We know the RFL have bailed Bradford out by buying their ground and helping them stay afloat for the last few years but don't encourage him. As for you and your mate Adam Pearson, you know the craic, you're just not smart enough.

To do what?

This.
Some people really need to go outside and give their heads a shake.
To think that a bit of a ruck will condemn our game to the non-RL-understanding public as being played by 'Thick Northern Numpty' types is just plain stupid. For example, all the footy fans that work for me, absolutely loved it!
Take a look at ice-hockey sometime. What makes that particular game so popular? Is it slapping a bit of rubber with a canoe paddle? Dont think so!
Its the chance of biff breaking out at any moment. Its what makes that game so appealing.
If any of the players, including cheap-shot Thugennis get banned....Then our game is in a very poor state indeed. Was anyone bloodied and broken? Was there need of a stretcher or ambulance? Get a grip!
Methinks this is just a case of the usual anti-Wigan mob jumping on the 'cheating pies' bandwagon again.
Be honest, you'd be chuffed if it had been your own team laying the smack down in a full-blooded derby match!

"The Biff" is great for this game! How stupid do you have to be to think that a good scrap cheapens our game? I live in an area of the UK (Channel Islands) that doesn't even know what Rugby League is! Over the years I've managed to get quite a few friends into it, and they love the aggression and the fights, it's part of what makes them continue to follow it when they are not in my house with my ramming it down their throats!

I've recently started a new job and got a colleague watching Wigan and his facebook status during that match was... "FIGHT!!!!!" then followed by numerous comments stating how awesome the aggression and full blooded nature of our game is compared to anything else he had ever watched. Get a clue, fighting is a part of our game and shows passion! How many people over the years have tuned in to SOO just waiting for the first bit of good biff!?

I love a bit of biff, and when Peacock goes toe to toe with someone I'm the first one cheering, but that's my Leeds/GB/England bias, and he's been very lucky to avoid a ban or two in the past. I've no problem with players rough-housing, it's part of the game, but most of this wasn't that, it was -housing, and that's got no part in the game.

I'm utterly perplexed by the many claims that LMS and Hock were equally guilty. Seriously, take your cherry and white glasses off and look at the stats:

Head contact: LMS 1 Hock 1
Punches Thrown and landed for no apparent reason: LMS 0 Hock (at least) 6

Yes, that's equal.

For me, I don't think Hock's indiscretion should be taken in isolation, I don't think he has any appreciation of how lucky he is to be still be allowed to play the greatest game alongside incredibly talented and clean players and I'd like to see him hit with a six game ban - three immediate and three suspended. The message has to be sent out to Wigan, sort him out or get shot. I'm impressed that he managed 14 games without having a typical Hock moment, but it was inevitable, we all knew it was inevitable, and to treat it the same way as someone like Tomkins or Danny McGuire lashing out is farcical.

I think Tuson probably had to go - he threw one hell of a lot of punches - but sending off certainly sufficient, he was trying to walk away and even mild mannered types are liable to over react when sucker punched.

Magennis can't really complain at whatever ban they give him, he completely lost it. If they'd stuck his mum in a Wigan shirt and stuck her in front of him he'd have probably chinned her.

Mossop's the only one of the scrappers I'm undecided about, I understand why he did it, but he had no need to get involved. It would be a real shame to be banned for that, but technically I think they have to give him at least a game, because he ran in and punched.

And on McIlorum, I can't decide whether he's lucky to get away with it or not. I'm tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt, because normally tackles like that are just a momentary lapse (or repeated momentary lapses, see Brent Webb) but he looked like he might have meant it - and he's good, so 1 match ban for him.

And Tomkins, well done on supporting a worthy cause, but I'd like you banned anyway because you're rather good.

(edited as I now have information that makes my previous statement both ridiculous and embarrassing)

Agreed.

Quote Big Jim Slade="Big Jim Slade"but mainly for that ridiculous finger celebration - it was embarrassing when Leon Pryce tried to be a footballer 10 years ago. It's still embarrassing.'" Would that be the 'ridiculous' and 'embarrassing' finger celebration that 90% of the players did in order to show their support for Jack Johnson? www.joiningjack.org

Quote Big Jim Slade="Big Jim Slade"but mainly for that ridiculous finger celebration - it was embarrassing when Leon Pryce tried to be a footballer 10 years ago. It's still embarrassing.'" Would that be the 'ridiculous' and 'embarrassing' finger celebration that 90% of the players did in order to show their support for Jack Johnson? www.joiningjack.org

Oh dear

Quote Conroy="Conroy"Would that be the 'ridiculous' and 'embarrassing' finger celebration that 90% of the players did in order to show their support for Jack Johnson? www.joiningjack.org'" Fair enough, I wasn't aware of that and I'll retract the accusation. In my defence though he does have a habit of celebrating tries like a dick and having only watched the Leeds and Wigan games I didn't notice anyone else do it. Still, thanks for reading my lengthy post til the end.

Quote Conroy="Conroy"Would that be the 'ridiculous' and 'embarrassing' finger celebration that 90% of the players did in order to show their support for Jack Johnson? www.joiningjack.org'" Fair enough, I wasn't aware of that and I'll retract the accusation. In my defence though he does have a habit of celebrating tries like a dick and having only watched the Leeds and Wigan games I didn't notice anyone else do it. Still, thanks for reading my lengthy post til the end.

I can't quote all the posts above but clearly - Fighting is NOT a part of our game.
Just because you like it doesn't make it part of the game. It is against the rules for a reason.

Of course a physical and passionate game sometimes spills over and is actually important when the big guys are trying to dominate each other.
BUT, going out with the intention of doing it, or continuing on when the initial spark has finished is not part of the game, it is thuggery. If not stamped on every time it happens then we will be back in the 70s taking the play maker's head off.

I'm not saying I didn't quite enjoy watching it but two guys trading punches is not the same as cheap shots and thuggery.
I could have accepted Hock getting a yellow actually, but the guy who hit the guy from behind needs a big ban. (Magennis?)
Tuson will get it for the amount of punches thrown but at the end of the day he was defending himself which is fine by me, but he just took it a few punches too far.

Several of the Wire players did it, a few Cas and IIRC a few did it in the Hull game as well.