It was a reckless challenge and probably ought to result in a ban. I like Elima but he does have something of the 'Brent Webb' about him.

Had one of Tomkins/Bailey/Ablett done this there would already be a 10-page thread on it.

What worries me slightly more is the way the disciplinary system is now set up to encourage players to plead guilty even where they may believe they have a good case to go the disciplinary and argue against any ban at all.

Can you imagine a player coming up on a Grade B charge two weeks before the Cup final taking a risk and going to the tribunal? They'll plead guilty and take the one match ban, which will then count against them if they are referred again in future.

I don't think we want to lose that aspect of the sport (the hard contacts) and personally I think this was one of those challenges that was just that second too late for it to be confused as a late challenge.

Also Elima does have a bit of a record for this, does anyone remember the shoulder/elbow on Lomax a few years back? I imagine that's why he's put in the early plea.

Not sure about a ban, should have been sin-binned, which could have cost Bradford the game, found it strange all the Bradford fans cheering him when he got subbed after that and trying to start a fight, his poor discipline could have cost them the game.

It should have been dealt with at the time, with him doing either 10mns in the bin, or sending off. I know this might have swung it Sts way but how does it benefit the aggrieved team if he now gets a ban??

It was a malicious hit on a player who had already dropped the ball and was on his knees, virtually powerless to defend himself.

Elima had been involved in an ongoing niggle-fest with Wilkin, so he was clearly wound up and decided to take it out on Gaskell; a nasty incident from a player with previous - a well-deserved ban.

I don't recall Gaskell be on his knees, he had doubled over bit to 'chase' the ball, but I don't remember him being on his knees.

Definitely late, but we're hardly talking a long time, would have been a strong, clean hit had gaskell had the ball (and not doubled over) as it was it ended a bit nastily. A one game ban more than sufficient - although I would have said a penalty would have been sufficient.

No malicious intent - just a no nonsense prop making a strong tackle.

One game ban. Fair enough.

I thought it was a hit on a player, without the ball, that he could have pulled out from so a ban was a fair result.

Because it's nice to see someone giving 100%. Elima left nothing in the changing room and really got stuck into Saints. Him & Perry were going at it all game. Sometimes it can cross the line,but i would rather see this than a player cowering away. It was only the last 5 minutes before Potter brought him off that he started to lost his rag a little bit.

Personally i don't think a ban. Didn't hit him high or illegally (I.E Elbow or forearm). Probably over aggressive as the ref would probably have given a knock on, but it's penalty sufficient.

Fans saying he hadn't the ball, a split second later he would have done, and if Silverwood had have played on he would have been under the posts. You get told to play to the whistle as a 5 year old. Probably didn't have to smash him, but the ball was still in play.

But thas in my honest (and probably biased) opinion.

On another point i think this early guilty plea is ridiculous. If the Bulls had have decided to fight their corner and Elima got found guilty, he would probably been given a two game ban. When you look at some of the stuff that has only be given a one game ban, it stinks IMO

To me the discplinary should be giving out bans ON THE INCIDENT, not whther a player rings up and says sorry.

Interesting logic ....

I though he'd reached out to gather the ball and fallen on to his knees in the process; I could be wrong.

Either way, the point remains.

I think he definitely reached out to gather the ball, I just don't think he was on his knees (I tried to find a clip but couldn't) - my memory may be wrong.

Either way though, I think had he not dropped the ball it probably would have been a fair strong tackle. As it was, gaskell reaching forward/falling he hit him full force awkwardly. It was late but I don't think Elima really had time to pull out; certainly didn't see it as malicious.