JWH sent into retirement by the RFL

[Worzel]

1 hour ago, Taffy Tiger said:

This would work if a player's disciplinary points were wiped out for everyone at the end of the season , but they aren't . It's a rolling 12 month points record , so in reality there's no difference between regular season games and playoffs , during that 12 month period . It just seems harsher because of the magnitude of the matches that players would be missing . A player knows when he goes into the playoffs exactly what his points tally is and should act accordingly , in the same way as the regular season . That said , I wouldn't be against the lowest grade charges (1 point) being deferred so that the player can choose to serve any ban after a big match like the Playoffs or GF, instead of missing the higher profile games. They should still serve a ban though in the same way as any other player in the regular season would have to . 

Nah, I hear you but my view remains the same: Players can roll their regular season points into the next regular season, but we should treat the play-offs consistently with what they are, which is a stand-alone comp. 

I'm open to anyone with an active ban serving that ban in the play-offs (e.g. the earlier "decapitation" point that Just Browny made), that's consistent with what we do in the international game vs. the domestic comps, but the "points totting" system could be clean slate for the play-offs which recognises the fact that not every club or player plays in them (so it's already an inconsistent model). It means that people will only be penalised in the finals phase for actions that accrue in the finals stage, a separate comp. 

Other sports do something along those lines, for the very same reason. 

[RP London]

39 minutes ago, Worzel said:

Nah, I hear you but my view remains the same: Players can roll their regular season points into the next regular season, but we should treat the play-offs consistently with what they are, which is a stand-alone comp. 

I'm open to anyone with an active ban serving that ban in the play-offs (e.g. the earlier "decapitation" point that Just Browny made), that's consistent with what we do in the international game vs. the domestic comps, but the "points totting" system could be clean slate for the play-offs which recognises the fact that not every club or player plays in them (so it's already an inconsistent model). It means that people will only be penalised in the finals phase for actions that accrue in the finals stage, a separate comp. 

Other sports do something along those lines, for the very same reason. 

I think the thing is you could argue against it with things like points accumulated for a piece of foul play that injures a player that is now out for the season/playoffs etc is now wiped off but that player is still injured.. you say other sports do it but the only example I am aware of is the Football World Cup and maybe Euros other sports with play offs don't AFAIK happy for people to give me other sports though as I may well be wrong.. 

As with so many things this will never be perfect, I've never had an issue with players being banned for finals so that probably warps the thinking a bit.

[graveyard johnny]

we need enforcers like JWH  in the game - it just wouldnt be the same without them - ok , so hes removed more heads than worzel gummidge but you will prob hear all those players speak nothing but highly of him 

[Worzel]

22 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

we need enforcers like JWH  in the game - it just wouldnt be the same without them - ok , so hes removed more heads than worzel gummidge but you will prob hear all those players speak nothing but highly of him 

Of course Jared wasn't found guilty of foul play here, and didn't remove any heads. Indeed both the ref and video ref attended his appeal hearing to reiterate that their view was there wasn't a foul at all. But let's not let a few facts get in the way...

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/jared-waerea-hargreaves-grand-final-1434060

The Match Review Panel is not fit for purpose. The constant reversals on appeal show that. It's a bunch of ex players and coaches building their own parts, and then later being found to be talking twaddle. Time after time after time. Reform is needed... or perhaps more likely, personnel change is needed. 

[Taffy Tiger]

1 hour ago, Worzel said:

Nah, I hear you but my view remains the same: Players can roll their regular season points into the next regular season, but we should treat the play-offs consistently with what they are, which is a stand-alone comp. 

I'm open to anyone with an active ban serving that ban in the play-offs (e.g. the earlier "decapitation" point that Just Browny made), that's consistent with what we do in the international game vs. the domestic comps, but the "points totting" system could be clean slate for the play-offs which recognises the fact that not every club or player plays in them (so it's already an inconsistent model). It means that people will only be penalised in the finals phase for actions that accrue in the finals stage, a separate comp. 

Other sports do something along those lines, for the very same reason. 

Fair enough point , but no other sport has a 12 month rolling points system . However , I do take on board that it does penalise the more successful clubs , and your suggestion does make sense , with at least some deterrent still in place for the play off stages before the GF . The one thing I would suggest though , is that any penalty in a player's last game of the play-offs/GF should be carried forward to next season in the usual way . This prevents players from running riot at the end of a play-off/GF game , especially if their team is losing heavily .

[Worzel]

28 minutes ago, Taffy Tiger said:

Fair enough point , but no other sport has a 12 month rolling points system . However , I do take on board that it does penalise the more successful clubs , and your suggestion does make sense , with at least some deterrent still in place for the play off stages before the GF . The one thing I would suggest though , is that any penalty in a player's last game of the play-offs/GF should be carried forward to next season in the usual way . This prevents players from running riot at the end of a play-off/GF game , especially if their team is losing heavily .

Yes, fair point 

[Brigg Rover]

On 06/10/2025 at 16:39, RP London said:

Just to clear up one thing... he isn't getting the ban for THAT... he is getting the ban for an accumulation of poor decisions and poor tackles throughout the season. In the same way as if you are on 9 points on your driving licences and you get caught doing 34 or 35 in a 30 you will lose your licence but you haven't lost your licence for doing 34 or 35 in a 30.. its for the fact you cannot seem to control your speed or read the signs.

 

But the has been graded at a C for that tackle which is nowhere near a C. He doesn't swing his arm into contact, in fact from different angles it looks like the damage to Bennison is caused by the other players knee catching the top of his head and in fact JWH may not have touched his head. 

[RP London]

38 minutes ago, Brigg Rover said:

But the has been graded at a C for that tackle which is nowhere near a C. He doesn't swing his arm into contact, in fact from different angles it looks like the damage to Bennison is caused by the other players knee catching the top of his head and in fact JWH may not have touched his head. 

Doesn't change the fact it's not that tackle that puts you over it's previous ones.. 

Anyway it's been over turned as you say it wasn't worth the points it got.. again though it's all about the accumulation not the specific incident 

[Damien]

Is this normal?

 

 

[JohnM]

Well, whatever, he's playing. I can feel the ground shaking when he takes his first steps at OT. I do hope the old Theatre of Nightmares is structually sound.

[Spidey]

35 minutes ago, Damien said:

Is this normal?

 

 

It seems very unusual to me 

[gingerjon]

7 hours ago, Spidey said:

It seems very unusual to me 

A variation on this happens pretty much every time a player gets a ban that would put them out of a final.

[George Watt]

12 hours ago, Worzel said:

.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/jared-waerea-hargreaves-grand-final-1434060

The Match Review Panel is not fit for purpose. The constant reversals on appeal show that. It's a bunch of ex players and coaches building their own parts, and then later being found to be talking twaddle. Time after time after time. Reform is needed... or perhaps more likely, personnel change is needed. 

So how would you structure a new MRP?  How many would you have and from where would you take your personnel?

[gingerjon]

12 hours ago, Worzel said:

The Match Review Panel is not fit for purpose. 

Very little about the bureaucracy and infrastructure of rugby league is.

[Worzel]

17 minutes ago, George Watt said:

So how would you structure a new MRP?  How many would you have and from where would you take your personnel?

I’d make them accountable. If greater than x % of decisions are overturned on appeal, then they’re fired. That or maybe have Paul Cullen walk the plank. Let me mull it over a bit.

[Spidey]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

A variation on this happens pretty much every time a player gets a ban that would put them out of a final.

I wasn't clear - specifically the presence of match officials, I thought by this stage of the process it would be out of their hands

[dkw]

1 hour ago, Worzel said:

I’d make them accountable. If greater than x % of decisions are overturned on appeal, then they’re fired. That or maybe have Paul Cullen walk the plank. Let me mull it over a bit.

But you dont want players to be held accountable for their actions, if they get to a final? Strange that.

[RP London]

1 hour ago, Worzel said:

I’d make them accountable. If greater than x % of decisions are overturned on appeal, then they’re fired. That or maybe have Paul Cullen walk the plank. Let me mull it over a bit.

Each successful appeal is a point blank paint ball to the groin or start at the foot and work your way up, groin is last before your fired??? 

[Damien]

16 minutes ago, Spidey said:

I wasn't clear - specifically the presence of match officials, I thought by this stage of the process it would be out of their hands

Exactly. That just feels like marking your own homework.

[LeeF]

44 minutes ago, Spidey said:

I wasn't clear - specifically the presence of match officials, I thought by this stage of the process it would be out of their hands

A very very unusual occurrence. 

[Worzel]

53 minutes ago, RP London said:

Each successful appeal is a point blank paint ball to the groin or start at the foot and work your way up, groin is last before your fired??? 

Sounds good to me. Can it be televised? Or at least live streamed. Would be great for our digital numbers

[Worzel]

1 hour ago, dkw said:

But you dont want players to be held accountable for their actions, if they get to a final? Strange that.

But I do, for their actions in the competition they're now playing in. The play-offs. 

My suggestion is hardly radical, or obscure. Other sports do similar things, for exactly the same reason. The impact of a punishment should be proportionate, and consistent where possible. Missing a Grand Final for the aggregation of points across the regular season is neither of those things.

I'm more than happy for the earlier suggestion of paintball to the 'nads to be applied to players as well as Paul Cullen's trigger-happy clique. Let's do it! 

[Worzel]

28 minutes ago, LeeF said:

A very very unusual occurrence. 

Expert witnesses are pretty standard practice in law, double-bubble if they also witnessed the event live.

Like I said before, Paul Cullen shouldn't play games with Hudgell, that's like bringing a knife to a gun fight...!! 

[gingerjon]

3 minutes ago, Worzel said:

But I do, for their actions in the competition they're now playing in. The play-offs. 

It's literally only football.

And even then, very specifically, international football tournaments.

Club competitions, even those with play offs, accumulate across the season.

Mind you, football takes dealing with foul play seriously and RL never has.

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, Worzel said:

But I do, for their actions in the competition they're now playing in. The play-offs. 

My suggestion is hardly radical, or obscure. Other sports do similar things, for exactly the same reason. The impact of a punishment should be proportionate, and consistent where possible. Missing a Grand Final for the aggregation of points across the regular season is neither of those things.

I'm more than happy for the earlier suggestion of paintball to the 'nads to be applied to players as well as Paul Cullen's trigger-happy clique. Let's do it! 

The competition is the same and the Play Offs are to be the SL Champions. You can't just separate them like that.