It's all bollox

Most worrying times I can remember for the game. I get the current climate, but spectacle getting lower and lower….

Honestly, the pearl clutching over this is a bit OTT.
The WCC will be played under international rules, contact with the head is still illegal, and the NRL have have been cracking down on head contact for years now, so it likely won't make any difference to game anyway.

As for the cards and bans, how many of them wouldn't have resulted in a ban or a card last season?

Agree on the NRL stance on head height tackles. However, it has also said it has no intention of following suit with regard to RFL tackle height changes, so clearly their insurers are ok with their current stance. Same with WCC. We're told RFL insurers have demanded the changes the RFL has instigated. No idea if this is right or wrong but clearly there are other insurance options. Are they affordable for the game here? Again, I dont know, but to say that the only option was for these changes to be made or there would be no game is wrong. Also bizarre that players weren't involved in any of the discussions. They clearly feel that way too.

It's not wrong. Insurers costs have doubled in the last few years, and there is talk of premiums tripling or quadrupling in price again if changes aren't made. Perhaps if we had the money the NRL and their clubs have we could take the hit, but we don't.
In the NFL, they have a dozen doctors at every game and a billion dollar annual fund which they use to compensate players with brain injuries. If RL was forced was forced to do something similar then there's no way it could survive financially.

Personally, I think the changes will have a positive impact in the long-term. Sure, it's annoying at the moment, but over time, it will reduce the wrestling and speed the game up, and increase the number of offloads in the game.

Nobody has summed it up more succinctly.
I once again question the integrity of the RFL and the disciplinary panel, including ex players who sit on it whoever they may be. I’ve had my say on the Harry Smith conspiracy, but equally worrying is the RFL’s overt disinterest in the punch thrown by Franklin Pele in the melee following his head shot on Minchella. I’ve just watched it again to make sure I’m not going mad, and there he is throwing a punch into a player with his back turned. It’s not subtle, it’s not open to debate, he throws a massive raking punch. No charge !! Compare this to James McDonell being charged late last season when Saint Johnny Of Lomax told an official he had been punched by McDonell who was subsequently sent off and charged. Yes he was found not guilty by the disciplinary, but he was sent off and charged on the say so of another player with absolutely no evidence whatsoever. There was no punch, there was nothing to see, there was no offence. Compare and contrast that with someone throwing the most obvious punch you will ever see, that is then totally ignored like it never happened. Something is rotten at the RFL, and the worrying thing for me is that they aren’t even trying to hide it. They say that sport mirrors life, and I’ve got to say Rugby League is mirroring the corruption we see in everyday life better than any other sport at the moment.

So Pele reduced and Watts upheld. Wouldnt blame Watts for jacking it in. Hes copped some justified suspensions but this is not the first time hes been harshly treated compared to others. It is indeed bollox

Watts has a terrible disciplinary record and he challenged the charge, and the grading. Pele pleaded guilty and doesn't have a bad disciplinary record (over here, at least). So the punishments given were never going to be identical.

I’m not sure that Pele gets a reduced penalty because he’s just landed on these shores. It’s a bit like saying a home grown criminal that’s racked up a couple of previous convictions deserves a tougher sentence than an immigrant who maybe has fled his homeland having murdered people ? I’m not saying Pele has like


I would say only the current season’s offences could or should be taken into account .

Another game marred by a pointless red card. Fortunately I've got a good book I can read instead.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Donno get a match or two ban after HKR. At least we’ll have to pick a prop at prop then.

Jack Burton will be along at any minute to defend the Hull red card

The most ridiculous decision

I've just seen it. I don't think that's a red. I know there's a zero tolerance policy on head to head contact, but the contact seemed minimal. Although, did it cause a cut above Currie's eye? If not, his reaction is what got Brown sent off.

In fairness donaldsons head shot should have been a straight red card. Last night’s incident looked to be the usual accidental clash of heads. Look forward to the day when we witness an eleven aside game.

That Hull red card is the biggest joke yet, call it dummy spitting or whatever you like, but i dont want to continue watching a game that goes down that path. 2 players literally bumped heads accidently and he gets a red, its ridiculous. And the uppity refs with their scripts theyve been given are pssing me off.

I'm with you Seth , the game has gone for me , last nights under international rules was far better , despite that idiot in the middle forgetting a couple of them . Good to see that the ref and video ref remembered who's side they were on though

Donaldson will get at least 2 matches which is fair enough I think a ban for Lisone would be harsh.

I thought people who said this were mostly mocking the pearl clutchers but you might actually be serious

2 games for Donno
3 for Lisone somehow

The ban for Lisone is utterly ridiculous, the club must appeal that

The lisone ban is absolute horse sht, how on earth does he get more than Donaldson and what the fk does this all say about the Nu Brown red who now gets no games. Its a joke.

Lisones seemed to go up off the shoulder, rather than straight shot to the face like Donaldsons, more strange decisions from the MRP

Hicks' comments re: Nu Brown

Robert Hicks, the RFL’s Director of Operations and Legal, said: “We are in the very early stages of the season at all levels having introduced significant changes as recommended by the sport’s Brain Health Sub-Committee, and in that regard we thank the players and coaches for their response.

“Comparing Round Two of the Betfred Super League to the opening round, there has been a significant reduction in the number of charges, reflecting a significant change in player behaviour – with a tiny proportion of over 3,000 tackle events leading to charges for head contact. It has been a similar story through the early rounds of the Betfred Challenge Cup and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.

“However we have acknowledged throughout this process that it would be challenging for all, and that as a governing body we need to be flexible, and sympathetic to those at the sharp end.

“The dismissal of Nu Brown at Warrington on Friday night was an uncomfortable moment for the sport, and it has highlighted a lack of clarity in the wording of the framework as followed by match officials on the night.

“We recognise this will be of little consolation to the player or his club – and we thank them for their measured response.

“Head to head contact was an area highlighted as especially important by the Brain Health Sub-Committee, given the impact on two players, so it will remain a focus of the framework, and will continue to be sanctioned – specific to initial contact.

“The meetings with head coaches and senior players this week are another opportunity to update and consult, given the importance of communication through this process

MRP think the Lisone one is as bad as the Pele swinging arm then

The Lisone one was dumb, he didn't need to do that. But it wasn't worse than Donaldson's. 3 and 2 the other way around would make much more sense.

The RFL admitting the Brown send off was incorrect is very positive news.