Seems to be a common occurrence for the intensity to drop off a cliff this time of the year, particularly for the clubs who know they'll be in the playoffs and have their position virtually secured.

No ban for Harry Smith, so it’ll now be interesting to see if Cust goes in to 9 or we play a total makeshift player there, such as Shorrocks in the next game.

O'Neill contesting his ban the incident is on twitter he was running behind the ref and the ref backed into him does not deserve a ban .

I saw that earlier and whilst it is ridiculous, it won’t get downgraded IMO. I’ve seen even more trivial ones get a ban. It’s the fact O’Neill raises his arms and gives him a little shove that will do for him. Hope I’m wrong mind.

Joke of a ban.



Cust has played a lot of 9 in his career and he should move there IMO. Shorrocks on the bench just in case



1 French

2 Miski



6 Field

7 Smith



9 Cust



14 Shorrocks

O’Neill semi successful in his appeal, managing to get it down to one game.

Better than nothing I suppose but I do think that's a nonsense decision. He's either done it deliberately or not - and to me it's fairly obvious he didn't.

Genuinely don't know the answer to this



Did the Leeds player (Rhys Martyn?) Get cited/suspended for making contact with the in goal touch judge celebrating the match winning try at catalans?



It was reckless to say the least.

Add LMS to that list.

Whats the difference in these?????????????? Oh wait LMS gets grade A O'Neill gets grade C (e.g. placing hand on arm to attract attention) he did neither.



Case Number:

ON/1433/22



Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook #15, St Helens



Competition:

Super League



Match:

Salford Red Devils v St Helens



Match Date:

2022-07-31



Incident:

Contact with referee



Decision:

Charge



Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)



Deliberate or reckless physical contact with the match official



Grade A



Sanctions:

0 Match Penalty Notice

And this is Brad’s;

Case Number:

ON/1379/22



Brad O'Neill #, Wigan



Competition:

Reserves Championship



Match:

Wakefield v Wigan



Match Date:

2022-07-23



Incident:

Contact with referee



Decision:

Charge



Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)



Deliberate or reckless physical contact with a match official (e.g. placing hand on arm to attract attention)



Grade C



Sanctions:

2 Match Penalty Notice

They need to stop being so precious the officials. As if there will be zero accidental contact when you’re playing a contact sport, at that pace and incidents like O’Neill’s or Martin’s look accidental to me. I’ve never seen the Foster incident and it sounds like a ban was warranted in that case but it was described as an assault. Now that’s a pretty serious term to throw about, that could live with the lad for the rest of his life. It didn’t sound like an assault from what I read but if a future employer, partner or whoever Googles his name, it will show up that he once assaulted a referee.

So Rhys Martin didn't get cited (haven't seen the LMS one)?

So after scoring a player can run around wildly/recklessly and jump around and barge into an official, but while defending your line and a referee backs into you you'll get banned.



Right OK

Quote NickyKiss="NickyKiss"They need to stop being so precious the officials. As if there will be zero accidental contact when you’re playing a contact sport, at that pace and incidents like O’Neill’s or Martin’s look accidental to me. I’ve never seen the Foster incident and it sounds like a ban was warranted in that case but it was described as an assault. Now that’s a pretty serious term to throw about, that could live with the lad for the rest of his life. It didn’t sound like an assault from what I read but if a future employer, partner or whoever Googles his name, it will show up that he once assaulted a referee.'" https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/watch-th ... 56334/amp/

Quote NickyKiss="NickyKiss"They need to stop being so precious the officials. As if there will be zero accidental contact when you’re playing a contact sport, at that pace and incidents like O’Neill’s or Martin’s look accidental to me. I’ve never seen the Foster incident and it sounds like a ban was warranted in that case but it was described as an assault. Now that’s a pretty serious term to throw about, that could live with the lad for the rest of his life. It didn’t sound like an assault from what I read but if a future employer, partner or whoever Googles his name, it will show up that he once assaulted a referee.'" https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/watch-th ... 56334/amp/

That's an absolute joke.



Is it any wonder why people like myself have no respect for refs? How can the above gets classed as assault? Another case of them protecting their own and milking anything they can.

Wow!



It’s a ban, he shouldn’t have done it but assault? Absolutely disgraceful wording and 8 games is farcical as well.

Stupid of him, but 8 games is a joke.

Definately a card and a few matches, but that being labelled as physical assault is insane!



Not to mention the ref came and stood directly infront of the player blocking his running line in the defensive setup, he walked straight past a gap between players to plant himself in the way! If the ref had be 1m or 2 to the right this would have not happened, you still can't go around pushing official's like that but there is a fair argument for the ref's poor positioning being the instigator.