It's not like Clubb is off-balance or Lineham is falling into the tackle either though is it? It's not deliberate but it is a reckless/dangerous technique rather than totally accidental. If he bends his back it's still a good hit, but Lineham probably doesn't go off with a head injury and Clubb doesn't pick up a ban. This really isn't an example of 'the game has gone soft' IMO, and if Sims had done it to Tierney we would be screaming blue murder.

I agree, that is a disgraceful ban. They say the sport is a game of inches, millimetres looking at that.

You're incredibly patronising, especially for someone who was actually wrong.

To answer you question, Ben Westwood's punch in the grand final was cynical and deliberate. I thought it worthy of more than one match. I didn't realise it was only one as i didn't much care after a grand final defeat tbh.

Clubbs offence here is against the rules these days and is reckless.

Do i think that should be a ban, and against the rules? No i don't.

But it is, isn't it? And no amount of faux outrage or anti wigan nonsense will change that.

The fact is, we know more now about concussion that we ever have and the rules have been changed to help protect our sporting heroes in both their careers and in later life. If you don't like that then i suggest you spend your life watching youtube and the 'Good old days'

My issue is the inconsistent refereeing. Nothing more.

And before you say it, yes i played the game. For twenty years. Yes i like most got knocked out plenty of times, and yes it was to a high standard until i got too old.

I don't mean to be patronising, but I understand that's it's difficult to get your tone across in text form.

Can't say I know the exact ruling, I'm just going off what kind of tackles traditionally get punished. And if it's correct that Clubb's tackle was illegal according to the rulebook, then I agree that it's the ruling and inconsistency of the referees that's the problem.

Has Clubb tried to rough Lineham up a little bit? Of course. Has he tried to deliberately knock him unconscious? Definitely not. So, while you make a good point on concussions and such, I think a bit of common sense is needed rather than just banning players left, right and centre every time someone comes off second best in a tackle.

With the evidence has been posted fair enough. Rules are rules at the end of the day.

BTW anyone else see the hit by Sims (who else?) on Joe Burgess in the Roosters/Newcastle game?

They said it was shoulder to head, but it looked more like forearm to head to me on first viewing. Knocked him into the middle of next week, anyway.