Compared to the Keighran tackle in the GF which I though was worse and he got sin bin sufficient I think Smith will be OK.

The focus has been about direct contact to the head rather than this type of tackle so I think he should be OK.

The one they will look at more is Ellis - although there were mitigating factors in ellis bending his back, the attacker falling but all depends on how much of a statement the panel want to make in the first week.

On a side note, I think Luke 1st clashed heads then copped an elbow from the Cas player (unintentional) all part of the same tackle. Pretty unlucky.

About the 18th minute Luke Thompson went into the tackle on a Cas player, as he goes down he collides with Liam Byrnes knee, not so friendly fire!!

Obviously with his history any reoccurrence’s are a worry for Thompson but from the bruising/markings any player could have received a concussive injury as Thompson did. Hopefully nothing too serious and no loss of confidence.
I was quite pleased with his preseason performances and hopefully he will be a major asset for us going forward.

If anything I thought Ellis could do no more, his shoulders appeared to be almost parrallel to the floor he had his back bent that much, if he cops any kind of punishment for that then it is very harsh and I think the RFL would need to consider new rules that say the attacking player cannot bend their back when running in and if they slip then it is deemed a tackle even if a player does not touch them

So has everyone who travelled over got dry yet?

Agreed, if you look at that first incident on around 4 minutes, its a classic head clash with the sweat/rain flying off both their heads (it was the Lebanese forward that plays for Cas). I'm amazed that both didn't get checked then. Thompson was a bit slow to move after that tackle but carried on until the later incident around 16 minutes as stated.

Just on the Thompson HIA in this game, am I right in thinking that if he fails another one within a certain timeframe he has to sit out three months (ala Morgan Gannon at Leeds)?

If true he'd be a very expensive spectator sat in the stands