where have i defended it?

With all due respect, I don't give a flying one how bad it was back in 'the good old days'. I expect a derby to be tough, but off-the-ball challenges are cowardly and dangerous.

With all due respect it's a tough game, played by tough people. These things go on in pretty much every game. People are over reacting. See O'meley's after match interview for confirmation of what the players thought of it, he was smiling away.

I'd like to bet that if it was lauaki and o'meley dishing out the same treatment to cockayne and newton that everyone currently up in arms would be laughing their t1ts off about it. I know I would

finally some common sense!

Pretty much my view Jake. As for saying they were Morgans instructions is a big jump though, he most likely told the players to keep Long quiet and to rough Lauaki up legally. It is a derby and passion can sometimes get in the way of common sense.

Playing it tough, thought you just said it goes on every game?

Thuggery does happen in every game, doesn't make it right

The stuff in the tackle I can live with, although I don't like it. At least players are braced for an impact and it's up to the ref to penalise anything that crosses the line.

The off-the-ball stuff is cowardly and dangerous. Period. None of them would have been expecting a tackle or a hit - they weren't even the kicker - and none of them would have seen it coming. That means that the chances of an injury are way higher than in a tackle or when a player can see a hit coming.

Derby or no derby there's no excuse for it and I wouldn't have been happy to see our players using the same 'tactic'. It was thuggery, pure and simple.

There is no way you can condone numerous off the ball hits as been 'a part of a rough derby game'. Not only were they dangerous, because the receiving players were totally unaware, but they were the definition of cheap. Off the ball challenges, when its from a big dopey bast forward like Newton who doesn't give a flying monkeys, are not a part of the game and need to be punished accordingly. Never mind Scott 'Yellow Belly' Murrell, who not only gave cheap shots off the ball but also in the ruck on Horney.

Surprised someone so righteous isn't in church on such a holy day rather than sitting surfing the web

Rich coming from the Hull equivalent of cab man

cab man is the biggest joker ive ever read...complete and utter bollock$ that guy talks...

I know, and sheldon is the FC equivalent