Dave T

Yep, this board generally has a nice mix of serious discussion and some light-hearted enjoyable topics (about grounds, eperiences etc.). It also has a rather disappointing amount of absolute ######.

Ooh, not many really, Wilderspool and the HJ straight off, actually, Knowsley Road too. Not even Wembley or Old Trafford, so I think it's just the three for me...

Agreed, I have no issues with Leeds at all and before the match I wanted them to win last night, although changed my mind during the game. A couple of bad incidents (on and off the field) should not see everybody at the club tarred with the same brush.

RL is a very tough game that allows you to hit the opposition very hard in a legal way. When players overstep the mark, they rightly get criticised, nothing sanctimonious. I love the rough stuff, and my team have the likes of Morley, Westwood and L Anderson who play on the edge, and at times they will kop plenty of stick, just like the rougher players at any club. An elbow to somebody's face or raising your knee to somebody's body as they are making a tackle, is not rough, they are cheap shots and deserved of criticism. There were some blinding legal hits in the game last night, and that is the roughness that people appreciate, not the two above mentioned incidents.

Sorry mate, managed to give you four quotes in one, just to give you a taste of what I presume you are missing...

Whatever the circumstances, you made a promise to not bleat on about refs here, which you have failed to keep, not for the first time.

Yep, a communication tool is all it is, and tbh if they clarify that is what it is rather than this 'the ref hasn't seen it' thing then people may take to it a bit more. In terms of sin-binning for foul play, they are still technicaly fouls really. Coley was sin-binned for persistant foul play from Wigan (taking away the fact that there was actually nothing wrong with Coley's tackle!). You can also get binned for late hits. Other than that, normal foul play isn't really covered by the sin-bin. Certainly a one-off high tackle will not get this punishment.

Yep, I would be happy for them to go back to the sin-bin for foul play rule, which has changed now. In effect I see the on-report as a public warning or booking.

It's a strange one this rule. I think it now serves a different purpose than when it was introduced. I think it is purely there to send a message to players and fans that the offence was more serious than a standard penalty, but the ref doesn't want to send him off. Bearing in mind the fact that the games are reviewed anyway, and all sorts of incidents pulled out, there is no other reason to cross your hands above your head other than to send a signal to the fans.

I think most people, apart from the Mathers-haters realise that at times fullbacks will be made to look stupid. Occupational hazard I'm afraid.

Nope. There were right and wrong decisions, just like every other game. Personally I would have had Leeds down to 11 and Wigan would have kept all 13 for the full game, but I don't feel the need to bag the refs time after time.

It was, but the Howell one was slower IMO and easier to spot. You won't get me arguing that he should have walked, just trying to add some perspective as to why Ganson didn't send him off, considering Ganson is usually pretty happy to send players off. Howell got a 3 match ban, so I would expect at least the same for Ablett. One other thing worthy of a mention. I asked on here earlier this week about what Tomkins defence and ability under a high ball was like, well he answered that in style tonight. Considering the treatment he was getting, he took everything that was thrown at him brilliantly.

Nice to see you sticking to your promise of not boring us stupid with your crazy obsessive referee views.

I think because it was so unorthodox, it was quite difficult to tell if what you thought had happened had actually happened! (probably makes no sense!). It's not like a swinging arm, which you can read, this was a freak play and it happened so quickly I questioned whether I had seen it right live. The replay confirmed that I had. Without that replay, I would have perhaps questioned what I had seen.

I think one of the things which saved him was how quick it all happened, it was very difficult to tell in full speed. It looked like a bad one, but it took a replay to confirm it.

Yep, Ganson would have sent him off had he seen that IMHO. You can't criticise Ganson for that. That said, I thought the ref was allowed to ask the VR for their opinion on incidents like this...

Good call. Hearing 8 thousand locals chanting 'Tonga! Tonga!' was outstanding, and again, gave a glimpse of what the game would be like if we had a true International game.

Prior to the game, naturally I was up for Leeds, but the way they played put me right off. I was up for Wigan after a short while, Leeds played the game disgracefully and Wigan played it right. Ablett should have walked, and for me he should get a 4 game ban, this was worse than any high tackle we see week in week out. Bailey should have walked and he needs a proper punishment. There was no excuse for what he did, and it was just lucky that a Wigan player was not attempting to tackle round the waist. Well played Wigan, thought the first try was excellent, they used the overlap really well, and they played some nice stuff despite the weather.

Difficult to say really. They were really welcoming and embraced us all, whether we were from Perpignan or Warrington, but I do think that many were a bit bemused by what was happening. The atmosphere on the Ramblas all day was very lively, and everybody got caught up with it, and apparently there were a fair few locals at the game. Catalans are looking to stage another game there next year, and selfishly I'd love it to be Warrington, but if it is another team, I would encourage the fans to save up and get over there.

Ah, cheers. Wonder if they are sponsoring Italy when they come over to play Wales.

How do you mean?