Thing is the video referee specifically said it wasn't allowed for one player in the air to knock the ball out of the hands of the other player in the air whilst both, by his own acknowledgment, were legitimately challenging. The video referee's rationale was not that it was a forward pass (which he cannot adjudicate on) or a knock forward (which it wasn't, and he never claimed it was), nor was it a tackle in the air. I have this funny feeling that the specific rationale for the decision given by the video referee simply doesn't exist within the laws, that's what I'm actually curious about. I know we have people in this board who are more familiar with the laws than I am, so I'm genuinely interested to know if this is a real law or if it is an interpretation that isn't directly supported by the laws?

Funny that on a day when 50 RL players take legal action about concussion that a. Leeds fan argues against a red card for an absolutely shocking challenge
Then we get inconsistency in the Cats game where another shocking challenge did not even get a sin binning.

Contact with the head without mitigation ( ie the player falling etc ) should be a red card all day long.

Had to laugh at Makinson, looking like he'd been shot with an elephant gun at 79.55, then popping up like a jack in a box when the hooter went!

Dup

Said to the Mrs that there should be a red card against Wakefield, and was very surprised that it was just put on report. Why wasn't the video ref used to come to the correct decision, as it appeared to be the case in the earlier game.

The on report rule is just giving some refs the excuse for ducking a decision, where it would be better if they make a call, with the help of video evidence, if needed, during the game.

Have they, don’t think so, what racist comment would that be.

What contact with the head? He hit him in the back. If Fages was so seriously hurt why did he not leave the field for a head assessment, soon as the red used he was up and carried on playing, after the hit he looked around for the ref then went down, cynical faking injury to get a player sent of for what was no more than an a penalty, case point being the next game when similar went unpunished.

I didn't see the challenge yesterday as was flicking between channels but just watched the highlights on the Beeb website and can't see that Thaler had any other option TBH. Watch it again.... no.contact with the back.... his right shoulder makes direct contact with the head. And TBF to Fages he didn't make a meal out of it at all. He got treated on the pitch and wasn't knocked.out so no need to leave the field for a HIA (unless someone can tell me the rule is different?).

Not seen the Wakey one so can't comment on that.

You know full well what you posted.

Sorry just cannot see contact with the head, back of shoulder and a whiplash affect but initial contact was not with the head, if this is the way its going to be from now on then fine, but I expect this to be a red every single week from now on, not let go next week when it happens again, but we all know, this will happen multiple times and the ref will not show a red.

Red card without question. Do what Fages did, and take it on the chin.

It was when the arm came round from the back of the shoulder it rode up into the head. So, yes, the initial contact appeared to be high on the shoulder, but ended up making contact with the head. The fact that most of the impact dissipated before the head, doesn't change that contact was late and ended up high. Had Fages being falling into the tackle that may have mitigated it, but he wasn't. Once upon a time it would have been a penalty or maybe a yellow, but sports simply cannot tolerate attacks on the head anymore.

At my son's RU training this morning I heard some coaches reminiscing with the older boys about what you could do in the old days, but would be an immediate red now, anywhere near the head and you're off!

Swinton doing great v Warrington, but a late 6 pointer from Wire, means the 20-8 HT score is rather flattering for them.

why would the panel think otherwise