I remembered the Hep B, it was in regards to the spear tackle where I've lost track of the conversation.

Just seemed a weird tangent?

Enforcers: Paul Sculthorpe, Andy Farrell, Brian & Barrie McDermott, Jamie Peacock, Adrian Morley

Thugs: Michael McIllorum, Ryan Bailey, Terry Newton, Leon Pryce (Younger days with Bradford & Saints)

There's a big difference between those two sets of players.

Kevin McCormack's Rugby Career was finished by the Dirty action of a so called enforcer who played for Wigan.

Wasn't john stankovich career ended by a wiganer biting him?

Very possibly, I was on the fence with him.

No, he did his shoulder tackling Craig Smith.

It maybe my ahe bit I don't recall Barrie mac being a thug.

Ah on my phone. It maybe my age but I don't recall much thuggishness.

Bang on, the club did reveal it to the RFL "afterwards" they did take precautions with there own players but kept it quiet against the opposition players, just another instance of the goons stepping over the line.

This is one of the reasons we have blood bins today.

It was insider information with Luke Rob but we have to use the term allegedly in this instance.

Craig Smith had a bad reputation in OZ of running into the tackler with the knees raised up impacting the shoulder area.

Correct if I am wrong but didn't Stankevitch take the player to court for damages but dropped the claim due to problems with finances.

Think he did a bit of thuggery on Peter Sheils, sat on his chest and did some GBH on his face. Think he played for Leeds at the time though.

Hooper used to take kickers out was he a thugicon_smile.gif (loved Hoops)

Regarding the McIlorum tackle: He times his arrival perfectly. There's nowhere for the catcher to go, he's flat footed after collecting the ball and has no time to even consider if he is going to go left or right to avoid the tackler. So the defender simply braces himself for the tackle, probably to maintain possession.

As a professional player, the tackler must surely know he's got him in the headlights and with his momentum against a standing player, all that is needed is all of his tackling force into the ribs. My opinion is when its so obvious that the catcher is just happy to take the tackle, why does the tackler run lopsidedly in order to get his arm fairly high up the body? This can only lead to riding over the catcher's shoulder or the ball and ultimately clocking him in the teeth. Maybe its a percentage thing that if you do go up and over, you can claim reckless rather than intentional?

I know there are those of you who think that you attack the ball to try and gain possession......or hit him as high up as possible to more easily knock him down but clearly the right technique in that instance was to cut him in half.....not in 90/10. I think it shows poor judgement/lack of skill from the tackler at best.....although I'm leaning to poor character. Still, at least its the first time he's been in trouble.

Not sure Gallagher was even given a penalty for a spear tackle on the day....can't remember. Was there though and at that time, was never likely to be considered a spear tackle. Haven't seen it since but no doubt it would be called today. Any way, it turned out he couldn't really play league......just ask Doug Laughton.