Not the best example to use.

I think had it been a hard collision and possible head, neck or spinal issue then fine I can understand the repercussions of trying to get a player up but I think Gale will have known how much contact there was. I think Gale was wrong to try and lift Lomax up but the argument that he could have been seriously injured is a mute one and the fact once Gale was carded Lomax then stopped hobbling almost immediately and saw out the game on the field.

Think the RFL actually face a dilemma here due to the incidents and inconsistencies from the officials in that game and the level of gamesmanship particularly from Welsby who clearly played for a penalty by doing what he did by putting himself to the ground head first to con the ref. He isn't a daft lad I'm sure and he'd be aware if an opposing player was adjudged to have caused it in the tackle they'd have been carded. Again as soon as Kendall blew his whistle his holding of his neck immediately stopped and he jumped straight up. If the RFL want to stamp out foul play then it has to be all foul play both physical and gamesmanship because currently the path they are on by clamping down to severely just invites more housery play in terms of conning refs like Welsby did which will eventually kill the game.

For me Gale should get a 3 game ban and severe warning for his future conduct but also the incident involving Welsby should result in a 1 game ban for unsporting conduct as a message to say this type of action by players will not be tolerated in the game.

But knowing the RFL they will just consistently be inconsistent and to the continued detriment to the game.

Why though did Kendall not just ask the players to reset the scrum as Walmsley was still stood upright in the scrum so neither side were in the scrum correctly. Its just a bit of common sense from the man in the middle needed.

Saints told him it was a penalty to them.

It's strange, really, RU spend 10 minutes getting a scrum to form correctly and then give a penalty.

Sorry no he didn't - Lomax missed the first 15 minutes of the second half getting stitched up - and I don't know how many times you rewatched the game, but he wasn't moving freely after that moment - Dodd did significantly more of the kicking compared to last week, and most of the play went through Welsby. So this myth that "Lomax was fine" is just that, a myth.

Further to claim its a mute point that Lomax could have been seriously injured means its also a mute point if Lomax wasnt seriously injured (aka "play acting"icon_wink.gif - which was my whole point - at that moment in time Gale could have done lots of things but picking up Lomax wasnt one of them.



To me Welsby stopped holding his head as the Hull player got off him but hey ho, you see what you see right. The lawsuit against the RFL will do significantly more in "killing the game" then any perceived player indiscretions on the pitch, we have to protect players head and neck - and like it or not, thats where Welsby ended up. Welsby twisting in the tackle definitely contributed to him going to ground, and I dont think it was a bad one - but the thought Welsby decided to spear tackle himself to get a penalty is a biased perception. Much like booing Saints players for being late on the kicker ... when they were making contact wasnt late and in fact the ball was still in the players hand.



You are presupposing your version of events is the correct one, and you cant have it both ways - you cant say "Gale should be warned for his unsporting conduct" and Welsby "should get a ban for his unsporting conduct" even though one has been deemed by the RFL who are somewhat more neutral than both of us on the matter, and one has not. You are asking for inconsistency, whilst complaining about inconsistency...

Then that would be an infringement on a player, it’s up to the referee or the touch judges to decide. Can you imagine if that was allowed you wouldn’t. get a game of rugby league at all. New rules are in place for players faking injuries and it’s not given to an opposition player to execute.

Indiscipline comes in two forms by infringement or foul play, the latter will be costly this season, some coaches, players and fans have not took that on board yet and hence the crying wolf.

With regards the picking up of Lomax, I actually don't have much of a problem with that ban. In this instance it was a bit of a nothing incident but the fact touching an injured player (however injured you deem them to be is irrelevant) is an automatic grade C leads to the consistency we all want. Everyone knows where they stand.
We can't have it both ways.

You don't deny Lomax carried on playing the rest of the half and saw out the game on the field of play? I didn't need to rewatch the game as was there & saw Lomax hobble then once play got underway was movng no differently than before and he saw out the half.

I'm presupposing anything and I'm not asking for it both ways as I stated Gale should not have tried to lift Lomax up end of. I think Gale should get a ban for a misjudged charge down that made contact with the players follow through and attempting to lift Lomax needs to be dealt with but not sure it deserves more than 3 possibly 4 games in total for the offences. The RFL have deemed it a deliberate act, of what though? Deliberate act to charge down the ball and kicker, yes very likely due to the action he made, deliberate attempt to cause injury, I very much doubt it.
As for you saying Welsby twisted in the tackle? he simply lifted his own standing leg resulting in him going down and landing on his shoulder which he then portrayed as neck injury to the ref by holding his neck to then spring back up as soon as Kendall blew his whistle. It was never a penalty yet due to Welsbys gamesmanship he not only conned a penalty but resulted in seeing a fellow player carded.

I am not asking for inconsistency at all but players that are using poor sporting conduct by using foul means in a physical aspect is no more a penalty than players diving or trying to con officials such as Gaskill last seasonwhich was clear for all to see.

I whole heartedly agree that players need protection but the road the RFL seem to be heading down is inviting players to con officials. I am not pointing Welsby out as the only one but it was in the recent game but how many players over the past season or two have held the back of their necks after a tackle when the officials were hot on the crusher tackle? There were quite a few who pushed the boundary of sporting conduct by milking it which resulted in a number of players being carded.

... it's one of these arbitrary sanctions in the operational rules, graded A to F, but not specifically mentioned.

"Behaves in any way contrary to the true spirit of the game (includes Dangerous Contact) – Other contrary behaviour"

It was dumb to go in with the studs and pick up a potentially injured player. Deserves a ban, but 2 maybe 3 matches would be enough.

7/8 is unbelievably harsh, but it's what is it and we have get on with it.

Levi got 2 games (grade C but no history) for touching the player after a crusher tackle - so consistent

I'm not trying to add fuel to the fire here but Gale has been given a 3 match ban for picking up and injured opponent, Levi for Hudds has been given 2 for the same offence.

Disaplinary notes are exactly the same. Same grade but different match bans.

Does the disaplinary need to be more transparent when coming to their conclusions?

Grade C is 2-3 games depending on whether you have any previous offences in the last 12 months.
Grade A is 0-1 games which is why Austin (who was previously cited in the last 12 months) got 1 game, and Hurrell got 0 games.

Levi doesn't pick him up, he slightly drags at the collar, he also doesn't square up to the trainer. Not sure, but he might not have any previous either which Gale does which adds a match onto it too.

Fair enough. I'm not sticking up for Gale, it was dumb and he's probably doubled his suspension now.

Just looking at the notes one got 2 and the other got 3 games for the same grade/charge

Like Dave K has said we're going to have to lump it.

Can't see this ending well https://twitter.com/PeterSmithYEP/statu ... W8Suw&s=19

Can't see this ending well https://twitter.com/PeterSmithYEP/statu ... W8Suw&s=19