Somebody just put Knowles disciplinary record up on Twitter. He has apparently been charged 44 times since 2018. Now all weren’t bans and some would’ve just been a caution but that Is incredible if true. Maybe there wasn’t any malicious intent in this (I’m sure there wasn’t to be fair) but he’s clearly got some real issues with his tackling techniques.

Conspiracy. All made up just to try and ban him.

That isnt a very good stat tbh. And they have the cheak to call us 'dirty'

McGillvery has gone public about the tackle, as it was just coincidental that the same Saints player was involved in both incidents.

He's been looked at 44 times since '18, the killer though as a Saints fan pointed out is 9 charges and counting since the start of the '22 season, that's a lot of matches sat on his backside for someone who should be a pack leader alongside Roby and Walmsley

It feels like he’s going to need to reinvent his game in some ways or else it will keep happening. He is a cracking player, all effort and will to win but he’s putting other players at risk with the small ‘detail’ I’m sure goes in to his work. They’ve done all this work to stop things like punching but I’m sure a player would rather be punched in the face, than sit out of the game for 6 to 12 months (as McGillvary and Cooper have done). Kaide Ellis got 5 games for a minor scuffle last season and Knowles got to play in a Grand Final, a week after an awful lookimg challenge on Chris Atkin.

5 match ban for Knowles

Not enough

Not really much else Wellens can say in public. I have a lot of respect for Wellens, not only was he a superb player but he seems like a likeable coach and man just as we have in Matty Peet. It's nice to see a fierce rivalry being respected by both coaches.

On the injury. You would have to say it's the end of the road for his playing career and i would imagine he is being medically advised (privately) that this would be the best decision. It's a terrible age for that kind of injury.

What i will say though is the intensity in our pack improved measurably when Cooper joined and his presence has obviously had a big impact on our young props. I would be very much for the idea that he uses his time to build his coaching career and takes a job on the staff. His experience both in the Super League and NRL will stand him in good stead.

Be interesting to see if any other player gets a 5 match ban for the same offence

Suppose it’ll depend on their history, especially history regarding those types of tackles.

Mike Critchley (from the St Helens Star ) has asked if the England v France game will count towards the ban for me it shouldn't

It probably will although it shoudlnt

However, with the England being a certain Mr Wane, maybe he wont pick Knowles just to make sure he misses 5 league games....

It won't matter, there's a reserves round the same weekend as the International and that WILL count for both Knowles and Dudson, and anybody else for that matter whose suspension falls on that weekend
I don't agree with it but it's always been the case and I'm sure we will have benefitted in the past, as Joe Westerman did earlier in the season.

It's wrong, though, isn't it, whoever benefits? It's contrary to the spirit of the game, and should be stopped.