Let's face it. All true supporters know that the RFL have never been able to organise a 'booze-up-in-a-brewery' (to put it in polite terms) and they never respond to queries raised by supporters.

Although I have had concerns about Paul March in the past, everyone needs to stand up for their beliefs, and Paul has.

Even MICKY 1920's video of the Leigh game showed that the final pass, from which they scored their winning try, was forward, so why can't a cheating referee be criticised?

CORRUPTION REIGNS AT RED HALL!

Without knowing the specifics of the incident, I wouldn't suggest the referee would make up something against Marchy, but two human beings can remember identical events very differently. When there are preconceptions, perhaps caused by the fact Marchy was already banned for comments to the officials, it makes it easier to think something different to what is actually said. I'm not saying that is the case, just that referees are human and they are slaves to human psychology....

Guilty or innocent, 2 months is a long ban. In my opinion where there has been no precedent I'm aware of and there's been no mention of any guidelines for this type offence that has been mentioned.
All that said C'mon Cougars, let's raise our game even more and keep on winning!

As Marchy is also a player the RFL are, in effect, restricting him plying his trade as a professional player and leaves us one player down for the two month period. They may be doing us a favour and we will lift our game, as I am sure we can, and give some teams a right bending.

I entirely agree with this.

However, referee and RFL bashing has been on the rise from SL coaches and directors, some of it bordering on libel, and it makes you wonder if the RFL are using this incident as a warning to others. Let's face it, they would not dare do this to a SL club in the same circumstances.

It's a bit like arguing against the Police, the courts will nearly always believe the official.

Makes this critical season very difficult now.

The news article was top of the BBC news on the BBC Rugby League site prior to the Friday night matches. I hope the RFL are happy that a clear message has been sent and would be prepared to shorten it.... Being banned from the stadium is a step up from the playing ban he received, which makes sense given he was purely coaching at the time, but the ban being 2 months rather than 1 months screams to me disproportionate justice at the hands of judge, jury and executioner: the RFL.

I agree with Lawkholme Len, I think are squad can still play really well without Marchy present at games, but they need to be switched on, committed and focused. We can get through this, let's kick off with a good win tomorrow!
C'mon Cougars!

Paul March has been one of our better players and has been able to up the tempo when coming in off the bench. However, we have a number of quality players on the injury list who must be close to returning.

We will need to feed off this ban for motivation but stay focused. It's all too easy to fall into the "they've all got it in for us" trap.

I think I would be banging on the door of a stand-in pitchside coach on match days only such as Paul Moses or Keith Dixon just for the two moths.

IMHO we've players experienced enough in Tiger ,Buster ,Shick ,White and Lindsay that should be able to play coach-less on a match day, plus a highly experienced heads in Adam Mitchell and Paul Royston on the sidelines

Fully agree, unless Brian Noble would volunteer to help Marchy as well for a couple of months.

The players mentioned are just that, players, and sometimes when involved in the rough a tough of the game cannot see things that someone in the gantry, or on the sidelines can see. Good players don't necessarily make good coaches as we all know. I agree with Len, budget allowing is there scope to get someone in short term. This is a crucial season and 2 months is a long time.

Whilst Adam and Paul have their merits, both are qualified fitness coaches. I know Adam played the game and coached one of the Bradford teams at ammeter level, but does he really have the qualification/experience at this level on his own?

Football tends to have the finances to screen matches to the suspended coach who can be in contact with his staff on match days. I'm not sure we have that same luxury. Given the severity of the penalty it wouldn't surprise me in the RFL policed this very intrusively.

Surely a touch line ban is more suitable. I'm not aware of our other coaching staff, but when March is playing they must surely take the lead on interchanges and other tactics. Also players such as handforth will have a pre determined game plan for kicks etc, there's only one way to take out this frustration and it's on the pitch. See everyone tomorrow for another win.

I'm sure there are ways and means for Marchy to manoeuvre himself into a position whereby he can see the Cougar Park action without actually being inside the stadium.
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I think his punishment is draconian and unprecedented. The RFL doesn't seem to like our club very much.

Think we should have a very big banner especially in front of the cameras at Widnes - 'FREE PAUL MARCH'.

Cracked it! Hide behind the scoreboard! On second thoughts he'd probably tamper with the scores or the clock.

the ref & touch judges for the Leigh game were a complete joke, they made the 3 stooges look like mensa candidates. Leatherbarrow was the ref & he ultimately cost us the game with his inane/insane take on the rules of the game (not the 1st time a Leatherbarrow as contributed to our downfall playing for & against us). Finally this trio were so inept you would not trust them to know their a**e from their elbow & if it's down to them well RL (let alone Keighley) is doomed.