There was a real fight which started after a Widnes fan threw a smoke bomb that hit another Widnes fan. One Steward did go OTT, but you should all bear in mind that had the Widnes fans not kicked off then the incident with the steward would not have occurred. The person posting the video of the incident conveniently forgot to show the entire incident which was quite nasty and certainly involved more than a few fans. It's a long time since I saw Police draw batons at a game of RL.
That's 3 away games in a row that Widnes fans have caused trouble. The RFL needs to sort it out now.

Teesside Wire, can you just clarify as to whether there has been trouble at the last 3 Widnes away games an whether you think something should be done about it, only you haven't mentioned it for 11 seconds or so!

Seen the clip.

If you can call it that. At right angles, poorly shot and taken from behind the steward so we see very little.

Pretty harsh to have a go at the steward, but you always get this kind of reaction. Lets back the criminals. Let let everyone do whatever they want.

Simple answer next time there is crowd trouble, stand back and let it happen. Don't intervene. Just let them kick off and watch the innocent by standers get the flack.

Our Johnny's not such a bad lad........etc

The never ending excuses for the instigators and trouble makers.
I do wonder at times if we have gone crackers in this country, as we are always happy to back the wrong doer or find some/any excuse to give them.

If they don't cause problems. Then the stewards just point people to their seats and clean up spilt cups of tea and beer. If they cause trouble you need meet force with force.

twitter.yfrog.com/7etjdxujouwxhrgxuxfhfeauz?sa=0 link showing the Steward

twitter.yfrog.com/7etjdxujouwxhrgxuxfhfeauz?sa=0 link showing the Steward

If you kick off then don't bleat if a steward, bouncer or policeman gives you a kicking I say.

Dont know if its the same incident but was talking to another wire fan last night about it and he fully backed the steward because "the bloke he was smacking was kicking another steward that had been knocked to the ground". Like i say, I didnt see that but like most I may have been concentrating on what was happening up top.

No doubt Warrington will carry out an investigation, like they did against Hull and take appropriate action.

No doubt Cheshire police will request the footage and act accordingly.

No doubt some "no win no fee" solicitor will contact these thugs and offer to bring a case on their behalf for a breach of their "human" rights.

Salford never went bust.

Bit of an overreaction to an honest opinion. The stewards in that end have been overheard before now saying how they enjoy pushing people down the terrace steps for fun. That hardly helps the situation when people do kick off, does it?

Nice to see the replica shirt line being trotted out again. Plenty of proper RL fans go to games without feeling the need to put a polyester advertising board on.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu3fFK_uIrI This is a better shot. Not condoning what the very small minority of what Widnes fans did but surely this could have caused a riot.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu3fFK_uIrI This is a better shot. Not condoning what the very small minority of what Widnes fans did but surely this could have caused a riot.

Cannot see that myself as he was being held by two or three other stewards maybe he had done it before hand though.

I have no sympathy for the Widnes fans involved although i accept many were innocent but all clubs have a responsibility to deal with troublemakers as sometimes the innocent get drawn into it BUT i also have little sympathy for some stewards who are just complete thugs.
( i did start a thread last week on the Wigan board about their stewards being excellent and very friendly)

It needs a proper investigation by both clubs and dealing with in respect of fans and stewarding.

Just to Add a little context to that video,the stewards went to the back of the stand to apprehend whomever had let off the second smoke bomb of the night, which when thrown hit a Widnes fan on the head, then landed in the stand amongst family's

What the Widnes fan done was totally out of order and he should be banned for life, there's no need for that in our sport. What the steward done was nothing less than assault, this could have caused a full scale riot.

When you watch this video the steward dishing out the "uppercuts" is actually only hitting the Widnes fans arm in what appears to be an attempt to make him let go of the barrier. Not trying to justify the actions but pointing out that another view gives another interpretation. Sure the club and the police will view ALL the evidence, including whatever CCTV footage the club has of the incident, and make a balanced and thought out response.

Agreed, he's only using the official Wigan 'third man in' tackling technique.

The 'fan' is holding the barrier, the punches are to the top of his arms. That would be deemed 'reasonable force'.
Just because he's a gripper doesn't mean anything besides I wish it had been his face, if cowardly scum want to kick off in groups at matches they might think twice if they thought they'd get a few smacks around the face.
Ask yourself this, the steward is surrounded by police, do you not think he's not aware of that, he's trained and given a proportionate of legal backing to use force. These guys might look dumb but they not what they are doing and how to do it.

They did a sterling job in my opinion on this occasion.

First time I watched the video, it looked pretty bad. Watched it another couple of times though and it does look like the guy has hold of the steward so the steward is trying to punch the guy's arms to get free of him. Kind of like in games when you see a player strike the arm of another player who has hold of his shirt or arm but obviously this looks more aggressive. Not as bad as I first thought though.

You'll never succeed using things like facts on here

Not exactly sure what franchising / financial instability of clubs has to do with the actions of certain ' richard craniums '



over the years 30+ I've seen the odd fracas involving most teams fans* SL & Championship or supporters purporting to be clubs fans. mainly beer inspired spats

I've seen nothing to dispel my faith in RL as a sport that doesn't need segregation , with fans that are vociferous in support of their club but also approachable and add to the experience .

It's not just SL :- far worse
[url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/new-laws-urged-as-spectators-join-the-fight-20130817-2s3k3.htmlbrawling at suburban rugby league matches.[/url

How could 3 of them not pull this guy off the barrier? Give me a break, he has gone totally overboard. Widnes arent clean in any of this but neither are the stewards. I'm sure they're alright blokes out of work but when they are in work and in the many times i've been to Warrington games on the very few occasions its happened they do tend to make things escalate from something minor.

How did you work that out? Regardless of whether he intended to go beyond "reasonable force" or not he caused more people to get involved, not quite crowd control. From my spec on the half way line it looked awful and as a representative of the club it simply isn't good enough.

So the guy holding the barrier refusing to be ejected, just holds on?
You've proven time abd and again on the wire forum that you live in student liberal not the real world land. What do yoi expect him to do?
Ask yourself this, if the police don't charge the steward doesn't that say that they deemed his actions as correct?

Force is sometimes deemed necessary whether you agree or not, welcome to the horrible real world and bad side of human nature.

Are you and Mikej taking the ? Whatever the Widnes fan did, did not endorse somebody who is paid to keep order to assault him.

You pair would make Olympic boxing judges as the majority of those punches were points scorers. What about the last two or three when he was 2-3 yards away from the first assault took place. Was he still holding onto the barrier and/or the stewards arm then?

You can't see what you want to see. No right minded individual can condone the reported behaviour of some Widnes fans or the actions of that 'steward' no matter where your allegiances lie.

Get a grip for s sake

Not quite sure how you worked that one out? I'd love to know so a quick PM would be much appreciated? Let's be clear, the Widnes 'fan' (I use the term loosely) was completely out of order, he deserves to have the book thrown at him by the Magistrates next month. If he got a few knocks on third day he undoubtedly deserved it. However we do not live in a society where bouncers, or anyone for that matter can take the law into their own hands. I'm no liberal but I am a big believer in the rule of law.

There are videos on the Internet of one steward last year being restrained by his colleagues and policemen. Even it you believe a man should be above the law the minute he puts a hi-viz vest on, you cannot deny it does the reputation of the club no good. If the police/CPS decide the man's actions were hustified then I respect that. However as far as I'm concerned he can stick to Bridge Street and give the HJ a miss.

Not trying to take the mickey. I just pointed out that this video gave me a different viewpoint from WHAT APPEARED to happen on the night and also the original comments made about the incident. In my earlier comment I did actually say that the clubs and if required the police were the best people to decide what action, if any, was necessary.

www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/new ... d_trouble/ Two charged, 1 bailed pending enquiries, 2 fixed penalty notices and Cheshire Police confirmed they are aware of the "steward footage" on the internet and that officer are reviewing all available evidence........ I think the word ALL here is pertinent. let the professional make the decision about what is/isnt required to happen.

www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/new ... d_trouble/ Two charged, 1 bailed pending enquiries, 2 fixed penalty notices and Cheshire Police confirmed they are aware of the "steward footage" on the internet and that officer are reviewing all available evidence........ I think the word ALL here is pertinent. let the professional make the decision about what is/isnt required to happen.