If you watch the footage when Griffin takes his gum shield out and walks over to Kendal it does suggest or look that he did say the word Sir, granted my lip reading skills aren't proven. Kendal states he argued with Griffin for a short period, then as he walked away saying f'in bull s**t he produced the yellow. So how many players are going to be yellow carded from now on when they walk away with their back to the Ref saying similar which happens almost every time a whistle is blown?

Kendal then also states Griffin turned back round to say f'in cheat which is why he then produced a red. Yet if you watch the footage from 115.53 the angle shows Griffin get the yellow and walk away shaking his head and chuntering to himself and then Kendal pulls out a red and calls Griffin back which is the point he turns around.

This is why Kendals version doesn't sit right to me.

Two slightly conflicting accounts and the MRP comes down on the side of official, that was always going to happen.
Ultimately Josh should have kept his trap shut but its done now and we'll have to do without him for the next 6 games.
Time to focus on tonights game.

I assume Percival is missing for Saints, anyone else?

Think both Percival and Makinson are out for St's I think as the latter did his hamstring

Hopefully Walmsley and Paasi are feeling a bit tired too

]

So your fine with, Guilty until proven innocent?
I doubt it would be the same result in a legal court, without the evidence of guilt.

A few injuries and a completely different left edge for last week, No Swift, Sutcliffe, Griffin, Hoy. Shaul at 1, Litten wing and Dwyer dropped. Left edge Litten, Scott, Lane, Clifford

That edge is going to struggle big time I reckon.
Glad Dwyer has been dropped as his performances have warranted it. Imagine Lovodua will jump in at 9 then? Though wouldn't be surprised to see Houghton do the full 80.

Dwyer dropped, not rested?

Don't get me wrong, Griffin was wrong to question the Kendall, even with his chain of events it still isn't the greatest way to speak to an official.

But the key element here is that their is zero evidence Griffin did in fact call Kendall a cheat. To ban a player for 2 months of action with zero evidence other than Kendall (who has history of been proven wrong in these situations) is incredibly harsh, and compounded by the fact that a couple hours earlier a player got a smaller ban for possibly the worst tackle I have seen.

Gulp

I'd suggest dropped given both his performances and also that he's actually been playing less minutes (again maybe down to his performances) so wouldn't need resting.

Absolute madness to play Shaul in front of Litten, really disappointing if true, makes zero sense if true

Should be Litten at Full Back and Barron on the wing. I can't get my head around sticking with players who have no future with us - Shaul, Dwyer, Lovodua etc

If Swift is indeed ruled out tonight I'd rather see Litten remain at FB and bring Baron in on the wing. As much as it will be a tough game I don't see any real difference in having Litten on the wing as opposed to Baron. Surely its better to progress with player who in the clubs future plans rather than ones that aren't?

Certainly think we look stronger with Litten at FB than with Shaul, either way really going to be a tough ask tonight.