That might sound jaundiced, but it is how it looks. The disciplinary is certainly a shambles. Punishments getting drastically overturned should be the rare exception, not the rule. By definition, the system isn't working.

I posted the video of the Flower tackle on the Canberra fans website, and one of the guys there said, yeah, that's the leg-drop (?something, drop, anyway) tackle that the NRL are trying to get rid of. Nevertheless, I find it hard to get too excited about a tackle where the tackled player makes no complaint, doesn't appear to suffer any injury, and play continues. Considering some of the tackles you do see that go unpunished...

oh it was that one, i saw that at the time and said thats almost exactly the same as the smithies incident, and should cop the same ban.

I thought Smithies was Harsh, as player himself puts his own head in a dangerous position - 2 matches would have been about right for me.
I agree similar happened with the Walmesley one - Player dips his head (It's becoming a common tactic, a bit like backing into the tackle) but after that I don't see much difference in Smithies and Walmesleys actions.
To get grading reduced etc. Baffling

And that's the issue, the inconsistency of it all.

I don't think there's many people on here who can hand on heart say they believe Walmsley action's deserve a ban at all on the face of it. But when Smithies gets 4 games and Walmsley gets 2, later reduced to 1, it's bound to get a reaction.

Exactly

more concerned with flowers 2 and his 0 than the crusher

Again, there was nothing wrong with Walmsley’s tackle on Wells. The backlash was because Flower had recently been done and also because of the injury. And the fact Walmsley plays for Saints. Take away those factors and the Walmsley tackle would never have even been noticed or got a mention.

So takeaway all the facts of the situation and nobody bats an eyelid.

Not all the facts no. You’re yet again twisting my words which is your usual tactic.

The main “fact” is what Walmsley actually did. The other stuff (the injury and the Flower ban) don’t actually make his tackle any worse but have a massive impact on the reaction to it.

Answer this honestly, had Wells not gone down injured and the game hadn’t been stopped would any single Wigan fan have been calling for him to be banned after the game? Be honest.

I personally was calling for Graham to be banned for the crusher and whoever it was that tried to rip his arm out.

If you're asking would I be asking for a ban for a tackle from the third man in that targets the knee then the answer would be yes because they're the rules.

That’s not what I am asking though is it. (Walmsley didn’t target the knee by the way)

I’ll ask again, had Wells not been injured and the game didn’t stop would anyone have even mentioned the Walmsley tackle?

You keep reiterating that there was nothing wrong with the Walmesley tackle last week - There was, it was a crusher
End of

Did it deserve a Ban? Yes
Do I think the 2 would have been fair yes, would I have accepted 1? Maybe

But To get it downgraded to 1 is fortunate, for the RFL to in effect say that Smithies was 4 x times worse is ridiculous

Now you can argue about anything you want with regards to the severity of the punishment,
But you obviously don't think he should have got banned? Maybe not even charged etc.? Well that's just wrong

As for the Jack wells one - Ben Flowers was about 100 times less innocuous - No-one even knew there was an issue until 4 days later
I watched it about 10 x times thinking there must be a different tackle they're referring to
I made my point clear that there would be dozens similar between now and the end of the season and in the following week lo & behold 2 almost identical tackles resulting in on the field injuries and neither was charged.

Ridiculous

Then Walmesley tackles Wells, coincidentally whilst also being held in a crusher and having a chicken wing applied.
Attacker stood prone (At least the Flower one the attacker was still moving forward) and Walmesley leaves his feet and goes to Knees from I would say a 45degree angle to be generous to him (rather than from the side closer to 90 degrees that I think it was nearer, and we all get told they shouldn't tackle against the "Natural bend" of the knee) and Nothing

Ridiculous - When compared to what others including Flower were & have been banned for.

Slightly off topic - 5 games for Makinson & 8 for Lineham - How????

Anyway to answer your question

Answer this honestly, had Wells not gone down injured and the game hadn’t been stopped would any single Wigan fan have been calling for him to be banned after the game? Be honest

I just don't know - because I did call it as a bad tackle as it happened, and a crusher (I missed the chicken wing at the time), and he was injured, and the game was stopped - And He got Nothing

Ben Flower - Absolutely No-one picked up on it, the player didn't complain, the Sky commentary said nothing, the games wasn't stopped and no Fan had a clue and probably still don't and what = 2 games

so that's it
I just don't know - Because you know what, I don't think the RFL know

But don't be surprised to get a backlash from Wigan fans when Walmesely gets a downgrade to 1 after what Smithies etc. got
They should have got similar - and wheter they both get 3/4 or they both get nothing, someone needs to decide on that and stay as consistant as they can with the interpretation

Yes, but we have to take out all the facts of the tackle. Forget that he targets the knee, Wells is out for the season and the game was stopped. They are all irrelevant.

It's like saying forget that Ben Flower punched Hohaia square in the face and then smacked him again on the floor why he was out cold. Was it a red card?

There’s no talking to some people unfortunately. You see a Saints fan and lose all logic. Never mind.

I’m not going to waste any more time arguing with strangers on the internet who just want to score points.

I would be prepare to let most things go

But for crying out loud, that's rich!!!!!
One of redvees favourite sons lecturing us on being bereft of logic!

I occasionally toddle off to your board for a gander, and 90% of it is miopic one eyed, blinkered, vitriolic hyperbole of BS !
Horrible place full of cretins (bar the odd one) who havent an ounce of discussion in their brain cell. Who, apart from the odd troll, dont want to enter the bigger world of having to debate or reason.

Anyway
Give us your opinion on the Smithies 4 game crusher and the flower 2 game ban and how it stacks up against Wlamelsleys indiscretions. FWIW I dont think hes the devil incarnate, he got a couple of things wrong and possibly deserved a smallish ban on both occasions, the argument is the consistency of punishment.
Walmsley 1 game, smithies is no more than a 2
Walmsley 0 games, Flower shouldnt even have been discussed

I await with baited breathe

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, neither Flower or Smithies deserved a ban in my opinion. The headbutt was far far worse than the “crusher.” In 99% of those cases the defender can do very little to avoid the contact. Furthermore, attackers are now backing into tackles and almost looking for it.

As for the rest of your post, grow up FFS. Cretins? Then you have the audacity to talk about reasonable debate. Wow. The type of behaviour you’ve just said you come across on redvee is exactly what you’re doing now. I honestly despair sometimes. Just talk about things, exchange opinions and agree to disagree if we have to. But leave it at that. Time and time again the same two posters on here just jump on everything I say and pick fights. It’s boring. Genuine question how old are you?

Good

Old enough to remember when you used to post nothing on here but anti-Wigan e no doubt due to years of watching us shatter your dreams and lift trophy after trophy.

You can claim all you want to be almost like a born again christian and have seen the error of your ways, but why you may hide it better nowadays each and every post you make still contains some dig at Wigan.

Myself and Jukesays will discuss most topics with most people. We particularly like discussing circuses, but we will also put up barriers when it is clear that some people have a "hidden" agenda.

48

What's that got with owt?
You do know that people can see what goes on on that board dont you, some of the stuff they say etc. Dont see you often telling then to grow up etc.

Were not that dissimilar in opinion here believe it or not, I would argue that Smithies and walmelsley on the crushers "Maybe" could have got 1 apiece, 2 I'd even stretch to.

But the argument was about the consistency of decisisn making, and it's like night and day from one week to the next.
I dont even think it's a club bias etc. I just think like some of thereferes who spend hundred hours of the week over thinking the job, instead of seeing what's in front of them with common sense (and yes I do know the ref are acting on instructions and training drones their boss, which says it all) the judiciary must just turn up every week and spin a wheel, or use one of those paper things girls used to have at primary school, pick a colour, pick a number, oooohhh the disciplinary likes you this week well let you off, ooooohhhh bad boy this week well give you 4.

And as for "The same 2 posters" I'll set you a challenge.
Find me the last 5 posts on other threads I've replied to you on, I bet you'll have to go a long way back.

I remember when you used to come on all the time, i remember the Yelloe Girraffe going missing and having a search party out for you when things didnt go so well

Good to see you back

It was literally 2 weeks ago you were having a pop. I’ll find it.

Yes redvee has many idiots, but don’t judge ME on what THEY say. This board has many idiots too; but I judge people as I find them. I have no desire to argue with anyone or wind folk up. I’m just here to share opinions on the sport we all love. Yes we can’t stand each other’s teams but we can still be adults about it.

Oh and the only time I “went missing” was when a particular Mod chased me round every thread deleting or editing my comments.

Amongst all of that, there’s a lot we agree on. The inconsistency of the disciplinary panel is farcical. I understand why Wigan fans would tear their hair out when Walmsley didn’t get a ban for the tackle on Wells, but not because I think Walmsley did anything wrong. Same with the crusher, I understand why a 2 (or 1) game ban would drive you all potty; but only because Smithies got 4.

I think the refereeing standard in general and the disciplinary process are both woeful to be honest.

I like circuses, do you like circuses?
I wonder if yellow giraffes like circuses?

As for Born again Christian I see it like this
I appreciate the YG may come on here subtler than in the past, that's fine, but to be holier than thou whilst at the same time standing by and often contributing to the horrible stuff that goes on on redvee and what is aimed at Non Sainta posters is a bit, well, not playing cricket.

I'm ok in some ways as IMO rogues et al should just leave you all to get on with your own thing, good luck to them all and if I'm honest, I dont knowingly he bothers.
But dont come preaching about us not seeing logic with a Sainta fan, because its miles worse on redvee.

Again, your judging me on what others do.

I am not claiming to be holier than thou and I am not being “subtle” at all. I am just being genuine.

And I owe you an apology; it was another poster I was getting you confused with when I said it was the same 2 posters.

I used to like circuses, but they're not as good as they used to be

I may be, but I also think that a lot of posters go way too far over there, and others stand by and allow that to happen. Its not a healthy place at all. But hey ho, let them get on with it.

As I said earlier where not a million miles apart on the issue, I think we both think that a lot of the decision making is mind boggling.
You or anyone can look back and I bet you'll hardly find an post from me on disciplinary stuff, I didnt say too much on the Smithies one apart from my concern that attackers are putting themselves in difficult positions, and I am beginning to think that it is happening more and more.
However the Flower one tipped me over the edge, and I still dont get it.

I'm ok with the Walmsley 1 game, I also think that players are immediately holding there necks and heads on occasions milking it, trying to get the ref, video ref to get involved. 5 years ago it was players staying down of a finger brushed their face, this is the new one.

And the game needs to be careful, the more you look for the more you'll find and the more the game becomes a game of those that can play the rules than play the game.

Oh and BTW
Weve had many a tussle going years back, but I knee I hsdnt replied more than maybe once or twice to yourself I the last few years, partly because you've not been on much, partly because you havent said anything too controversial.
But fair play for your apologising

I just wish the saints forum on rl fans was used more as I really enjoyed the to and fro and differing opinions and I believe the general feel of that forum was better than the current redvee.
I would welcome more opposing views from different fans of different clubs barring rhevusual troll suspects