Dont be ridiculous. Best ref in the league by a country mile.

Correct decison.

But I would give him SOS, I don't think for one minute that Raynor was trying to hurt Tompkins, but he took a risk to try and dislodge the ball with his fist and it didn't work so he must pay, which he and his team did.

It was a pathetic decision from ganson, sin bin at worst

Half hearted attempt to dislodge the ball for me. What else could he have done defensively in that situation? He'd never have wrapped it up or made a tackle so he had to go for the ball.

I don't believe anyone is stupid enough to punch someone in the head one-on-one in the head deliberately to stop a try at that stage of the game.

Saying that, just because it wasn't intentional doesn't mean it isn't a red. It was reckless, and extremely dangerous. He had to go.

Still no one explained why no penalty was awarded. Any ideas?

I guess it depends how you define the 'act of scoring'. If diving for the line is the act of scoring then it should have been an 8 point try. However if the act of scoring is the actual grounding of the ball then it shouldn't have been as the offence occurred before the act of scoring and advantage was played.

Tomkins' reaction being lying completely still with glassy eyes after faceplanting?

Pretty hard to fake that...

To be honest though i was a little worried when he didn't get up i thought he'd swallowed his tongue or had a seizure at first, i know he milks penalties but to fake that would have got him oscar.

Absolutely spot on post.

Foir goodness sake, douse Tomkins down with the magic sponge and get on with it. The game is becoming too sanitised, a game for wimps.

Do none of you remember the cheapshot on Hanley after his try against Fax at Wembley in '88 ? Offiah would get hit after every try (then he'd throw the ball at the offending player, and run to hide behind Sorenson or Skerrett ).

It's meant to be a hard, physical game. The likes of Jim Mills, Andy Goodway, Kevin Ward and Paul Cullen must laugh their b*****ks off when watching the pampered girls of today playing what amounts to tag rugby.

The worst thing was that his eyes were staring he didnt close them or anything thats when I knew he wasnt ok coz human instinct is to shut eyes as you hit the ground to protect them and he didnt.

I dont for a second believe that Raynor meant to hit his head but I do think that, due to that clenched fist, he definitely meant to hurt him rather than grab him like a defender usually would. I have played rugby and Im sure that you've said that you play and so Im sure you'll agree that you dont go in with a fist unless its to hurt someone.

Theres more contact with the head in almost all of these 'big hits' people rave about. It was unlucky and if Ganson was so spot on with his cards why wasnt there a sin binning for the chicken wing in the second half when he gave a penalty? Harsh decision for me, you could almost hear the excitement in Gansons voice as he got to be Mr Centre spotlight again

So this was a red card foul on a player in the action of scoring a try , surely a penalty should have been awarded resulting in an 8 point try ?

but it wasnt in the act of scoring the try, close but no cigar. As someone else pointed out, it was a penalty and advantage was played.

I cannot believe the rubbish spouted on this thread.

It was an absolutely terrible foul and desrved a straqight red.

All this talk about intent by Raynor is rubbish as NO ONE knows what his intent was and NO ONE will.


I hate tomkins as much as anyone and if he had been tackled fairly and knocked out i would have applauded the good tackle but the only reason people are spouting rubbish about it not being a sending off is because it was Tomkins.

I cannot believe i am agreeing with Wigan fans on this.

I feel as though i need to go and shower.