I actually didnt say that it was retaliation, i said it was an attempt to get out of the position he was in, having copped a reckless tackle (which as you say happens) and whilst in the process of receiving a facial (which also happens) Smith flails his legs about to try and get out of the position he was in (which also happens a lot)

I dont think he kicked out at anyone i think he kicked out in general to get out of the position he was in, i dont think he had any idea finch was there considering he had someone on his face. I dont think any of it was anything which doesn't happen in every game and i doubt it would have been brought up had it not been a Wigan fan trying to deflect criticism of Tomkins from doing something different.

Smith had just been tackled around the legs by Finch. As soon as Finch's grip loosens he kicks his foot up in the air and into Finch's face. If he doesn't know that a player's face might be in the vicinity of his feet after a tackle around the legs and actually thinks it's safe to kick out like that then he needs removing from the game for a few weeks for the safety of his fellow professionals. By far the worst incident in the match, nothing else that happened compares to booting your opponent in the face.

So basically Tomkins' kick out was intentional and malicious whilst Smith's offence was entirely accidental? Nothing to do with the colour of their shirts of course.

Ahem...


Sounds like retaliation to me, but that's not surprising seeing as you'll change your argument however many times is required to defend Lee Smith and maintain the fantasy that Tomkins is the only player to have done any wrong, ever.


Doing something different? Both players kicked out but you've criticised one and defended the other, that's all I was pointing out.

Both of the players who kicked out during the tackle should face censure; Tomkins looked marginally worse at the time, since he was fully sighted and appeared to deliberately kick upwards towards the face, but both were reckless and dangerous.

I thought it was rather ironic that Finch spent half the game throwing himself on the floor to 'win' a penalty yet when he copped a boot to the face, stayed standing; if he'd have done a Danny McGuire possum routine, he may have got more out of the situation.

Neither should face a ban if the disciplinary committee are consistent though.

rlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?1954rl

The big difference in the disclipine of the 2 sides appeared in the 2nd half when Leeds & Wigan both knocked on in quick succession.

JJB looked at the Ref like he'd caused the greatest injustice of all time and started flapping his arms around, when he'd dropped the ball. Lima knocked on moments later and just shrugged it off and accepted responsibility.

Judging by some comments from Leeds fans, they agree with you (but not necessarily for the same reason).

I noticed this as well. It summed Leeds' attitude to me. Everything they do is fine, and everything anyone else does is wrong. Apparently it's rubbed off on a lot of their fans.

I think that sums it up nicely.

It's sheer hypocrisy. But it's Leeds, so it was obvious that a Smokey comment wouldn't be consistent. Take Leeds out of the equation and Smokey usually has very good views.

Oddly enough I've just been watching an old game and spotted this incident

Lee Smith kicks player in face for at least the second time and Wigan come in for criticism. You need to sort your obsession out mate.

In the interest of fairness I've just watched Tomkins kicking out in 2009, so looks like they both have previous. www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?996

In the interest of fairness I've just watched Tomkins kicking out in 2009, so looks like they both have previous. www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?996