Oh come on, it was quite clear from the trajectory of the way he was moving/the way the ball was going that he was clearly passing. It was late enough to constitute a red - he only had eyes for the man, not the ball.

Half backs often pass. This doesn't mean they can't be tackled. In every game of rugby league, lots of players are tackled fractionally after they've passed the ball. In fact, good teams try to make that happen, because if you've committed the tackler and passed the ball, you've created a gap for a support player. The quid pro quo is that if it's timed right, the passer is going to get hit. Tonight's tackle was no more or less late than hundreds of tackles every weekend, and that wasn't the cause of the red.

The red was for direct contact with the head. Again, the fact that it was a shoulder in this case is not particularly relevant - it was clearly not a shoulder charge, and players are entitled to tackle with shoulders as long as they try to get their arms around the tackled player as well. Walmsley could have hit him with his arms, hands or legs, and it would have been the same decision.

The red was because the first point of contact was with the head, causing concussion. Doesn't matter that it was with shoulder, doesn't matter about timing. It was a direct hit to the head. So it was red. Fair call.

Some of the comments on this thread are barking. Walmsley is the classic gentle giant - too gentle for my liking in a Saints pack lacking aggression - you could see he was bending his back, but he was bending his 6'5" back to try to tackle a 5'1" dwarf, so he still hit Robinson's head, the clumsy great oaf. You can also see he hasn't an ounce of malevolence in him because immediately after the tackle, he realises he's just smashed Robinson in the head, and actually shows concern for him (some Huddersfield players seemed to think he was roughing the little guy up on the floor, but watch the video again with both eyes open and it's pretty plain what's going on).

So sending off fair call, but there won't be much in the way of afters from this.

I'm with Haggerty on this , when I see Rob Burrows ducking under tackles, just what can a 6 ft + forward actually do to avoid a high tackle?

If he's ducking then that's fine IMO. It's his fault and he's gonna get clobbered on head.

Robinson wasn't ducking though and it was clear contact with head

I have a lot of sympathy for Walmsley. Nowhere near as bad as Moons and he was attempting a legit tackle and got int wrong.

A bit late and reckless ( because it hit full in the head)but was trying to tackle.
1 match ban for me would be fair taking into account the Sending off.

And as for the OP get your head out of your arris and smell the coffee.

Read these forums, read the papers look at issues to do with concussion in AFL, NRL, RU and even football where there is talk of banning heading the ball.

The RFL have to show that they take head injuries and concussion seriously.

The first step is to show that any attacks to the head deliberate or accidental are not acceptable and that there are consequences.

When the first SL players start suing the RFL for lack of care re concussion and head injuries there first argument will be that the RFL did not punish players or protect players from injuries in the first place.

so to the OP Attacks to the head now will be punished so get over it.

Walmsley's was much worse. Percival ran into moon and head butted his shoulder. Walmsley saw the stricken little halfback in prime position to be clobbered, he lined him up, waited for him to release the ball and then pounced. With devastating force.

Robinson was lucky not to die.

It's all a bit of an overreaction when you watch the 1981 battle of fartown on YouTube

Thankfully, the game has moved on since the dark days of the 80's.

Leeds fans funnier than Peter Kay, Monty Python and Les Dawson.

Keep them coming

Whoosh.

Not when they have spent two weeks claiming that Moons was an accident And that Percivals face banged Moons shoulder

Double Whoosh

I feel it needs to be said again. Whoosh.

Slightly late and a bit high but then Walmsley is about a foot taller so it's not surprise.

The games being watered down far too much if he cops anything more then a game ban.

See I don't think it has in this respect. I think it has been far too far in respect of a bit of biff but not for high and dangerous (ie spear) tackles.

I think the tackle Walmsley made on Robinson was very dangerous. It's a very big, very strong, very athletic guy's shoulder being propelled into someone's head. Then add in it was a bit late and it gets worse as the player receiving the hit isn't ready for it.

Now don't get me wrong I don't think Walmsley intended to hit Robinson high and I'm not making him out to be a villain, he made a mistake. But with players being so big, strong and powerful these days high tackles are much more dangerous than they used to be, especially when it's a shoulder rather than just an arm stuck out.

On this occaision yes, but Robinson and more usually Burrows have tried ducking under tackles and been given penalties as a result

I can't remember too many occasions in burrow's entire career where he's had a penalty for a high tackle and he'd ducked into the tackle. Most of the time when burrow ducks into a tackle, he makes a break, or get's nailed by the opposition players midriff/bollox/knees......



When burrow ducks, he's quite often ducking [iaway[/i from a high tackle, under the arms which would otherwise have clobbered his head/neck.

ATEOTD it's the defenders responsibility to effect a tackle safely.

Has anybody seen the shot that Tariq Sims put on Hodges in the Cowboys/Broncos game today?...Totally clobbered Hodges out,Don*t think Sims was even talked to about it.....But suppose they will look at it....

Just watched the Walmsley hit on Robinson on the SL site. Though it only shows it from one angle, it does look a very harsh red card.

What frustrates me is when blatant thuggery gets ignored because of 'rules' around the next play the ball and use of the video ref.

Look no further than Ben Westwood on Blake Green for an example of a player who should have been instantly red carded for deliberate intent to injure.

McIllorum on Peacock at Magic was a deliberate, reckless high shot that wasn't a red. Crosby smashing into the back of McGuire off the ball was a half back being targeted but went unpunished.

Knees on try scorers is a real bugbear too.

You can't compare the assault by Westwood on Green to any of those. It was probably the most cowardly attack I've seen on a Rugby pitch since Terry Newton hit Sean Long.

Take a look at this one by Aizue today on Greg Burke. Burke had to be given oxygen on the pitch, was knocked out cold for a while and suffered serious facial injuries. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1475508896050772 Ref put in on report......

Take a look at this one by Aizue today on Greg Burke. Burke had to be given oxygen on the pitch, was knocked out cold for a while and suffered serious facial injuries. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1475508896050772 Ref put in on report......

Quote ="Derwent"Take a look at this one by Aizue today on Greg Burke. Burke had to be given oxygen on the pitch, was knocked out cold for a while and suffered serious facial injuries. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1475508896050772 Ref put in on report......'" It appears to be a shoulder charge as it didn't look like there was any use of the arms. The point of impact is unclear from that video, could be a shocker, might not.

Quote ="Derwent"Take a look at this one by Aizue today on Greg Burke. Burke had to be given oxygen on the pitch, was knocked out cold for a while and suffered serious facial injuries. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1475508896050772 Ref put in on report......'" It appears to be a shoulder charge as it didn't look like there was any use of the arms. The point of impact is unclear from that video, could be a shocker, might not.

Quote ="Derwent"Take a look at this one by Aizue today on Greg Burke. Burke had to be given oxygen on the pitch, was knocked out cold for a while and suffered serious facial injuries. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1475508896050772 Ref put in on report......'" Did the ref give a penalty? If he did then he should've dealt with it there and then and not put it on report. As said above, it's difficult to see the point of impact but it goes to show why we have to be careful with high tackles. The players are continually getting faster, stronger and more powerful and, personally, I think we're on a fine line before somebody will be very seriously hurt.

Quote ="Derwent"Take a look at this one by Aizue today on Greg Burke. Burke had to be given oxygen on the pitch, was knocked out cold for a while and suffered serious facial injuries. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1475508896050772 Ref put in on report......'" Did the ref give a penalty? If he did then he should've dealt with it there and then and not put it on report. As said above, it's difficult to see the point of impact but it goes to show why we have to be careful with high tackles. The players are continually getting faster, stronger and more powerful and, personally, I think we're on a fine line before somebody will be very seriously hurt.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't all this start to take precedence, when tackling became less around the legs, and more around the waist to trap the ball?

Yes, players are more stronger, faster, and powerful. But it's only percentages, with initial contact being higher up on the body, that more of them will make contact with the head, than say 20-30 years ago?

Also with the addition of the 10 metre rule. I'm no physicist, but wouldn't that also increase the force of the collision and initial hits? If we're talking about player safety being paramount, then perhaps both of these need a look at it before anything else.

Broncos v Bradford Oscar Thomas on a break steps the last man who smacks him in the head, bit of a clothesline. Broncos get a penalty but no action on the Bradford player ffs

Yes he gave Town the penalty but put it on report. Aizue now been charged with Grade D offence by match review panel.