I can understand why you're annoyed. It wouldn't be as bad if there was some consistency in matters. If Puletua's offence is considered worthy of a redcard then Mika should have been sent off tonight, too. Smashed Turner across the face and left him unable to continue.


Going back to earlier in the season, Sam Moa was sent off for an offence very similar to Puletua's (look it up on youtube if you didn't see it). Despite Moa getting a ban for this, the incident was then used in promo vids to advertise Super League on TV.

Yep. And not even a penalty! Similar to when Sinfield knocked Makinson clean out with a flying arm. Penalty but no ban. So much for the punishments all being about hitting the head.

You are wrong. Watch it again. Thaler was listening to Smith a lot longer than the time it would take to say the word Puletua. He initially didn't even blow up for a penalty. It was only after he had had a talking to that he did anything. Smith clearly made the decision.

I haven't watched it back, but I got the impression it was the linesman that made the call.

We don't have linesmen in rugby league.

The linesman ran on and then didn't say anything. Thaler and him both stood there in silence whilst Smith spoke to Thaler.
I am 100% certain that if that game was not on Sky, he wouldn't have been sent off. It would have been put on report at the most. Smith obviously didn't like what he saw and instructed Thaler on what to do.

Thats my interpritation of it as well,Thaler and the touch judge are stood together and neither is saying anything then Thaler says so its Tony Puletua,yet still the touch judge says nothing,his mouth never moves at all.

Amazing similarity to the Moa incident. Moa got banned for 2 or 3 games. Puletua likely will be too. Neither should have been sent off.

Whilst I'm all for protecting the safety of our players, i've just been looking at it on the youtube and surely the ball carrier has to take some responsibility for his own safety.
Much like Faasavalu vs Baily, Mounis runs, leaning forward, head down, directly into TP's frame.

Despite TP being a very tall man, he's got his legs bent so he is well below normal height.

Rugby League is going downhill fast, all referee's should be retrained or kicked out it's obvious they don't have a clue how to ref a match and its about time it was given to someone who does!!! The Puletua sending off was a disgrace in my opinion there was nothing wrong with he shoulder charge he did not come in contact with the head, Smith is the one that should be investigated.

If this is the way it goes, then in a game where we are on the back foot we need to start getting the like of Lomax and Lance, head butting shoulders. I could understand if TP was going in shoulder barging and hit the head, but he clearly stands his ground, what is he supposed to do, side step the head butt and let the player run through???

One match ban having taken early guilty plea.

Yet as you mentioned a player can take a head shot and be taken off on a stretcher and no further action is taken,i do wonder about our game at times.

Should have fought It,ridiculous.

Micky Mc at wigan can punch someone and get away with it yet Tony puts in a good hit and gets 1 match ban

Well I guess Saints went for the 1 match as if they challenged they run the risk of getting more and they probably feel given Huddersfields current predicament they can afford to lose him for one match. If we lost him for Warrington then we may struggle more in that match.

My thoughts as well should have contested it. Wasn't even a shoulder charge more of a shoulder block, Mounis created the incident by his lower surrender stance. If Puletua came charging in at speed at an upright Mounis then perhaps there would have been some justification.
Soliola charges in many times in a game in worse fashion, so obviously he might be the next offender whenever the officials are having a nightmare performance.

McIlorum punches somebody in the face (surely that is a deliberate attack to the head) and even with his previous disciplinary records and sending off history in his career gets away with it and free to play in next game

TP, not been sent off previously and a very good record with disciplinary attempts a legal tackle and the player ducks into the tackle, accidentally connects in the face with his shoulder and an early guilty plea earns him a 1 match ban...

great fairness shown by RFL disciplinary committee

Tony Puletua should never have been sent off, I don’t think even a yellow, a penalty at the most, but it was Popeye the Thaler-man. He draws a red card like it was a Colt 45. He pops over to his granddad on the touchline, his granddad mumbles something about “ Ben, you said I could go to the beach and build a sandcastle to stick my flag in” Thaler has a think, taps his granddad on the top of his head and tells him to “sod off” then pulls a red on TP, END OF. Why bring Mcllorum into it? If you are on about the Elima love tap in June, give him a break, like I’ve said, I’ve had worse off mi Mam for not eating all mi Cornflakes. Mcllorum’s offence was a grade A, Puletua’s was grade B deemed more serious a 1-2 matches. They both pled guilty and got a game off. Mcllorum’s would only have been 1 anyway. LOOK I AGREE WITH YOU, PULETUA SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON! But to say Mounis ducked into it, is a e defence, it’s like me saying to Judge Judy “he broke my hand by throwing his face at it repeatedly Judge” its sad mate.

I see Inglis was banned this week for a similar challenge.

Did TP actually challenge Mounis? It looked the other way around to me.

I suppose players had better be careful from now on in when an opposition player runs at them with their head down. Might even be better just to step aside and hope they fall flat on their faces. At least the grass can't be banned.

And there is still no footage showing definitively that TP made contact with the head of Mounis. So I suppose assumptions are now forming the basis of decisions too, which is dodgy ground.

Given that he pleaded guilty, I think you can stop your refusal to accept that there was no contact with his head. It's making you look daft.

I'm not refusing anything. I'm going on what I saw on TV.

When the HKR player smacked Turner in the face on Monday night it was very clear to see - fist hit face. There was no angle shown on Sky which provided that level of proof.

And Saints opting for an early guilty plea doesn't automatically equate to him being guilty. They pled guilty when Robes was charged last season but in fact it was Scott Moore who did the damage in that tackle.

I disagree that it was similar. Puletua was practically stood still where as Inlis sized him up from about 20 years away and hit him at full speed. Inglis' elbow also appeared to make contact with the head which didn't help matters.

If we are going to start banning people for a standing shoulder block, we will be banning them for anything 'rough' in the future. Play nice boys!

He pleaded guilty because the system is a farce. You plead not guilty and they ban you just to prove a point. In that situation they are never going to accept a denial because it would invalidate the decision of the officials and they would never allow it.