I would also remove the guilty plea however I wouldn't ignore past behavior, it's just flip it. Add games on for previous. As you say, the offense is bad whether 15 days or 15 years, but the punishment can't be the same if it's the first offense or the 10th so rather than reduce the games, tack it on for each time you're done for it.

Direct contact with the head starting at 6 matches is a tad over the top since "contact with the head" ranges from barely any contact to knocking someone out cold. Using my team - for all the noise at the ground on Friday, that Sam Tomkins high tackle was very light contact and something you see all the time and certainly not worthy of anything but an on field penalty. Sean O'Loughlin's "tackle" however and 6 games seems to be fair.

The other two, gouging and cannonball/chicken wing are fair enough but there needs to be clear ruling on what is a cannonball tackle, dangerous contact and what simply a 3rd man in.

You mention player welfare yet contact with the ref carries a 2.5x higher minimum sentence than direct contact with the head. Contact with the referee against can range. Josh Chanrley tapping the ref on the arm is worth missing half the season? For contact that isn't aggressive I think 2 matches is fair and then increase for the type of contact - as long as it's intentional. Player welfare is obviously important and that needs to be reflected in the disciplinary. Whilst contact with the ref is serious, it's not causing any harm to anyone involved.

I'm not having it both ways. Flower's incident is nothing to do with Wigan's third man tackling technique.

If we use the head tackle as an example, the start point at a 6 match ban is the deterrent to make players stay away from the head, the club would use the new appeal process to reduce the ban based on circumstance. At the moment on average its a 3 match ban, quite often an EGP is used then an appeal ending up with a 1 match ban whilst the victim has the risk of concussion causing problems later in his career.
If a club wants to "play hard" and gets it wrong, then there is a "hard penalty" to pay. At the moment foul play is very much accepted and the punishment is weak, a strong enough deterrent will make the coach/player think its too much to risk.

Wigan's Embarrassing Viewpoint Quote to the Disciplinary.

Player accompanied by Assistant Coach John Winder. Pleads not guilty to punching with a clenched fist. Concedes there was striking with an open hand to opponents face as a result of provocation. There had been other incidents in the same game between both players that had been dealt with. Matters appeared to have calmed down to some form of normality. The opponent then in an aggressive manner approaches the player and touches his face in a provocative manner. The player reacts by pushing his open hand towards the opponent and there is minimal contact with the opponents face. This is not a violent strike and the effect is not substantial.

We know it was a soft punch, but claiming an open hand push..........is taking the mick.

But the opponent was aggressive and provocative. They really are ridiculous. On the Tautai one the other week they in defence claim it was "almost a perfect tackle"

Now re that part of the incident I don't have a problem with FPN's actions. LMS deserved a good smack then.

If LMS wants to do petty things like touching someone's face in that manner then he should expect a response. A bit like Fielden v Willie Mason.

And you're right, HOWEVER lms wouldn't have done that had the scuffle not just occurred, and the scuffle wouldn't have occurred had fpn not decided to take the law in his own hands and tackle a player without the ball, who wasn't a dummy runner and was just standing still,because fpn had decided he didn't want to play rugby league any more.

I realize that's a separate incident in its own right but good lord that's a serious aggravating factor. I'm amazed he hasn't been given a bollocking for that.

LMS also offered a handshake after the final whistle which FPN refused, that is not a good response by FPN who was the major agitator around the events. FPN also initially refused to leave the field under official orders this response is an indicator of a weak temperament.

Oh I agree, I was only commenting on that specific part of the incident.
Especially not shaking hands at the end, as you say, shows a mental weakness that can be exploited by opposition players.
For instance if I was Tony Smith I'd send Ryan Bailey straight at FPN in the next game between Wire and Wigan. Get him all wound up.

Quote: Him "Oh I agree, I was only commenting on that specific part of the incident. Especially not shaking hands at the end, as you say, shows a mental weakness that can be exploited by opposition players. For instance if I was Tony Smith I'd send Ryan Bailey straight at FPN in the next game between Wire and Wigan. Get him all wound up.'" I think players will exploit him and get under his skin, the problem is players will have to watch there backs as it appears he is an off the ball merchant in the NRL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WAwo8pc050

Quote: Him "Oh I agree, I was only commenting on that specific part of the incident. Especially not shaking hands at the end, as you say, shows a mental weakness that can be exploited by opposition players. For instance if I was Tony Smith I'd send Ryan Bailey straight at FPN in the next game between Wire and Wigan. Get him all wound up.'" I think players will exploit him and get under his skin, the problem is players will have to watch there backs as it appears he is an off the ball merchant in the NRL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WAwo8pc050

he's joining the ranks of michael korkidas and jim gannon very early on.

I hardly think you are in a position to criticise after you defended Ablett's attempted gouge. FPN has been punished and you're still crying about it.

Wouldn't surprise me if the club put in an appeal this morning, there wasn't much in the punch the late off the ball challenge and hair pull was much worse. Maybe they have found FPN has an open palm for 2 nanoseconds before punch impact.