I'd say he did. Lomax has been lucky there, but still had stitches on a deep flesh wound. Absolutely no chance he was trying to get Gale sent off, it would have hurt.

Can't really argue with that tbf. It's quite a bad one. Lomax and Grace are terrible for going down though and rolling around. I would say on this occasion it's the boy who cried wolf. Everybody outside the cesspit of Redvee knows this.

I'd expect someone to remark "tis but a scratch".

Says the Saints contributor who is constantly on the Wire forum. I think it is the Wire living rent free in your head fella.

It will be interesting to see how the Disciplinary Panel deal with this incident.

Gale should receive a hefty match ban. I don`t recall ever seeing a Rugby League player lead with his studs raised like that, in all the time I have been watching the game.

Nor me, an odd trip or two, but nothing like Gale's studs up incident. Don't want this in our game.

He also picked Lomax up off the floor as he thought he was trying it on too. That got a couple of players a ban last season. In the new guidelines deliberate use of the studs is 3-5 from memory? Add on a couple for picking up the injured player and he could be looking at a while on the sidelines.

Thoughts from seeing matches over the weekend.

Saints phenomenal - Walmsley had a massive game. No let up when the interchanges took place.
Hull 2nd best in everything, although I still like the look of Satae and Sao. Once again indiscipline cost Hull dear - including the incredibly stupid Gale act. Rightly set off.
Thought there was a little more leeway by the ref on late shots / whiplash - and that stupid act by the Saints forward on the Hull player protecting his fullback. It doesn't matter to me that it was 'just' a shove, the Hull player wasn't expecting it and his head certainly went back. That's as bad as the Dwyer and Holmes incidents imo.
Both those packs will be a problem for us unless we have a 'cunning plan'.

Cats slightly on top of Wakey. Even though they lost I think Wakey can take a lot out of that - especially the 'never say die' attitude.
(The first ankle tap on Lineham proved pivotal in the end).
But again discipline cost Wakey.
Cats have big guys all over the park and at times looked like they would run away with it, but I think McNamara will not be too pleased. Plenty to work on.

Wigan - wow, but maybe that's partly due to the opposition. Jai Field - just how good is he? he simply destroyed Wigan - and I bet he is as quick if not quicker than Ashton. Already I think he's my MOS favourite.
I really like his play.
A shout out for Liam Tindall - again somebody who is very quick and looked at home in SL.
Sezer misfired.
Matt Peat has certainly got Wigan playing in a far more attractive way than I've seen for years.

Roll on next week.

4 tries for sio today duckie!!

I saw a tweet from Gale saying he “was trying to trap the ball”. Up there with “I didn’t know it was a party” for lame excuses!

Just read on BBC, looks like he could well end up with 8 matches!

It has to be a ban, I don't think gale is a dirty player but there is no place for that sort of challenge, it left a badly gashed leg and wasn't close to getting the ball. A very poor challenge.