Tony Smith said in his press conference Lee Briers was in order to take matters in his own hands when he hit Ablett from behind as the referee did nothing about the high tackle previously..... funny..... I didn't think that was in the Rugby League Manual, so no yellow no red no ban ..mmmm

Wasn't even a bad tackle for my money, he scrags him by the collar....

Pot...Kettle...Black

What did Wane say last year about the treatment Tomkins was getting?

"I'll get my big guys to take out there play makers if Sam isnt protected more."

Was that ok too?

Has he been called up before the disciplinary? Is there a more
cowardly act than punching someone in the back of the head when they aren't looking? It just shows what a little scumbag he really is.

Wasn't that Nathan Brown when he was at Hudds? I don't remember Wane saying this, could be wrong of course

Yes. It's on the RFL site. Grade A offence.

Yes Wane has said as much.....i remember him doing his Donkey Kong impression

in an interview about it.

Here is something on the BBC about it:

[urlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18538370[/url

Also one from the Mirror

[urlhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/wigan-enforcers-out-to-protect-sam-905345[/url

Stop being so bloody soft.

Self-defence or defence of a team-mate is one thing. But Briers was grabbed by the back of the shirt. There was nothing wrong with that tackle. His violent response was to something that pillock Ablett said to him. So is it okay to throw punches when someone says something you don't like?

Eyeball Swiveller needs calling up himself for those comments.

It is NOT okay to chuck punches on a rugby pitch just because you've been made to a look a prat. Savy?

I cant help but think back to Magic Weekend last year, with the biff. When Maginess (sp) hit Tuson when his back was turned and Tuson battered him. Didn't the dirty Stains player get a 3 or 5 match ban(cant remeber which it was). In my eyes there wasn't much difference.

I've absolutely no problem with it, so long as the next time someone does the same sort of cowardly act they get treated exactly the same.

However we all know that won't happen. All I want to see is a bit of consistency. When you look at some of the sending off's and bans we've seen in the past for similar incident's it doesn't help.

I'm not a big fan of Ablett either but I didn't think that tackle was bad enough to warrant briers trying to clobber him one.

with some very big games still to come in the playoffs it will be interesting to see what happens the next time someone throws a punch.

Briers also dropped like he'd been shot when Ablett tackled him by the collar. Theatrics like that have no place in a sport like Rugby League. Throw the book at him!

Spot on.

If he doesn't get a 1 match ban (and I mean an actual ban, not "pleading guilty"icon_wink.gif then the RFL are even bigger clowns than I believe them to be.

Well in all my years of watching the game forwards have always looked after the smaller ones, ask any of the old timers,

:lql4a5qe[/u

Depends who you play for.

He's submitted an EGP and not received a ban lol

His back wasn't turned, the pictures show him holding his hands up expecting a punch when Lees arm is at the bottom of the swing.
He turns to avoid being hit.

Apparently a poster on the forum who speaks to the players says Briers wasn't upset by the tackle but Ablett says something about Lees family, now to get such a response out of him like that I might assume it was his brother, put it this way what he said was so bang out of order when Lee went back to his players and told them it fired the whole team up to belt the living chuff out of Ablett.

Not excusing it, Lee should have been off be it Yellow or Red and I agree Childs was weak but as for the RFL ruling it is, like it or not the correct one. It's a grade A, Cummins called that right at the time and he should know better than anyone, Lee has no previous so with an EGP it is the correct decision to just get a fine and not a ban, no conspiracy, just simple black and white.

Yes but Ablett's second cousin's mate spoke to a guy in the pub apparently denying this.

There are plenty of posters that do know players personally, I know several.

The RFL are not only incompetent, they are possibly the worst administrators of any professional game, anywhere in the world.

Unbelievable decision and totally inappropriate.

Our game is run by clowns.

It was a cowardly shot but a single punch is grade A. EGP and like it or not he's eligible so we move on. RFL are pants and we all know it!

either

a) nothing, because the RFL doesn't want players being banned for the big games

or

b) nothing if they play for a big club but potentially players from the other clubs will get a ban

I am glad he never got a ban

Dont really want to see red cards and games missed for a bit of fisty cuffs.

Really glad that the new directive from the RFL is not to punish players for it.........

I want to agree with you Tuggles but I'll wait until it happens against a Wire player so that I don't look biased and to show I'm not a softcock like most fans seem to be at the moment.

All RL fans like a good scrap (if you don't you should do) it takes all the frustrations out of you, however they aren't consistent at Red Hall and that is what annoys
people, I couldn't care less if Briers got 1 match or 6 but lets treat them all the same.

That's the real issue here, early in the season punch thrown straight red and a ban now it seems not to be worthy of either.

I love to see a bit of biff but lets have some consistency.