I don't see how anyone can make excuses for Griffin - if the incident played out as has been described here, he is entirely at fault; baiting and banter from the crowd is a part of sport and as Slugger says, many players enjoy it - I remember Big Ali sticking his tongue out at my son a couple of seasons ago after a bit of sledging from jr - it made his afternoon.

Griffin is no different to any other player - if he didn't like what he heard, he should have ignored it; chucking something at the shouter was irresponsible and daft - imagine the mess he'd be in if it had bounced off the head of the offspring of a particularly litigous parent.

I called him to his face, and he showed his the mardy sod, i have crapped scarier! If he were to come back here it would be the worse move ever for both parties, crowd against him from day 1, he has shown he doesn't have the mettle to deal with the grief.

In my view there is a difference between name calling and violence, both are wrong however in most cases violence is seen as more wrong. He is a professional player and should act as such

I don’t mind payers giving a bit back, I recall last year the FC fans giving Cockayne hell all throughout the match, particularly as he fumbled a kick early in the game, yet when he was giving it to them at the end after an unlikely Trinity victory they were most upset and claiming he was inciting them.

I’ve no issue with Griffin giving something back, but not by chucking a bottle into the crowd and you would expect he will be dealt with appropriately, but as kinley said, you can’t expect to call someone a bellend without expecting some sort of negative reaction from the target.

I agree with all the comments to say Griffin is wrong to throw something into the crowd. I'm quite sure he'll be dealt with for that.
The bit that gets me a bit is that some see it as ok to bait a player but then are all distraught when the player reacts. Isn't that what they were aiming for?
By all means call him and laugh when he gets a ban but there is no point going all "how dare he" when he reacts.
He gets more stick than most from Wakefield fans. I think he's got every right to react.....its just if he over reacts, there will be consequences.
In just the same way that if a crowd of lads start jeering another guy in the crowd and are abusive, it is wrong for the other guy to stick one on him, but you ought to expect it.

I fail to see how unless the referee/officials saw the event, or somebody complains through the official channels. Given our cosy relationship with the Hetheringtons I can't see it being us.

There is a danger though that if we don't say anything that, as it is in the public domain, the RFL will know anyway.

I take your point though, which in some ways makes it worse. If not reported it can just be seen as hear say crowd trouble......which reflects on us.

He should not have thrown the water bottle suppose it had hit a child what then, its ok saying its only plastic but the drinking end could cause damage to the eye.His reaction would have been better if he had shouted "but this bellend is winning hows it going with you".I dont agree with calling a player all the names under the sun a little light banter yes but getting personal no.

Hope not. Don't rate him at all.

Perhaps his reply was in the bottle.

When I was playin cricket one time, someone shouted at me and called me a bellend



my retort was "well you've been watching a team play with a bellend for 3 hours so what does that make you"

that being said, Griff will have heard many worse things as a player. I watch normanton and give opposition players lighthearted stick.

I don't think "oi you bellend" is abusive.

It must have touched a raw nerve with him.