I was actually hoping Smith picked up a ban as it meant we would have more chance of seeing Williams at 7 and Rocky at 6. I appreciate there is little difference between the halves these days but I am a little old school and like to see a more controlling 7 and a dynamic 6.

Unfortunately I don't think it will happen. I think we will see Williams paired with Powell.

Williams & Hampshire for me.
It won't happen but at some point SW will have to play these two in tandem at half back.
Would give us lots of pace and with Hampshire we can expect the unexpected.
Just hope that SW takes the plunge even though he will probably see it as the riskier option certainly in defence

If he doesn't pick Hampshire he is an idiot. I would say he is the greatest talent I have seen in about 25 years. Would have him at my club in a heartbeat.

I cannot believe Suttons tackle was brought up for the hit on Kevin Brown , it was perfectly fair and it must get the players frustrated.

I can't believe ben Westwood got off without even being charged this week.

Westwood's high shot was 10x worse than Ah Van's. Could have caused a really serious injury.

No way! Ha. I only saw that last night for the first time I just presumed he'd be looking at a few matches on the sidelines.

Ben Westwood has to be one of the luckiest players around when it comes to the disciplinary. A ban from a friendly against Italy for a disgraceful hit on Blake Green in the grand final when he should have got 4-5 games and nothing for that on Sunday.

We're in for another top season from the officials by the looks of things.

Westwood right call, Ah Vans was wrong.
Westood's is chest to neck, in real time though it looks really nasty.

Surprise surprise.

Hahahahaha

Match review panel, Jamie Peacock and John Kear must be Wire fans too then?

Like i said in real time it looks very nasty and at the game no one would have been angry if a red had been shown.

In real time, Ben Westwood showed no due care for the safey of the player. If it did hit the chest first he was very lucky as he certainly had very little control over where he was going to hit him.

At best it was reckless, extremely careless and very dangerous

Spot on.

I'd sum up the difference between Ah Van's challenge and Westwoods with one word- 'intent'.

Ah Van was a little careless but to me it wasn't malicious whereas Westwood was reckless and was quite clearly trying to knock the bloke senseless.

Lucky lad...again.

Ah Van's was rightly a red card because it was dangerous and reckless and had the potential to cause injury (which it did). It might have been accidental, which helps him in the eyes of the disciplinary, any forceful dangerous challenge that makes direct contact to the head has to result in a red card. People might moan about the game going soft but you've got to punish players heavily for challenges like that, especially with the new rules involving concussion being introduced.

Westwood's was a forceful challenge but probably not as bad as it looked. The arm hit the shoulder first and then rose up to hit the head. The initial contact was fair but the arm can easily slide up after contact with the upper arm/shoulder. The fact that both players were running towards each other meant there was a lot of momentum in it. Saying that there's still danger posed by Westwood's tackle. There's less chance of a concussion but there is a risk of a neck injury in a tackle like that. It might be something that the officials and the disciplinary committee should look into regarding their interpretation but under the current interpretations it isn't a red card or worthy of a ban.

Powell has been given the nod as expected.

Wane States that Hampshire hasn't blown him away at fullback this year, well no , he isn't a fullback and never will be. How about you try him in his more natural position instead of stating he isn't going to get a shot because he's been poor at fullback?

I like Wane, sometimes though his logic and comments just confuse you and make you wonder what goes through his head.