St Helens Pre Match Chat

Quote: Magic Superbeetle "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...'"

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.