wellens and laffranchi facing bans

Quote: SaintsFan "What a load of rubbish. If it had been our players upended on their heads you would have been bleating like mad if Wire had been let off. They were both bad tackles, regardless of whether they were deliberate or simply reckless. They both deserve bans because they both involved putting a player on their head. That is dangerous even when it's a Wire player being put on their head. (If it had been Wigan players, of course, that would have improved them no end)'"

I have not seen the incidents so could not say whether there was intent or not, whether they where dangerous or not. But just because you feel they are deserving of a ban does not make it the actual penalty that will be given.

You have to take into account player records even if they are found guilty and intent is also a factor in the penalty given.

My point is Wellens has an excellent record and so will probably not recieve the full 2 matches. If there is a lack of intent, then he may not get one match. You may feel that all these types of tackles deserve a certain penalty but the justice system does not work that way.

Hence Brent webb shoving a ref which carries a 3 match ban, was found guilty, but due to a lack of intent and an excellent prior record, just got a fine. So taking this as a marker you can see why Wellens if he is found guilty may not be banned. It about what the court is likely to do not what we would do.

www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?3406

So if a more serious offence can be reduced to a fine due to no priors I would expect the same for Wello. I have no idea of La Franki's previous records hence can't say what mitigation he may get.

All this is based on a guilty verdict too, and they may get found not guilty.