Wellens has been cited for the tackle where he dropped Briers on his head - Grade B offence - The official referee didn't even give a penalty



Lafranchi also cited for a speak tackle

Briers looked up at the ref in disbelief that he never got the pen

The referee didn't even give a penalty for either incident.

I was very surprised that the spear tackle wasn’t penalised (Ben Thaler shook his head). The one versus Wigan was bad but there were two men in that tackle so sometimes it’s hard to know which way the other guy is going to push. When there is only one man in the tackle (which I believe was the case on Friday), you have full control of the tackle and there is no excuse for lifting a player above the horizontal - unless of course Chris Bridge threw himself upside down which I doubt!

Any of our players up before the beak?

Nope.

Carvell was cited for a high tackle in 18th minute but first contact was deemed to have been on the chest.

just having read this on sky sports-->St Helens Captain Paul Wellens and prop forward Anthony Laffranchi could miss their side's derby clash against Wigan due to suspension.---------it seems to me that for the second time this season,another team is going to benefit from bad refereeing
instead of wires getting the call on fri!

Agreed. I think it was being discussed on one of the SKY programs recently. Terry O'Connor said what we have all been saying for years - if a player gets banned, he should be banned from games against the same opposition. Therefore, if Wellens gets a one game ban he should miss the return fixture at Saints later this year. This is the only fair way of doing it. Obviously there are complications with this method but for one and two game bans, I think this is the best way to go.

that idea makes sense to me!why should wigan benifet for a bad decisions made against another team!like you say,their will be complications but i think this idea would make it fairer!

Shocked by these citations to be honest, but perhaps I shouldn't be given the opposition. Both were seen by the on field officials and neither warranted even a penalty. With Laffanchi's supposed spear tackle they were shown several replays of it while the Wire player was treated and the video ref had plenty of opportunity to have a word in his ear, but neither thought anything of it.

Are you implying that the RFL are biased towards Warrington?



I think it is hard to argue with the spear tackle incident. As I mentioned above, one man making the tackle should be in full control. Why Thaler didn't even blow for the penalty I dont know.

As for the other incident, I don't recall this. Wellens does need to cut back on his temper though.

You're in shock? As in proper shock? You need some perspective Sadders.

Not Warrington, noicon_wink.gif Someone else...

--The Rugby Football League's match-review panel cited the pair with grade B offences, which carry a ban of one or two matches. They have until 11am on Tuesday to enter early guilty pleas.-- cant argue with that

Yup, proper shock. Sheet white, eyeballs exposed, blabbering incoherently, having nightmare flashbacks, the lot.

Good point well made!

Didn't see Laffranchi's tackle on the night but have watched it back since, and boy did we get lucky with that on the night. On Wellens' brain fart on the "bum banger" Lee Briers (couldn't resist) that should have been a minimum of a penalty and again we got lucky to get away with it on the night.

I think though that the officials should be cited for poor performances (especially missing glaringly obvious penalties such as Wellens' and Laffranchi's incidents on Friday).

Referees are there to enforce the laws of the game, but sadly, are failing miserably at it at the moment. It doesn't help that some of the rule changes over the last few years are left open to "interpretation"... Each new rule or amendment to a rule should be explained properly so that refereeing is consistent and less open to interpretation.

If the ref had seen them it would have only meant 2 extra tackles.

just copied this from the saints site---Case Number ON/215/12
Name Paul Wellens
Club St Helens
Shirt Number 1
Match Warrington v St Helens
Competition Super League
Date 30/03/12
Incident considered Dangerous tackle in 7th minute
Decision Charge
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Law: 15.1(d) Detail: Dangerous tackle Grade: B MRP - Referred to tribunal
Range of Recommended Sanctions in relation to Charged Grade* 1-2 matches

Case Number ON/217/12
Name Anthony Laffranchi
Club St Helens
Shirt Number 14
Match Warrington v St Helens
Competition Super League
Date 30/03/12
Incident considered Dangerous tackle in 59th minute.
Decision Unknown
Details of Charge / Reason for NF Law 15.1(d) Detail: Places in a dangerous position and reaches the ground in a dangerous position Grade: B MRP - Referred to tribunal
Range of Recommended Sanctions in relation to Charged Grade* 1-2 matches----that about sums it up i think

Really suprised at these 2 being cited as i was under the impression that mr wellens and mr wilkin where trying to ref the game???

This truly highlights Silverwood's inability to referee a game. I know it is old news but Luaki was put on report twice when, it appears that, it wasn't even necessary for the ref to do it as this example proves the whole game is looked at, even if there wasn't even a penalty given.

On report and a couple of refs in super league need to be scrapped.

I'd forgot about this (haven't had a chance/wanted to watch the game back yet), couldn't believe it wasn't a penalty at the time. We'd have still done nothing with it though.

Not suprised by this. Thaler was struggling to make the 10 himself most over the game and spent a lot of time with his back to the player being tackled whilst trying to get back to the defensive line. He definitely had his back to play when the Briers was dumped on his head (wasn't much in it though).

Exactly.

How does Saints gaining a disadvantage against Wigan give Wire what we deserve?!

I think if you look back at both incidents you'll see...

Both were Myler's fault!

Yes but then that would mean Wire missing Westwood for the Wigan match later in the year. I also assume that if any of your players get cited in matches later in the season. Lets say Briers gets cited and found guilty against Wigan, Saints or Leeds on the 2nd game, you would be more than happy to have him missing from the next game which would be a playoff game or GF.

Most modern day justice systems require the punishment to be against the player rather than in favour of the victim. Hence if you get beaten up on a saturday night, the retribution would not be to let you whip the guy silly, but a 6 month suspended sentence. etc.

Also if its a 6 to 8 game ban, the player may not have enough years left in him to serve the sentence.