I thought the on-report system was there when a ref didn't clearly see an incident; not the case on the Tomkins jaw-smash or the Chase knee-twist. He clearly saw both (you can tell by what he said to the player when awarding the penalty) and if you know there's an intent to injure, it HAS to be a card surely.

if you go on that big website with all the videos and type in isacc luke the grub you can read the aussie's opinion on it and they aren't happy with him either.

It was a seriously nasty tackle, dirty get, hope he gets a big ban for that one. NZ generally played really dirty - forearm to Tomkins, tackle on Chase, the tackle on Reed and I'm sure Adam Blair purposefully stood on Morleys hand towards the end of the game. Thought NZ were better then that.

Because despite the flaws that Ganson may have, he isn't frightened of making a big call like that.


It's disappointing that these players resort to tactics like this because they're clearly talented.


Glad that the English guys kept their cool. As entertaining as a bit of biff would've been, it would've been indisciplined of them to risk suspension.

The 'incidents' between Chase and Marshall were quite obviously nothing, it was clear when watching the game live and the way they were looking at each other after any 'dust ups' that they were playing with each other - trying to get one over on a mate as it were but never intending actually throwing any punches etc.
However, Smith's elbow to the jaw of a grounded player was nasty. And Luke's 'twist' on Chase's knee is in another league, there is an intent there to seriously injure the player.

Interesting to not that Rangi Chase and Isaac Luke are actually cousins.

The elbow on Tomkins was a joke and should have seen a card. It was a clear attempt to hurt our major attacking threat.

What es me off is when the ref says to Smith "You elbowed a player in the head", so obvioulsy saw it, but then places it on report.

What happens to these two grubs, now? Since they're out of the competetion, will the disciplinary decision count for anything?

Firstly, aren't all Kiwis cousins?
Secondly, the refs from the NRL in the 4N have been lacking danglies big time and seem to encourage a lot of niggle around the ruck.

This NZ team is in no way, shape or form the "dirtiest" NZ team by a long, long way. I think we've forgoten what international RL used to be like (or maybe some are just too young to have seen it in it's glory). England did well to get on with it and not get involved. The penalty count murdered the Kiwis far better than a punch up would have.

In the not too distant past it would have been acceptable for Morely or Peacock to smack the f*** out of Luke and any other $h1thouses in the NZ team and still be available for the Australia game. Those days are gone, but I do think if referees are going to use the "on report" system as a way of abstaining from dealing with things on the field then maybe they should be brought back.

Have been watching Intl RL since 1978, and what was so bad about this incident was the cowardice and intent.

Melbourne Storm tactics come to international RL - it was only a matter of time.

Aside from none of the players actually coming from the storm, sure.

Stephen Kearney spent years at Melbourne Storm, alongside Michael Macguire, in a coaching capacity.

But then would it not be Parramatta tactics coming to the international scene? He hasn't been at the storm for a couple of years now, are Parramatta a filthy team?

Parramatta haven't got the time to learn dirty tactics, their to busy learning the basics like passing and catching.