I believe the Houston incident ended Benthams career.

Didn't Bentham also break his leg in a Wigan v HKR game a couple of years earlier?

I remember now. The incident in his last game was deemed an accident.

Apart from the ref contacts I do think Matt is a very emotional/petulant type of player. In the Leeds v Cas game at Headingley in 2017 he twice picked up the ball and kicked it into the stands when decisions went against him, with no action taken. Back in the day if Eric Clay or Billy Thompson had been reffing he would have been sent to fetch the ball himself while the crowd would be jeering him.

Eric Clay and Billy Thompson - now there's two names to bring back memories. They refereed in black jackets and white shirts if I remember correctly and wasn't Eric Clay nicknamed Sergeant Major. Certainly not to be messed with.

Yes Eric Clay was Sgt Major Clay! I once had the pleasure of talking with Alex Murphy who told me that just prior to one game, with Murphy lining up for Saints, he said to Eric Clay, " It's a nice day for rugby today Mr Clay", to which Eric Clay replied, "Yes it is Alex, and that's the last time you talk to me until after ther match!"
Rugby players are always protrayed as tough no nonsense guys, but they do have repect for the referee, which is to be admired, unlike those pampered fairies who play the round ball game!

*Did* have respect for the referee; that era is long gone.

These days, players have so little respect for the referee that some of them feel emboldened to physically assault him if they perceive him to be 'standing in the wrong place.' I predict that next week, Matt Parcell will drop the nut on James Child, for 'looking at him in a funny way.'

Sad times.

Although my favourite tale is one of player-power.

When Jim Mills was playing for Workington, the Widnes-based referee Mick Naughton was reffing the game in Workington and needed a lift, so Jim took him. The usual Jim Mills thuggery ensued, and when Mick Naughton summonsed him over. Jim Mills reportedly said, "If I walk, you walk." He stayed on the pitch.

Don't know if it's true, but I heard that one a long time ago.

I’m not sure on this one but if he is targeting the ref what the hell is he hoping to achieve from it, I find it all very odd indeed.

Eric Clay!!
I used to have a season ticket on the ringside at Wigan. Boston had just run over the winger and fullback for his third or fourth try. As he was walking back Clay turned to Billy and said, "That's your last Billy, they've had enough"
There was about 10 minutes to go and every time the ball came out to Wigans right Clay blew for a forward pass, knock on, anything, what a character.

I would suggest that he wasn't going to get to the ball and saw a chance to "hit" the ref instead.
How many times do you need to look at the footage to see that the collision could and should have been avoided.

How many times have you seen players collide with the ref, both this season and previous years and Parcel has been "unlucky" 3 times this year.

He let himself and his team down, there is no defence..

Don't know about respect for the referee, Trinity, but you will recall the incident when, it was may be Billy Thompson, was reffing a match at Belle Vue and an incident occurred. The ref placed his hankie on the ground to mark the spot where play had stopped. When he turned his back Mick Morgan picked up the hankie and promptly blew his nose in it.