I'd guess big Phil thought there was a case for a penalty try? He's getting beyond embarrassing. In game comments in the heat of the moment are one thing but to write a piece so far after the event, especially having had his career ended by serious injury, about rugby gods injuring players is unprofessional.

I notice Joel Tomkins kicks managed to escape the article. Though, of course, they weren't very hard and missed so that's ok.

There should be a fair few messages awaiting moderation on the Sky Sports site now. Wonder how many will be published...

[iSo Mr Clarke, does Sam Tomkins deserve to be punished by the rugby gods for his cheating tactics in the tackle?

Does Joel Tomkins deserve to be punished by the rugby gods for kicking out in the tackle, TWICE in two weeks? Both on purpose I may add.

Of course not, your a Wigganer.

Shocking article.

P.s Who are these rugby gods you speak of?[/i

Lets hope it get published.

You're wrong on Sam Tomkins. What Tomkins did showed his brilliance and competitive nature. No case to answer to the rugby gods.

no comments added since Wednesday....

from the comments

'Even the Leeds coach was trying to claim that it was an off the ball incident which led to McGuire´s injury so it appears that intimidation and cheating is a part of the Leeds ethos..is it that the referees are scared of upsetting McLellan?'


the whole bleating from the pies is embarrassing, I've played football, RL, RU, Cricket, and in every sport teams and individuals try to gain advantages from things that aren't strictly in the rules, not always something sinister, but

holding at corners?
going shoulder to shoulder chasing a kick through in either code of rugby how far can you push it?
sledging or chat in cricket?
I had my shirt grabbed countless times playing rugby, doubt i ever even got a penalty, i probably swung an arm at the offender several times too, and doubt i was ever penalised, and vice versa - i t happens

dozens of incidents in games every week are technically 'foul play' but are either not detected or or the ref / umpire lets them go for the sake of the games flow.

A slight tug 60 yards from the try line by a player with Danny's pace and you'd think it's the worst, most sinister evil event of the year.

How lovely would it be if his beloved Wigan got knocked out tonight by HKR! I don't care if that means facing Warrington, we owe them one too. Come on KR!

I disagree. The thought of Phil Clarke, microphone in hand, out on the Headingley turf in front of a full house with his Wigan having just had their season ended by Leeds is just too enticing. Come on the Pies tonight!

I have thought for a long time that Clarke has a chip on his shoulder about Leeds. If I had any lingering doubt it is now well and truly dispelled. Some of his comments in this article just stagger the imagination.

My god they breed em thick dumb and stupid out Wigan way!

You'd expect better from a player who's career was ended by injury.

Cherry and white tool.

I think Clarke is a brilliant summariser but this is embarrassing. I was almost forgetting why Wigan fans got on my ti ts so much in the 90s. As stealing the ball can be classed as cheating I wonder if they deserve the same fate.

Clarke himself could give away a penalty or two (like any rugby player) so was it the work of the "Gods" that broke his neck?

No he's not.

He's repulsive and stinks of self importance.

Prick.

Me or him?

Deffo him.

You??? Meh.

Excellent post by the way.

I think that given he'd left the favourite club of these so called 'rugby gods' he was somewhat fortunate to have his life spared.

Lucky escape for Mr Clarke.

Thankfully now that 'he does god' I can despise him along with that other mob that also 'do god.'

I think the man deserves a medal for cutting through the crap spouted by the pair of muppets in the studio with him. I met him once & he seemed ok too, though he can be a pain in the neck.

His neck no doubt.

I don't watch Sky often so can't really comment on his summarising ability but if this is the sort of drivel he spouts, then give me Garry Schofield any day.

You don't know how lucky you are.

My Favourate last weekend was something along the lines of 'Instead of listing the try scorers at the end of a game, we should list the try savers'

I'm surprised Schoey hasn't been along in the press yet to remind us all how much better he was than McGuire and how he would have given Carmont five yards start and still caught him.

Simply an outrageous by Clarke. He should be made to resign with immediate effect. We should all write/email a letter of complaint to Sky and demand his exit, he should not be allowed to make such comments. Outrageous.

Our team talk for next week is done though.....

Maybe Stevo is the rugby god?

On the basis of: during the Leeds vs Wigan game when Burrow made a half break he stopped himself from been dragged out of play by simply going to ground before the Wigan players got to him. Phil Clarke then says along the lines of 'Is that not a voluntry tackle? Is that not a voluntry tackle Stevo'. Why did Phil Clarke have to ask Stevo?....he is a so called expert....he witnessed the incident before him...can he not make judgements by himself?...Is he not upto his job and feels the need to seek advice from Stevo the god? Idiot.

What's slightly sadder than the article in the first place is that Sky now appear intent on not permitting readers of its website the opportunity to post a reply to an inflammatory and potentially libellous comment by one of its employees.