We really don't, though. We really don't regularly see players being knocked unconscious by full-blooded reckless swinging arms flush to the jaw.

If Paddy hadn't been sent off, then the disciplinary would have given him 2 games or 1 for an EGP. As he was sent off and at an early stage it is possible he may get sending off sufficient given his record. Either way the decision will vindicate Child, as it will confirm his offence merits a short absence from the game.

(But then we will have another argument on how ridiculous the disciplinary decision was etc.)

I'm in no way condoning it. It was a petulant cheap shot but lets not start making things up about it.

I would have leaned towards a yellow card for the Ah Van incident, but I can understand Child making the decision he did. There was clear contact with the head of Charnley, with visible results, so there are grounds for a sending off and Child has to call it as he sees it. Not the decision I think I would have made, but fair enough.

I was disappointed to see Smith only get a yellow, though (not to mention Tomkins going completely unpunished for cleaning out Phelps). As I've always understood it, trips and kicks are automatic red cards, and rightly so - there's a weaselly dishonesty about that sort of behaviour that just runs counter to the spirit of rugby league (although I appreciate that this is out of character for Smith). The message from this game is that a mistimed challenge is a worse offence than a deliberate cheap shot. Regardless of the outcomes for the players on the receiving end, that's not how it should be.

Smith will have to use his EGP to stand any chance of playing in the WCC game against Brisbane since kicking carries a minimum of 2 matches.

i think you are overstating Ah Vans tackle, he was coming over the shoulder downwards and caught him, it happens fairly often. I have no problem with the sending off. It just wasn't a sending off last year and I doubt it will for the rest of the year. I hope it is though

Wow. Now the Video Refs are at it.

What the hell was that call??

Deary me.

These aren't just 50:50 calls that are not being picked up on, they are categorically wrong.

Not saying it was the right decision but did they just go with what Bentham initially called for? NO TRY tackled in air because they couldn't be 100% it was a try due to just one hand on the Saints players arm?

LOL, it's either a try or Catalan ball. Looked like a try to me, but how in gods name that is a goal line dropout only they can know.

Escare knocked the ball onto the Saints player.

Inside the in goal

Well done to Phil Bentham!

More penalising of offsides please!

The video ref decisions have been poor imo, but Bentham has been fine. Personally I would have got the yellow card out earlier (probably for Percival's offside), but he's got the vast majority of calls right. He called both of the video ref decisions as no tries, but tbf they are both impossible to call at full speed with one look.