This incident with Briers and Ablett started way before the final punch. Reviewing it on the TV coverage, you will see at minute 16:52, Ablett tackles Briers. Effects the tackle legally, but then has a bit of "afters" which don't get fully covered by the camera. It was right in front of me, and I can assure you, Ablett's hand was in briers' face while Briers was on the floor. Briers was trying to get up and Ablett was preventing him from doing so.

Hopefully, there are other camera views that cover this should Briers have to go up before the panel, as the provocation of Briers' punch was a long time in the making.

Knee jerk reaction from the fans in the heat of the moment. But pleased your eyesight is ok

Should have been sent off, no question about it. Child bottled it. But on the flip side, it's about time we got away with something. Leeds have been doing it for years so it's nice to do it whilst playing them. I'm sure they will get the decisions that send them to the Grand Final though.



Waterhouse will still get plenty of s***e on here, regardless. Grix's try was simply awesome.



Westwood was a machine in that game. Hilarious seeing the overrated players thread on the VT and a pie eater adding Super Benny's name to the list. Haha!



I'm loving this Monaghan/Higham combination tiring out the opposition. Was talking about it during the game and it was noted that Saints used to do that all the time, with Cunningham scooting then Roby would come on and scoot and it would just knacker the opposition out.



Really really don't care about the commentary team. Eddie has never liked us, he's always been a Widnes/St Helens fan regardless of the fact that he lives in Appleton. But that's up to him. They should replace Eddie with Bill Arthur or Rod Studd. Both are much better announcers than Hemmings.



I'm more relieved than happy, as I was really nervous about the game, but I'll enjoy next weeks matches knowing we have a week off and then the big decision of what team to pick. I have a feeling Hull can turn over Huddersfield, they seem to be shot. And as for the other game, I don't normally do this but I want Saints to win.

I haven't seen it on play back. Was it handbags? Any chance from what you have seen he will get cited?

-Have a look at the Briers incident again Ablett hit Briers right in the chops and finished on the collar then did some gobbing off in Briers shell like-Yes he shouldn't have reacted like that -But Childs wasn't going to take action -so one blow to the head deserves another to the head. Even though Briers missed and hit his shoulder - I like Leeds have many friends over there -But please take off the Leeds Goggles and look at the incident again - I agree with the benefit of doubt try shouldn't have been given -But look again at the two forward passes on Sinfield try. That also should not have been given - Please give the Saints a thrashing and we could meet again for your revenge (?)

Well, on the Virtual Terrace, a lot of people are asking what ban he will get, and one of the higher grades includes "running in". He never ran in. Ablett did his usual s***thouse impression (probably from an offside position no doubt), and grabbed Lee by the collar and put him down, then said something. Child blew for the initial penalty to us. Briers got up, and as Ablett was turning around, he did his own s**thouse impression and threw a punch at him.

Then there were handbags. Child has a word with his TJ's, and then gave the penalty to Leeds. Didn't put it on report, didn't send him off or to the sin-bin. There were questions that he actually didn't see the incident, but he must have done as he changed his decision and gave the penalty to Leeds. If he hadn't have seen the decision or already blew up for the penalty to us (which he did), he shouldn't have changed his mind, so he must have seen something.

Either way, he bottled out of sending him to the sin bin/sending him off. Leeds fans were furious, Lee Briers was lucky, Warrington fans were chanting there is only Lee Briers, Carl Ablett was on the receiving end for a change, and for once in a long time, a decision actually went against Leeds.

people are saying, inconsistency with the referees, I'm just watching the game back, I'm seeing the general inconsistency in Leeds favour, 1st half, Joel moon decides to turtle on top of the ball prevention the funny half to pick up the ball, play on.

5 minutes later, cooper does same thing, penalty.

second half, carvell penalised for knee in on Maguire at the play the ball. next set, Maguire does the exact same thing, no penalty.

IHarrison got penalised for pushing Bailey over at the play the ball, Jones Buchanon has just blatantly pushed someone over, at the try line after a load of wrestling on the floor.


as I said on the vt, I can't see why people are feeling sorry for Leeds, they still got plenty of favourable calls, as they always do

It clear on tv that Ablett's first contact is Brier's face and then grabs the collar.

Ryan Bailey didn't take a single hit-up in the last 30 minutes of the game. Plenty of pointing to other forwards to do the hard work but for the "extra prop" not to take a hit-up for 30 minutes is alarming.

So Child got it wrong by not penalising Ablett in the first place? There was no punch?

For the Sinfield try the Watkins pass to BJB was fine, the inside ball from BJB to Sinfield was forward for me.

Just what I was thinking. At the match, Ablett made the tackle and the play stopped. Briers DID NOT react to the tackle but Ablett turned and clearly said something to him as he went past and that is what incensed Briers. No-one on here knows what went on, and shouldn't be so quick to judge.

it really was nothing....Briers shouldn't have reacted but the limp punch he threw hit the SH1th0us£ on the shoulder...it was handbags and if it had happened back in 1988 it would have been way down the list of things to talk about.

I reckon he might kop a 1 match ban reduced to a fine with an early plea....at the most.

This is Lee Briers...not Ryan Baily or Mickey Mac...he hasn't said boo to a goose more than twice in 15 years.

And for Sky commentators to suggest that he should miss the rest of the season (probably his best chance ever to get a GF ring) is nothing short of a disgrace....and if I was Smithy...no more Sky interviews for a while.

Pray4ablett

Also did you see after the briers punch the game REALLY went up a few notches in intensity... What did bailey do? That's right... He jogged over to the other side of the pitch and stood next to the centre... He made sure he was well out of the action for a good while.

The biggest coward in rugby.

Fair play to ablet, he took the ball in.... He got smashed and left on the floor, but at least he got involved.

Strange thread this. It's as if the Briers incident was the only thing that happened in the game. I was there and can remember quite a few superb moves and 7 excellent Wire tries. We should be celebrating a superb win.
briers hasn't been in trouble for years. He'll cop an early plea and either get one game or a fine. It was absolutely nothing anyway. it was such a poor attempt at a punch that he must have been coached by Audley Harrison.