The judiciary is rightly taking into account the potential seriousness of the injury. If you forearm smash someone in the face as they're running, its virtually impossible to break their neck (as some have bizarrely suggested). You also can't break someone's neck by whacking them in the face with a forearm when they're lying on the ground.

What CAN break someone's neck is landing on their head from even a relatively low height with their bodyweight behind it, or having someone else land on their head to the same effect. The bodyweight makes all the difference to the force applied, combined with the direction of the impact.

I thought Bridge struck the ball.

Interesteing to see if McIlorum gets a three match ban for his tackle lat night. Didn't look any different to Batemans.

Though exactly the same. Also seems the grapple tackle was legal last night.

Disciplinary after the London matchCase Number ON/325/12
Name Shane Rodney
Club London
Shirt Number 11
Match London v Bradford
Competition Super League
Date 06/05/12
Incident considered Dangerous Contact in 1st minute (Langley)
Decision No charge
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Player gets opponent in crusher position however makes room for opponent’s head and does not apply undue pressure MRP - NFA'"

You're expecting consistency out of the RFL Disciplinary Committee?


Silly boy!

It's also OK if your opponent manages to escape the crusher. Seemingly, you can apply this illegal hold, and put the tackled player in a dangerous position, and not make room for his head, yet STILL not be charged, if after a period of time he manages to escape it.



What is the period of time? I think we should be told.

In fact, it seems to be open season when it comes to dangerous play on a Bull.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, the luck of the fall applioesCase Number ON/329/12
Name Ryan Atkins
Club Warrington
Shirt Number 4
Match Warrington v Salford
Competition Super League
Date 06/05/12
Incident considered Dangerous Contact in 34th minute (Williams)
Decision No charge
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Player holds up opponent and then drops weight however does not place pressure on opponent’s head or neck. MRP - NFA'"

And McIllorum? not even charged?

Just highlights the inconsistency of it all.

Oh and Ablett gets a warning for eye gouging.

Excellent work.

I would guess the obvious difference is that in the other crusher incidents none of the tacklers dropped their entire body weight on the ball carriers head/kneck.
I would be quite happy for the massively overrated McIlorum be sine die just for the smug way he goes about his very average business, but I can't say I noticed it during the game, if anyone can post a video link I would be interested.

The RFL need to recognise that many incidents don't fall into consistent and convenient categories. If anything, this is the problem with the current system - predetermined categories of offence with punishments that do not always fit the severity of the crime. Thus the likes of Chase seemingly get away with murder, whereas the treatment of Bateman seems heavy-handed. More flexibility needs to be introduced - at present the RFL are hiding behind an overly rigid set of guidelines which give only the impression of fairness.

I also think that the rules for high tackles and tackling a player in the air need to be looked at. At the moment a mere touch while a player is in the air or glancing contact above the shoulder is enough to result in a penalty, which ruins the spectacle and seems to run contrary to the otherwise physical nature of the game. At the same time there is still plenty of nasty facial stuff going on in the tackle that still isn't being cleaned up.

Where ARE these predetermined categories? Has anybody got a link to them?

Go to the RFL - disciplinary - on the right is 2010 on-field compliance sentencing guidelines (pdf)

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