shows he's not sure.

So why didn't he go to the video ref? All the games at Perpignan are televised.

I thought that when watching it.

go back 12 months to puletuas sending off same referee listening to advice from the video referee. Did he forget he was on tv

Yep, that's something I suggested after last weeks incident.