The perpetrators were committing a criminal offence. Just requires the police to review the evidence and make some arrests. Seems a pretty simple solution really.

As for preventative measures, I'm not entirely sure you can blame the Widnes club. As has been said, all clubs have a select group of morons - in any large group of people you will have some morons, that's just life. The question is, how do you prevent morons from committing criminal acts?

I'd suggest visible police presence is the main thing. I've been at other sporting events where a significant, visible police presence will make itself apparent towards the end of the event. That didn't happen yesterday - the stewards stood around being threatened. They need serious backup, especially at emotive games like a semi-final, and more so when alcohol is involved - as every single video shot of those Widnes fans showed it was yesterday.

So fwiw, I think the RFL need to learn some valuable lessons here and start working closer with organisations who know how to police a big crowd to prevent things like this happening. Education needs to be better in ensuring fans know that if they break the law, they will get a criminal record. Most importantly, those people who do break the law, whether it's encroaching on the pitch or assaulting a mascot, need to be sat in front of a judge.

I'm not convinced on what punishing the Widnes club will achieve, it'll only punish the people who are ashamed of what happened yesterday, not the ones who perpetrated it.

I would not go OTT. Most people have been to Widnes and know there is little to no bother at all.

Yes there was a mixture of hangers on and true Widnes fans, but in the end, if they get a day in court whether that be criminal or civil (preferably both) I'm sure that is what all fans want. I know for sure I would not be put off by Widnes fans coming over to Saints and I'm sure 99% of fans would not be put off.

Sort the issue and punish the louts, then just get on with life and rugby league.

Had to laugh at that comment.

Utter class from Webster and Carney who were like doormen refusing cas fans entree to the pitch knowing that the pathetic scouse chavs wouldn't go near them 2. Assaulting a mascot is pathetically low. An insult to football fans too.

Broadcasters and particularly sponsors will expect to see strong action taken by the RFL. As daft and pointless as it may sometimes seem, it is pretty much all they can do at the moment. I do agree about learning lessons about staging big games and working with he various organisations involved, but that won't stop the idiots getting ed up and causing trouble. If a large contingent of trouble makers want to invade the pitch, and there was abut 100 of them yesterday, it will be difficult to stop them. I'm sure there will be a few prosecutions, but can't see that solving the problem either. It seems to be a larger issue with society and has been for decades. Only football style policing can stop it and that will be way too expensive for most, if not all, Rugby League clubs.

Im from Leigh and our cricket club invited 400 Cas fans to the club before walking to the match and back again for post match entertainment.................Most seemed to have had a few sherberts and not a bit of trouble, credit to them. I also saw a few similarly tanked up Widnes fans getting up to all sorts of shinaningans. It must be something in the water that the ICI factory dumped years ago.

On the stewarding front a few posters on here haven't a clue, the widnes fans would have loved a bit more response from the stewards. One small spark from an over zealous steward would have resulted in a full out pitch brawl. Yes It would have been great to see a few "fan" ? get a good slapping and deservedly so but in the real world the restraint shown by the stewards probably stopped it from getting worse.

I have never had a problem with Widnes fans, but then again, when we travel there are enough of us to make the idiots think twice. Last time our stand was was full and we outnumbered them in on other.

I have never had a problem with Widnes fans, but then again, when we travel there are enough of us to make the idiots think twice. Last time our stand was was full and we outnumbered them in on other.

I am hoping EVERY pitch invader is prosecuted. Furthermore, social services MUST investigate the family / circumstances of the kid who had to follow on the bloke (who it seemed was supposed to be looking after him on the day).

The guy who kicked the mascot's head is the same guy that punched the mascot in the head and caused him to fall to the ground.

Pretty sure there is a video of another idiot knocking off a / the mascot's head before the one pictured kicked that one. Must have been two incidents?

I think the tiger basher has been outed on Facebook and Twitter.