They obviously thought so. It's one that will always divide opinion.

The rule was changed after a couple of fullbacks slipped carrying the ball out of their ingoal, grounded it and a drop out was ruled even though they didn't intend to ground it. People complained at the time that the rule was stupid because they clearly weren't trying to ground it, it was unintentional. Moral of the story is that fans are going to complain about the rules and the referees either way

I see Ben Flower is still the same scumbag as he was at the end of last season. I'd say he needs to learn but he hasn't got two brain cells to rub together.

What did he do?

& angelic Ben Flower didn't really attempt to slug a Wire who wasn't even facing him did he ?
Slugged one of his own Pies instead & got called up on it by the ref, seen by anyone with two eyes.
Flower = Thug = Coward.

It was only Westwood.

Flower unfortunately proving he still can't control himself. No need for a punch there especially from behind. Needs a game or 2 ban, mostly due to his prior record.

But Simms needs to be brought to task for that stamp. IIRC he did it in the previous Wire v Wigan game too. He obviously can't control himself too, which is a shame because if he did he'd be a much better player.
2 or 3 match ban for him too.

To punch someone you have to have a closed fist. Fair play he was aggressive about it. If it was a punch it was the weirdest looking punch I've ever seen, and we all know he can throw a punch.

The refs don't always get it right - eg. Wigan's first try.

Even if you consider it to be a punch. That's twice. I wonder how many Rugby players have punched another player more than twice? Let's bring them up shall we? What about Mr Westwood? Or even Mr Simms who gave a few - unprovoked - to Williams last time round and then tried to stamp on Mossops hand.

If Flower was aiming a punch, he'd have hit him. He's already showed he's capable of landing them from 2 feet away. He was just wrapping his arms round the Warrington man, and cuffed his own player while he was doing it. Nothing in that at all.

No idea how Wigan got the penalty at the end of that though. First offence clearly by Tomkins for pushing out at Currie after being legitimately dominated in the tackle.

It was only that NRL failure Mossop.

Nothing to see there.

This might be a long shot, but are you familiar with the word "hypocrite"?

I don't know, the target wasn't laying unconscious on the floor this time.

Why would he be a better player. Stamping your foot downwards when getting up is hardly going to negatively impact on your overall performance

nice one.

Anyone watching the Leigh/Wakefield game?

I'm sure that try then wasn't grounded. The ball was under his hand and then he dropped it. Ball wasn't ever grounded with any pressure.

Yet another ridiculous decision which wouldn't have been changed.ok it was wrong decision on the field but without the camera it would have stood. It's not a level playing field and is micro managing the game and not for the better.

Surprised nobodys mentioned the knee to the head from Haggerty on Smith that certainly deserved more than a penalty.

Can't believe he didn't get at least a yellow. He'll be missing for their next match anyway.

Reminded me a bit of Morley's in the NRL.

Sure he'll cop a ban but I think Lee Smith milked it a fair bit though.

Sio being binned for that is incredible inconsistent.

If it's so ridiculous why don't you try being a Video Referee before complaining.........as you as always complain about any criticism of on field refs in the same way.

I thought the one to Scruton's ribs was worse by far.

les cats vs cas. wow. pomeroy is a thug. successive sending off's. what a moron

I think Ben Pomeroy’s effort on his return from suspension puts what’s gone today in the shade.