Briers doesn't get a ban, early guilty plea stopped him from it. Just typical really of the RFL. Funny how McGuire was banned for the Wigan game last year but Briers gets away with it. Wardle from Huddersfield got a ban as well for the same thing on the same player and got a two game ban even though he handed in an early guilty plea, there is no consistency with this at all. www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... ing-charge www.examiner.co.uk/sport/rugby-l ... le-4927042

Briers doesn't get a ban, early guilty plea stopped him from it. Just typical really of the RFL. Funny how McGuire was banned for the Wigan game last year but Briers gets away with it. Wardle from Huddersfield got a ban as well for the same thing on the same player and got a two game ban even though he handed in an early guilty plea, there is no consistency with this at all. www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... ing-charge www.examiner.co.uk/sport/rugby-l ... le-4927042

you really expect anything else?

Oh dear

Great, precedent set by the RFL. Let's get Kylie to tw@ him one in the semi if all that happens is a penalty.

Anyone who views the Wardle and Briers incidents as being similar enough to warrant equal punishment is ignoring the rather obvious difference between the two.

Wardle was charged with a sustained punching - Grade C offence, while Briers was charged with a punching in reaction to opponent - Grade A.

They were never going to cop the same punishment under the present system and it's simplistic to think they ever were.

Eddie Hemmings compared the incident to the Wardle one during the commentary. Many of today's fans of the SL product form their outraged opinions on the basis of what they are told to see and hear on Sky. Throw in some personal club bias and bingo - outraged opinion is set in concrete and no amount of evidence or genuine comparative analysis will alter it. I guess it's just easier that way. Beats having to think I suppose.

Yes I think that would be a good idea.

Preferably in the first minute of the game.

I don't care anymore.
Have slowly become disillusioned with the game.

The refs...the video ref....the RFL...the judiciary panel...skint clubs...embarrassing sponsors (if any).....clueless inane commentary on sky.....stupid play off systems...stupid promotion/relegation suggestions....The World Cup played in front of poor crowds....Australia winning the World Cup....MacNamara still in a job...Wakefield & Castelford refusing to merge when it makes sense....etc etc

Could you not at least save your disillusionment with the game until the RFL announce their internal inquiry into why England failed so badly in the World Cup?

I'm 100% confident that they'll find the WC to have been a rip-roaring success.

You might be in for a field day when that happens

We all knew what was coming regarding Briers ,

Just my opinion but a few punches should not always result in a 1 game ban especially for the retaliator as is he or his team mates just going to let it go

But for a cowardly punch coming from behind when not expected , well to me that should be worthy of a couple 0f games at least

Reads just like the Wigan board when they were knocked out last season.

Indeed, they'll probably proclaim all those minor sponsors they got as a roaring success

I take it you've decided not to review your choice of sport in response to Gilder's latest pontificating outrage?

He was only fined a packet of sweets and a cheeky smile.

Briers should have been fined a lot more for such a pathetic effort at a punch.

Ablett OTOH should be dropped for cowardice. He evacuated his bowels (and possession) at least a second before the posse of Warrington forwards got anywhere near putting a hit on him after the Briers incident. (22 minutes and 58 seconds on the clock for those interested).

Briers should ask Storm's Danny Williams how to hit from behind. He might have deserved more than a slapped wrist then.

Are you alluding to the infamous belting of Mark O'Neill in 2004 which saw Danny Williams suspended for 18 weeks? Wish I could find a video of that incident but no luck.

That's the one.

A lot of the problems that people complain about now, were problems in the past too, in fact on the face of it the late 80s and early 90s were worse when everyone was part time apart from Wigan who won everything.

However I too have lost some interest in the game ironically at a time when Warrington have been doing better too. I think the real reason is that the quality of players is not what it was. Back in the day there were always problems in RL but when you had guys like Hanley, Schofield, Edwards, Offiah, Robinson, Davies, Scott Gibbs playing it made the game more watchable.

Even in the mid 2000s there were quality players around in SL like Lyon, Lam, Swain, Blacklock, Farrell, Sculthorpe, Cunningham.

There has been a general downward trend in playing quality at the top end. A lot of the best players in the game are ageing players (lots of them at Leeds or Warrington) and when they go who knows where the game will be.

I think a few people are spot on. The game is dying a slow, painful death in this country. At least in the NRL you do get the tables swapping about. Look at this year with Brisbane, St George and Wests all near the bottom and a resurgence of Cronulla and Newcastle near the top. Sky give us crap coverage because that's all they have to do as no one else is interested in showing the sport. The media give us even less. Not even talksport commented on the playoff results last weekend that I heard. Until BT come along with their wheelbarrow full of cash its only going to get worse with the Dr paying players top money to play in front of 3000 people.

One word for the RFL'S.......GUTLESS

it's now open season for the remaining games.....punch an opposing player from behind stick in an early guilty plea result NOTHING

No action taken by the knob with the head cam on the day, no action by the suits at Red Hall, where's the consistency is a stray arm from Maguire on a player go down from a tackle from another player worse than a more deliberate punch to the head from behind I think not, but one gets a match ban the other gets zilch!!!!

[url=http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/09/15/article-2420918-1BD10369000005DC-242_634x578.jpgBriers did not punch Ablett from behind[/url

Lips up off the floor now fellas.

Briers was lucky to have touched Ablett with that feeble attempt, and the guy saw it coming, not from behind. A fine is enough, it wasn't like it was pre meditated, just lost his rag for the 2nd time in his career. Ablett seems to be getting a knack ticking players off to the extent they want to punch him in the head, maybe he should have a look at what he's doing.

Meh! He was never going to get banned for that. Abbo seems to be able to push Briers' buttons which wasn't a bad thing in last years GF especially when he trampled him in the dirt when scoring after getting a couple of penalties out of him. If we get through and they pick us I'd want to see Briers play. Might just be the focus we need for another big performance in the Final Eliminator.