How has Lineham been banned for moving off the mark? The disciplinary minutes mention him using the shoulder in the 65th minute, but watching it back there’s nothing of the sort in that incident. The pedant Child explains to Hill that the penalty was for moving off the mark instead of playing the ball where he should have. There’s nothing dirty about it, IMO. Was he banned because he's got ‘previous’ this year? I honestly don’t understand.

Bollock(s)!

Widnes v Toulouse!!

Chris Hill was a model player as regards discipline when he played for us at Leigh. It has obviously been coached into him at the Wire. So my question is which coach is responsible, as he is never in trouble with England either.

Good post.
He's a good captain but does give away daft penalties.
He doesn't call the plays on the pitch anyway.

I would probably say that Hill has slowly declined over the years since being given the captaincy, I actually think it burdens his abilities as a player. The amount of penalties he gives way now compared to 3-4 years has most probably increased (without actually checking the averages over a season). And far to often he gets involved with ‘dummy spits’ with referees when something goes against him and sometimes with opposition players. It certainly didn’t go on when he first arrived from Leigh, when he was a lot more no nonsense and he seemed to make a lot of yardage on the back of it.

Ps this isn’t a major dig at Hill, he’s still one of the first players I’d have down on my team sheet..

Agree with this, he moans too much and for me it puts him off his game. He would be much better just leading by example, just knuckling down and getting on with the game. He would be a great captain if he did that.

Exactly I think it’s an element ‘trying to hard’ at times with Hill and a lot of it boils down to outright frustration. Saturday nights game against Catalan, his behaviour at times was a prime example of that, although I do admit that was a pressure cooker scenario given catalans tactics/agenda and Childs ineptitude.

I am hopeful that Widdop is given the reigns of captaining the side next season as I think we will see more of the old Chris Hill back and it would enable Widdop to really stamp his authority on the side. I’m sure he would revel in leadership of the team & it would allow the likes of Austin, Clarke and Ratchford to follow on the back of it.

There are more players than Hill with disciplinary problems. Discipline along with poor handling & silly errors has plummeted especially this season.

I don't think Hill is suited to on field captaincy, as simple as that. Some players know how to deal with referees and some don't, he is in the latter camp.

Edited for accuracy

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/55 ... rum-banned

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/55 ... rum-banned

Edwards is very lucky.

Hill has only given away 11 penalties this season, so yes there are plenty worse than him.

2nd Mar Catalans 2
7th Mar Castleford 2
19th Apr Salford 2
18th May Hull FC 3
25th May Wigan 1
3rd Aug Catalans 1

We need a captain that the ref deems approachable though, and one that will calmly ask the ref if there's anything we need to work on.

I still think he could be picked up as part of the separate investigation into the off field incident.

It did cause some Catalans fans to the right of us to get up and start to climb over seats to try and get involved. My mate told them to calm down and didn't let them past.