Quote: Stu M "If Vaughan doesn't win his appeal or they don't bother then their lack of forwards evens it up a bit more from what I first thought.
We'll know at 12pm definitely when the squads are named but it seems like Batchelor is back which is a huge bonus however Sironen and Paasi are still missing plus Wingfield failed his HIA last week so that still leaves us with Knowles, Walmsley, Matautia plus the above 3 missing.
Paasi I believe may need an operation so not sure how long he is out for but he's been playing with an injury all season so it needs sorting whatever it is.
Lees thankfully escaped a ban. However on that subject its not hard to see why Saints fans are frustrated with the process. Thaler didn't penalise him on Friday and only binned him after consulting with the touch judge. Thaler said he connected with the HKR players chest. Lo and behold the RFL then say there is no case to answer for it.
This is the second time this season that Lees has been binned, the opposition have scored a couple of tries whilst we have been down to 12 men and then the RFL say there is no case when it comes to the MRP.'"
You can be sin binned in a game and then there be no case to answer by the MRP. Similarly, you can not be penalised in the game and then get a charge/ban afterwards. The two aren't necessarily connected, which I'm sure you know really.
If Thaler has taken advice from his TJ and decided to use that to sin bin him then he clearly feels the TJ was in a better position to make the call as he doesn't have to listen to him if he doesn't want so the issue is with the TJ and not the MRP or the RFL. Maybe the TJ Union has it in for Saints?