I was also told last season by my Salford fan ex girlfriend not to use the Challenge Cup final wins as an excuse for fading away at the end of the season. But it has to have an affect, not just physically but emotionally.

Getting your feet under the ball to prevent a try is allowed, as is tackling... just like tackling, if you get it wrong, expect to get pulled up for it.

Just like tackling, there's a sliding scale, from little or no contact (you get a talking to and possibly a letter about your technique, which is what I expect Sam to get, quite rightly) to full-face contact (where you'll get red carded and probably a ban).

Briers diving in and starting a brawl was FAR worse than Tomkins attempting to stop the grounding of the ball.

Which one was that?

Tomkins didn't do a lot wrong, but it was slightly dangerous and at full speed it looked quite bad, even the ref thought it could be a penalty. But slowed down it looked like nothing. Briers didn't start a brawl, not one puch was thrown. I think most players ran in to make sure nothing happened. The whole thing was nothing at all really from either side.

Atkins

He certainly inflamed the situation.



Correct decision on that one.

According to the pundits, its not the game after the cup final that hits the winnerss, its the one after that. As for Warrington having an extra week, lets not forget that after the win in France the players were basically sent on a weeks holiday so it could be argued that they did well not to get "rusty".

Quote: Fishsta " Just like tackling, there's a sliding scale, from little or no contact (you get a talking to and possibly a letter about your technique, which is what I expect Sam to get, quite rightly)'" He already got one, although it was back in '09, so I gather the 'warning' has expired and he will need to be issued with a new one. www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?1523

Quote: Fishsta " Just like tackling, there's a sliding scale, from little or no contact (you get a talking to and possibly a letter about your technique, which is what I expect Sam to get, quite rightly)'" He already got one, although it was back in '09, so I gather the 'warning' has expired and he will need to be issued with a new one. www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?1523

If I were a Wigan fan I would be a bit concerned about my team and some of the body language that was on display yesterday. Hoffman dropped the ball early in the game and did not even bother to drop on it or kill the play, out of all of the people on the pitch he would have been the last one I would have expected to show that sort of attitude. Towards the end of the game Finch offloaded to Hoffman who dropped it and Finch was giving him a roasting. I have not seen that from Wigan for a long time, normally it is a hand in the air to say sorry and other players say don't
worry and stick a finger in the air to say just 1 minute to defend. Even from the kick off there was no "don't worry Sam" looked more like sam was looking at Deacon as if to say that was your ball. Maybe it was a Wembley hangover but it looked like it was a deeper problem than that. it's like their collective responsibility was left on the open top bus.

How many bans has Joel tomkins had for running in and looking after his brother.