I’m talking play offs not knockout in general. Challenge cup is invariably different as it’s played at a different time of year which plays a part in both weather and the teams form peaking etc. in terms of play offs we beat you last year and obviously hadn’t lost since 2018 and I was fairly confident of us turning up in the big games again this year when we get bodies back as we are basically set up to play play off rugby week in week out. As I said, that’s no longer the case for me as I’m not as confident in our defence as I was. Before this year I’d say that’s the one thing we could always count on whether we were playing well or not, but it doesn’t look to have that steel any more

In terms of us getting a yellow… was that not when you scored a try? That would be why there wasn’t a yellow. The yellow was for the denial of a try scoring opportunity. Can’t really apply when a try has been scored

Your record against us in playoffs ain’t great mate.

Genuine question, is this this correct and does it always apply? Just because it wasn't a very professional, professional foul, does this exonerate the perpetrator?

It wasn,t a try scoring opportunity or a penalty try would have been awarded.

Well it really depends on how long you stretch the timeline doesn’t it? 2012-2018 you had the better of us. Not really relevant in 2024 though is it?

Well yes, the yellow is the punishment for stopping a try scoring opportunity. The ref said professional foul, but if you listen to the video ref he says the denial of a try scoring opportunity which is why the yellow was produced. And really, a professional foul is purposely fouling somebody to stop their promising attack. If the try is scored or the attack isn’t stopped then what’s the yellow for? If the try is scored then you’d be more likely to see an 8 point try than a yellow depending on the foul. It’s also why the refs say they can’t give somebody a yellow if a penalty try is awarded. It’s one or the other, because again the yellow is the punishment for stopping the try scoring opportunity and if the try is awarded then there’s nothing to punish with a yellow, as effectively advantage was played

No, that’s not how penalty tries work mate. A penalty try is awarded if you can beyond reasonable doubt (in the opinion of the ref) say a try would have been scored but for the foul. A try scoring opportunity just means there was an opportunity to score a try that was unfairly stopped, and not that he was certain to score. This wasn’t deemed a penalty try because Dufty was close enough to potentially stop it from being scored, but there was clearly an opportunity for him to a score if he hadn’t been taken out.

This is a really good point, straight after the try was given I was expecting the Ref to ping Percival but seem scoring a try lets you off.

after state of origin last week and someone on the bench getting sinbinned, nothing surprised me now

I agree ref bashing is boring to read - imagine having to STILL put up with posts on that issue that date back to 2019???

I agree that's silly as well, not something I talk about though

Now if you brought up the play-off semi-final from 2016, then my attitude may change!