Respectfully, I think you're the one comparing apples and oranges now I know you've not done so maliciously, but you're making a strawman argument right now.

A careless and reckless tackle should be punished, absolutely. However, most genuine accidental head clashes should not be penalised as both the runner and tackler have a responsibility to ensure their heads don't whack into each other. Mulhern is running hard and Cooper is sliding to close the gap, it's unfortunate but a few miscalculations cause a headclash. It happens. I also don't dispute the ruling, but the new rules are just awful and I don't know any rugby fan that does like them.

I don't believe we'll come to an agreement on this so we'll just agree to disagree.

We are past that point and although accidental it still happened and was caused by Cooper. I have almost no doubt that Cooper got off lightly because he got knocked out himself and he would have almost 100% been sent off had Mulhern been knocked out instead. I personally think something like this should be chalked off as part of the game but it’s not and hasn’t been for a while, I also think that the fact Cooper got knocked out and not Mulhern also shouldn’t make any difference in decision but it always sways the officials.

I agree, I said to my partner at the time that I wouldn't be surprised if he was banned, the match review panels definitely reduced the punishment out of pity as he'll already miss the derby through HIA protocol.

Mbye appeal unsuccessful.

I’m happy with that.

Thank you.

What no additional matches for a frivolous appeal? What happened to that rule?

p.s. I am not saying Mbye should have got an extra ban.

Can we not appeal that? Hes dire

Looking more and more likely that Dodd has been dropped, Welsby to 6, Lomax to 7 and Robertson making his debut at FB. Huge call by Wellens and a last roll of the dice. Had he had 10-15 mins earlier in the season against the likes of London he would've been more prepared.

Now he's thrown in against the best team in the comp away from home.

Robertson hasnt played first team yet? or just not this season?

Nope, hasn't played at all.

It is a roll of the dice but it could also be a blessing in disguise as it will give you far more in what is currently a misfiring half back combination. In addition it's also looking likely that we'll be giving a young lad his debut in arguably the most pivotal position on the field which, along with it being only the 2nd game together for Smith and Farrimiond, goes some way to evening out Robertson's debut.

Again though for me its slightly different. Wigan are flying, high on confidence and have far less injuries. Mautautia and Hurrell are now believed to be out on Friday so thats Makinson, Walmsley, Knowles, Batchelor, Whitley, Wingfield, Matuatia and Hurrell missing. Plus Mbye banned.

We are at rock bottom in terms of confidence together with all those players unavailable. Its 4 of our starting pack missing.

Don't forget though Stu we're just a two man team in Field and French and one of them is missing, swings and roundabouts

I don't disagree with any of that, particularly with regards to confidence. I would mitigate it somewhat though by saying both Hurrell and Bachelor have been from average to downright awful this year so I'm not sure they're much of a loss and Whitley and Wingfield don't make it into your first team if everyone is fit. They're not dissimilar to us losing Cooper or Isa. The others are more genuine losses but then so are Field, Leeming and, particularly, O'Neil for us.

I'm not pretending it's even by any means. We're in a far better position than you because of squad depth and how we're playing. Plus we can afford to lose this game far more than Saints can.