I agree refs do a good job. Just think the directives are wrong, are too harsh on players.
But hey ho... If the sport wants to hand out long suspensions to its best players, for slightly mistimed tackles then who am I to argue. Must have a huge fanbase already....

In terms of the Grade D, I've watched it back at full speed, it's not actually that late... part of the issue is that they watch the replays in slow mo and conclude that it's late!

To me it's really hard to tell if it's high or not. It is bordering on a shoulder charge and is very close to being high, but I doubt he'll get 5 games for that!

I know we don't want to see regular red cards, but thought up to that point Zane was immense. Showed exactly what we've been missing for years.

Will be gutted if he gets five. I think the best we can hope for is three maybe two.

seems they are cracking down on this within the game so they could maybe make an example of him with this one.

Totally agree with this, I think we've been missing that kind of aggression for a while, now the issue with this is (quite rightly) the game are trying to get rid of dangerous aspects of the play, so unfortunately a player Like Zane will always be walking a bit of a tightrope I suppose.

Bordering on one ? His arm is clearly by his side,it's as clear a shoulder as you will see and it hits the head. Given you have lost a player recently to ongoing concussion then isn't it prudent the the RFL punish shoulders to the head ? All he had to do was lift his arm up and it would of been 10 minutes.

Not quite as convinced as you that it was his head but it was a sending off and to me a two to 3 game ban and yes you are right it needs eradicating from the game , its just the consistency from the Refs/disciplinary that always worries me

Three would seem about right. Don't think he'd be daft enough to try a repeat and enough of a deterrent to make all but the genuinely thuggish think twice.

It really wasn't as clear as you'll see, if you want that watch Bailey vs Fa'asavalu. Zane had his left arm up to tackle and the right arm came up a fraction after impact - if you watch a hundred tackles you'll see at least 50 where the first contact is made by the shoulder - it's not in and of itself illegal.

As for it being contact with the head. I've yet to see conclusive proof of that. He definitely impacts shoulder to shoulder and Fages whacks his head on the ground but I couldn't say for certain that his shoulder hits his head.

It was late, certainly - but nowhere near as late as I first thought.

These arguments will be being made by Leeds, and much better than I'm making them, but to imply that it's as clear cut as you're suggesting is simply wrong. It might be a shoulder charge and it might be to the head, but after watching it repeatedly the only things I know for certain are that it was late and it was hard. Those two factors do not add up to a 5 game ban.

All fair points but if you read the charge, it's for striking. No mention of a shoulder charge or contact with the head. Reckless and late seems to be the jist of it

Confirmed 4 match ban, thats shocking amount fir what was really not much at all and worse still we all know we be will see loads of these go unpunished throughout the season, this is clearly RFL trying to flex its muscles as it was on the BBC.
This is why people are just turning their backs on the game in droves these inconsistent ludicrous decisions, isa two weeks ago knocked Johnstone out cold and not even a penalty. Now we lose the player the game and 4 another weeks.

4 seems harsh but they are obviously making an example, as long as they’re consistent.

Anyway 4to 5weeks time we might be looking at a fullish squad and fans back in the stadium, lots to look forward to

This sort of stuff would fit right in on redvee, the home of Rugby League grievance and conspiracy theories.
It was a bad tackle, he got an appropriate ban. Nothing more, nothing less.

Fine with this ban as long consistency is applied onwards.

The inconsistency is the worrying thing. Isa should have been sent off as well. They really do need to look at the refereeing standards and come up with a more robust system, and not just crack down on the first few weeks.

The ban for Tetavano isn't shocking and it isn't particularly harsh either. It was a cowardly hit on a player who had already passed the ball. In the 80s it would have been laughed off and he'd have been demolished in the next set and someone would have been sent to hospital with a broken jaw. It's 2021 now and we know a lot more about the health implications of impacts to the head and you can't get away with blindsiding tiny halfbacks when they've not got the ball anymore. It was too high and too late even before you go into the technique, which alone could have seen him carded.

It was a shame he did it really as it effectively ended what was building into a classic match. He and Prior were doing well but now he could end up being targeted by the refs if he steps out of line again after that.

And that is the major issue that everyone agrees on.

Completely agree.

Very very very harsh imo. 2 to 3 games at best.

Why didnt Fages go off for a HIA? An alleged “direct contact” to the head shoulder and he stayed on the pitch, even staying down after the initial contact. Questions need to be asked why Saints staff didnt check him out. It is 2021 after all.

Stayed down because of the whiplash effects I reckon more than any contact to the head. And he probably confirmed that to the trainer.

I dont care what anyone says, there was no definitive angle which confirmed clear-cut contact to the head. Yellow card for the late hit wouldve been fair.

He wasn't charged with making contact with the head. Or a shoulder charge.

This task gets tougher by the week doesn’t it. Game plan last week was to dominate the middle...where next with that area depleted too. If he’s back in then Thompson starts for me as the next cab off the rank with smith at 6 (depending on if Sutcliffe is deemed to bring marginally better kicking options), bench doesn’t look too cracking for front row interchange though.

No, youre right. He was charged with reckless striking. So next time someone does the same, theyll expect a red card and a 4 game ban. For a late hit.

Strikes – with hand, arm or shoulder - reckless
So yes he was

Time will tell. My guess would be example now set, reigning in of late hits for a bit before the odd sly one begins to creep back in. After a bit, RFL crackdown. Repeat.

It really wasn't a smart tackle.

I can't say I know anyone who doesn't watch the game because of refereeing and the disaplinary panel.