Maybe if the ref sees the incident, but can't judge the level of intent, then the (cop out) decision is to put it on report. What they need to have is the ability to refer these to the video ref for an 'instant' decision that actually affects the on-field offender, rather than suspension for a later match.

10mins in the bin for deliberate foul play imo, if it is serious deliberate foul play red card. I'd have had no problems with Luke getting a red and Smith getting a yellow during that game.

Absolutely.

It's farcical to hear the ref explain to the player that he's deliberately intended to injur, then issue no on-field sanction; it's a complete cop-out and sends out entirely the wrong message.

That lack of bottle could easily have resulted in the game descending into a brawl, as players go looking for retribution because they feel that the ref hasn't protected one of their mates.

Luke - 2 match ban
Smith - 1 match ban

Both set to appeal

Issac Luke has been give a whopping 2 game ban which they have announced will be appealed + will be wiped out in friendlies before the NRL even starts.

His act IMO was the most cowardly act I have ever seen. The only incidents that even compare was Cassidy's elbow on Morley (Wigan v Leeds in 199icon_cool.gif + when Andy Dannat deliberately smashed Ellery Hanleys jaw.

Issac Luke should have been suspended for months. He deliberatley tried to injure a player. Disgraceful.

I also cannot believe the English fowards didnt fly in. The Aussie forwards would have certainly made someone like that pay big time.

I cant believe that little runt has got away with it!

Why isnt the English camp, Ian Millward or the RFL making more out of this incident. The Aussies would be going nuts if this happened against 1 of their players!

I don' think many of the English players realised how bad it was at the time. It was only with the benefit of slow motion and action replays most people could see what a cowardly and malicious act it was.

Fair enough but the disciplinary should be throwing the book at him!

the ref is as gutless as the judicary pannel! they both COULD of end tomkins and chase's tournement. LIMA got longer bans for less this season!

It does seem quite a lenient punishment. It's disgusting that he even stayed on the pitch, given that the ref and VR saw the incident quite clearly. The whole 'on report' system should be scrapped immediately. It's just an easy way for refs to avoid making tough decisions.

Why blame the VR? He can't get involved with incidents like that.7

On the other hand, he should have walked!

I didn't blame the VR. HTH.

Didn't mean it like that but in your post you mentioned the VR seeing it. The VR seeing it or not seeing it doesn't change anything

The VR can't send a player off, but he can have a word in the ref's ear if he hasn't seen a particular incident. That said, the ref did see it, and shouldn't have hesitated to take out his red card.

Yes he can have a word in the ref's ear. But he shouldn't.