not allowed to look at the screen, are they?

The on field ref isn't. But when we now have two refs looking at video footage I would have thought an objective decision could be made is good time.

To me the issue of the VR is my main concern. I can accept that a ref can look away and not see an incident in a split second. But I am sure (I maybe wrong so forgive me) that we have seen players carded in the past following a VR intervention. Sam Moa against the Broncos springs to mind from 2 seasons ago. As I say I might be mistaken. But I am sure the ref on the day took some advice.
We seem to go to the VR for everything now Thaler esp last night. It's almost like NFL. The players of today do not react to incidents in the way they did in bygone years, so when they do react a ref's instinct must tell him that there was a problem. Use of technology last night would surely have resulted in a word in Thalers ear and positive action taken.
For the dignity of the sport there is only so many times a TV audience can hear a ref say "I didn't see it so I will put it on report" The whole use of technology is so that things do not go missed and the results should be within the rules and fairness of the game. Tries are wiped out now that would have been given previously due to the unseen little knock on etc. we look (or did last night) to see how to restart a game as opposed to relying on what a ref sees there and then. Yet we can't punish foul play there and then because the ref never saw it. For me that's very poor. I would say this if the boot was on the other foot as well.

what is the point of on report in any case. Surely all games are scrutinised and incidents seen or not are assessed for foul play. For me on report should be benefit of doubt for the team offended against and players binned. If it's later proven that the player has no case to answer well that's the way the cookie crumbles. Elima scored last night when IMHO he should have been off. It could have cost us the game. (That's not taking into account our poor defence , kicking etc)

Didnt the ref look at the screen before sending Sam Moa off against London

From where I was sat in the west stand it looked like Thaler was looking at the big posh bright screen and looking at the replays. I thought that he also turned to look at the smaller Sky screen. I did note that most of the Hull players turned to watch the replays and some we're pointing at the screen.

O.T did anyone else find the big screens brightness distracting?

Not sure its Catalan style as someone said, but its definitley Elima style. Disgraceful player

rather than ban him the RFL should make him play the full 80 for 3 matches, teams would have a field day with all the penalties he gives away .

he used to be a pretty good player but is gash nowadays, dirty and niggly.

Having watched it back this morning, to be fair to Thaler ( which isn't easy after his inconsistent performance last night) he does ask the video refs if they've seen a deliberate twist. He gets a negative reply, so probably has little option than to put it on report. Especially as he gave the penalty for something he had seen, a flop by Fakir.

Westerman showed great restraint.

8 matches at least, I'm sick of seeing thuggery.

He's always been a w@nker. He'll get away with it or a minimal ban but IMO it was far worse than an instinctive high tackle as it was pre meditated and a deliberate attempt to cause major injury

He has always had a problem with discipline, and it's about time cheap shot merchants like him were taken out of the game.

good post

The play was already stopped while Azza received attention. This time could be spent reviewing the SAME evidence that the panel will see on Tuesday from the SAME 6 angles. In three Sky matches over the last week, we've seen three or four incidents that should have resulted in red cards, no questions asked.

It IS a cop out. No matter what our resident 1950's ex-referee says.

This is becoming the biggest problem with the game at the moment.
Scared to send anyone off and if banned by the panel it is the next opponent's who get the benefit.

First time I've had access to the internet since Friday. I agree wholeheartedly with the above. The on-report option gives the refs an easy way out IMO and as a result they've lost their bottle.