Yes but how many times has someone delivered a slap and the opposition not end up striking back in some fashion? If a player does what Tamou did then 9 times out of 10 punches will follow. People say he was getting niggle off Galloway in the tackle but it wasn't anything that you don't see in dozens and dozens of tackles in any match and if everyone got up and did what Tamou did after a bit of facials on the floor then they'd be no players left on the field before the 80 mins was up. Not saying Garbutt doesn't deserve his punishment btw, I think a red card and 2 games after an EGP is a fair result.

The Australians have shown themselves in the WCS to be a brutal species of mankind. Mitchell Garbutt is an Australian, and was behaving like a typical Australian does on a weekend.



Nevertheless we must acknowledge that their brutality is part of what makes Australians, along with New Zealanders, the most powerful and accomplished rugby league players the world has ever seen.

I couldn't possibly say how many times that happens - all I know is that I watch most NRL games most weekends and in the past two seasons, punching has virtually disappeared from the game; granted, there are still many forms of housery that continue unabated, not least the forearm in the face stuff that Galloway used on Tamou. I would imagine in this instance, without Garbutt's intervention, Galloway would have given Tamou a similarly girly slap round the noggin, and the match would have continued.



And we agree about the punishment - it seems fair.

Are you 8 years old?

Agreed, and the point is emphasised by Frank Pritchard jabbing Adam Milner in the nose with the palm of his hand.



It's interesting to see the Leeds mob out in force on the forum trying to bully anyone who has an opinion which is opposed to the Rhinos

How are people getting "bullied"?

Another example of you and your ilk spouting ridiculous hyperbole rather than arguing a point. Two things, firstly if you're defending hitting someone in the face as acceptable just because you don't have a clenched fist then your earlier arguments are certainly weakened. An attack to the face is an attack to the face, not acceptable at all.



Secondly, I think you'll find that all the 'Leeds mob' has tried to do is bring some semblance of reason to a discussion that was rammed with ridiculously OTT statements. Nobody has said that what Garbutt did was OK, I don't think anybody has even complained about him getting a ban. What has been said is that it wasn't from the side; it wasn't a sucker punch; it wasn't an assault; it wasn't in any way shape or form comparable to the Ben Flower incident; it wasn't unprovoked; and it wasn't anything you're not likely to see at least another half dozen times this season.



Is talking reason now 'bullying' in the same way that a prop punching another prop is now 'thuggery and assault'?

There is a world of difference in pushing someone in the face (because you are unhappy with something that has gone on in a tackle) and full on punching a bloke in the face when they are not expecting it..



I don't think anyone has condoned what Tamou did when hi got up from being tackled but, the reaction of the Leeds fans is utterly ridiculous and trying to justify, in any way, what Garbutt did is just wrong.



Did Gallagher really need some help, because he looks more than capable of looking after himself.

Not justifying it, just giving a more accurate report on it unlike yourself who is trying to lessen Tamou's slap to a "push" and the highten Garbutt's to "from the blindside".



No one is excusing Garbutt, he went too far. The one being excused is Tamou, his slap kicked it off but people are trying to excuse him staying he received a bit on the floor......well every player receives the same stuff during a game. I imagine Tamou as a forward gave a far bit out himself during the game possibly to both Galloway and Garbutt at times (who knows how Garbutt got that cut under his lip?), I didn't however see anyone else respond by slapping his opponent. In such a physical game as RL then such provocation as a slap is going to lead to the inevitable outcome, whether it was Garbutt or Galloway shouldn't actually matter if people on here are truthfully that disgusted by punching as they claim.

Did Galloway expect a slap (not a push, stop pushing your agenda) in the face? I don't think he did, but I haven't heard such outrage at Tamou's actions, it's all been directed at Garbutt. As for not expecting it, Garbutt had hold of his shirt and was toe to toe with him with his fist ready - other than sending a letter I'm not sure what more he could have done to make him expect it.







Nobody's trying to justify what Garbutt did, what we're trying to do is a) Explain that whilst not the right course of action it was certainly understandable, as from his perspective Tamou looked like he had punched Galloway. You yourself have attempted to justify what Tamou did in your first sentence... [i(because you are unhappy with something that has gone on in a tackle) [/i that looks like an attempt at justification to me.





Team sports don't work like that, and at least get the main players names right.

All we ask for is consistency.

Whist in possession of the ball, Tamou made deliberate contact with an open hand to the face of Galloway and got ten minutes.

Whilst in possession of the ball, Pritchard made deliberate contact with an open hand to the face of Milner and didn't get ten minutes.

If the offence is identical, why is the punishment different?

Sorry that I can't dissect posts but, there is little doubt that the "niggle" that had gone on in the tackle will have caused Tamou to react afterwards.

Yes, it was an over reaction but this type of thing happens far more regularly than you seem to be suggesting and whilst it's clearly not right, it happens.

You accuse me of trying to put some sort of slant on what I saw, but, the initial "strike" by Tamou looked nothing more than a tap, he certainly didn't belt him and whilst no player appreciates this happening (especially is you are getting well beaten). The reaction from Garbutt was well over the top.

IF he hadn't punched Tamou, it would have been a penalty to Leeds and nothing more.

After you viewed slowed down footage from different angles.



Much talk of how Tamou couldn't see Garbutt's punch coming, but considering Garbutt is 2nd marker behind Galloway then it's hardly a gimme that Garbutt could tell whether it was a open hand or closed fist and has just seen Tamou raise his hand to a teammate.

So you ARE trying to justify and condone what Tamou did. That's an interesting turn around.



Slapping somebody is over the top, but it happens



Punching somebody for slapping somebody is over the top, but it happens



If Tamou hadn't slapped Galloway Garbutt wouldn't have punched him - we can go round like this all day.



The point is that you did put a slant on what Tamou did by calling it a push. It wasn't a push, it was an aggressive strike to Galloway's face, and from Garbutt's viewpoint it quite possibly looked like a punch. he understandably didn't wait around for an inquest, he did what props sometimes do and laid the idiot out.



There is nothing special in this incident, there is nothing especially wrong or aggressive - and certainly no thuggery - in Garbutt's actions. It was bog standard prop-on-prop fisticuffs. Garbutt got the red he deserved and a ban we all expected.



What has got me (and many others) riled up here is that people are trying to make out it was something it wasn't, that it was out of the ordinary, a sneak attack, a grub move, a sucker punch, thuggery, assault, whatever you want to call it. It was none of those things. It was a standard RL punch and you'll see several more like that this season, I just hope they don't all get accompanied by the bed wetting that this has.

So the nonsense that went on in the tackle is all ok ?



Full facial plus forearm over his throat so yes, on that basis a push/slap/tap (or whatever you want to call it) is certainly understandable. Whether it's justified is a different question.



I don't think anyone is bed wetting, the punch was a little more that we see in the weekly rounds of SL but, it's been dealt with (2 game ban) which I and many others have said, seems about right.



The KR fans are still unhappy with the 4 games that their man got for something that appeared more accidental than deliberate but, these things happen with the judiciary.

Plenty of bedwetting if you're willing to have a look - and that's without going in to the threads started by idiots like Pacific who directly compared the punch to the actions of Ben Flower.



Say nonsense like the above and don't be surprised that Leeds fans call it for the bull that it is.

It was nothing different to what you see countless times in every match and Tamou was pushing his forearm into Galloway's throat whilst he was trying to hold him down so they were both at it. What you don't see every match is someone getting up and slapping his opponent.

I'll reserve judgement on the Leeds fans until one of their own is on the receiving end.

I'll reserve judgment on the Wakefield fans until one of their own is in Garbutt's position and see if you condemn so strongly.

Do you mean like when Lee Radford went to town on Ryan Bailey who was on the floor, unable to defend himself and on the receiving end of 3 haymakers?



An incident that was widely applauded on these forums and one that saw Radford get only a one match ban - one that was overturned on appeal?



I think Leeds fans responded with incredulity. But that wasn't toe to toe fisticuffs so I should really pick a better example, maybe when Briers hit Carl Ablett on the back of the head when Ablett wasn't looking. Briers didn't even get sent for ten, let alone a ban and I think Leeds fans responded with incredulity. But that wasn't toe to toe fisticuffs either. Gosh, this is tough...



We've had our fair share.

Also Paul Wood punched Ablett in the 2012 CCF and only a penalty. Joe Wardle punched Ablett (again) 4 or 5 times even after the ref had shouted at them to separate when they were squaring up and he received the same punishment as Garbutt.

If Tamou has a big hairy prop holding his shirt collar with his arm cocked and "isn't expecting" anything then he's a bigger idiot than I first thought. Best dig I've seen at HQ since Keef flattened Wilkin. Bring Back The Biff!

Joe Wardle on Ablett a few years back, some of the 'Leeds mob' were getting the gallows ready!



basically as i see it, it's wrong to punch a player like Garbutt did, unless, severely provoked, which Garbutt wasn't, i'm sure most would agree, it was just a way of showing some frustration/aggression because they were getting smashed on the scoreboard.

Galloway, gave Tamou a bit of a facial, that would probably have been a penalty to NQ had Tamou not reacted with a slap, ( i'm sure Leeds fans would agree that anyone giving some facial in the tackle deserve at least a slap), Galloway could have walked away and it would have been penalty to Leeds, but then Garbutt decided to play hero ( or villain). no need for him to get involved, he wasn't "protecting" himself or a team mate, he wasn't provoked either.



so basically, Galloway and Tamou were both tools but Garbutt was a power tool!



but just like Wigan fans did with Flower, Leeds fans will defend their man.

From a neutral perspective (Salford fan)I think the 2 matches he got was fair punishment. Tamou's response to Galloway (while a bit girly) wss warranted... though would've been better if it was a proper dig or at least a more manly square up! Garbutt probably thinks it's a punch so I've no problem with him wading in with a (very nicely executed

) right hand. RFL decide to give him a 2 match ban.... fair enough so let's move on.



No need for histrionics... anyone calling it a "king hit" or "blindside" is talking b0ll0cks. I'm pretty sure I remember that Senior landing the mother of all cheap shots in a Challenge cup match many moons ago. He might even have been playing for Sheffield at the time but swung a rabbit punch at the back of a melee and got off scot free!



Wish there were more flare ups these days, gets the crowd fired up and might be a better alternative to whipping up an atmosphere than those s0dding drummers that most SL clubs seem to have these days!