Reading through the replies, you would think Tamou had knocked the innocent Galloway out, and Garbutt had run in to save the day.

The reality, Galloway throughout the game had been taking things to far on the ground, giving facials and choking players, causing pushing and shoving on a few occasions which escalated into Tamou giving him a little slap on the cheek in the last ten mins.

That's as far as it would have gone until Garbutt runs in and sucker punches, yes it was a sucker punch and breaks Tamou nose.

Anyone who thinks a sucker punch is acceptable epitomises the culture that needs to be stamped out of RL.

Rubbish.

Go watch golf or something if you don't want tempers boiling over.

First proper punch we have seen for 2 years and the rugby world goes into melt down...
Has the game I love gone soft,the game where I knew if u did a unjustified action on the field u got a deserved reaction..

No its gone more professional... in rugby there is barely a punch thrown anymore due to automatic sin binning. If you like sucker punching, fighting etc, maybe time to follow a different sport.

it aint gone soft,but Garbutt gets 2 matches ban for a blatant sucker punch,wheres the equality in punishment compared to flower.....oh wait,he plays for leeds

I would agree if Garbutt had knocked Tamou out with the punch then followed it up with another whilst he was out cold on his back but that didn't happen did it.

So what culture do we need to stamp out then? I don't have to argue with you when you seem to be arguing with yourself.

the game has gone more professional,what a load of rubbish u call a spade a spade cos it is one rugby league will always be the same which is about getting one over on your opponent and if that means via skill or looking after yourself and teammates during the game you do so.

Quote ="Ron"No its gone more professional... in rugby there is barely a punch thrown anymore due to automatic sin binning. If you like sucker punching, fighting etc, maybe time to follow a different sport.'" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpcuSQS5fI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtdGjGTPkqU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V9Cu05lGjY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Etll1cTyQ nary a punch thrown by uber-professional players like uber professional James Tamou in uber professional NRL

Quote ="Ron"No its gone more professional... in rugby there is barely a punch thrown anymore due to automatic sin binning. If you like sucker punching, fighting etc, maybe time to follow a different sport.'" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpcuSQS5fI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtdGjGTPkqU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V9Cu05lGjY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Etll1cTyQ nary a punch thrown by uber-professional players like uber professional James Tamou in uber professional NRL

Wow, where have all the soppy boys appeared from?

I was proud of Garbutt, saw his mate get punched, exacted immediate retribution face to face. Not like the biggest coward in Superleague over at your place, you know, the fella that punches little stand offs in the eye when they're layed on the floor holding the ball unable to protect themselves. You know, the fella that took a whole 90 seconds of the new season before he tried taking our young stand off out with an illegal shoulder charge. You know the fella ?

A prop punches a prop after he tried to punch another prop. Good job the Chairman of the PFU isn't around to hear all this rubbish along with the pansy-& comments from Matt Scott. He'd be weeping into his pint of mild.

What did Matt Scott say?

Quote ="SmokeyTA"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpcuSQS5fI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtdGjGTPkqU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V9Cu05lGjY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Etll1cTyQ nary a punch thrown by uber-professional players like uber professional James Tamou in uber professional NRL'" Yes well done on finding punches from 6 years ago in the NRL to argue my point that since the automatic sin binning ban a couple of seasons ago, rarely a punch is thrown, coupled with a push and a high tackle in SOO last year thrown in for good measure. Oh and I am not arguing that players don't still occasionally lose the plot, but sucker punching isn't something that should be condoned and applauded (see this thread)... at least Garbutt came out and has apologised publicly and to Tamou after the game.

Quote ="SmokeyTA"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpcuSQS5fI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtdGjGTPkqU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V9Cu05lGjY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Etll1cTyQ nary a punch thrown by uber-professional players like uber professional James Tamou in uber professional NRL'" Yes well done on finding punches from 6 years ago in the NRL to argue my point that since the automatic sin binning ban a couple of seasons ago, rarely a punch is thrown, coupled with a push and a high tackle in SOO last year thrown in for good measure. Oh and I am not arguing that players don't still occasionally lose the plot, but sucker punching isn't something that should be condoned and applauded (see this thread)... at least Garbutt came out and has apologised publicly and to Tamou after the game.

Quote ="SmokeyTA"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpcuSQS5fI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtdGjGTPkqU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V9Cu05lGjY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Etll1cTyQ nary a punch thrown by uber-professional players like uber professional James Tamou in uber professional NRL'" Having watched those Garbutt should have hit him harder. It's no surprise he got his retaliation in first.

Quote ="SmokeyTA"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpcuSQS5fI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtdGjGTPkqU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V9Cu05lGjY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Etll1cTyQ nary a punch thrown by uber-professional players like uber professional James Tamou in uber professional NRL'" Having watched those Garbutt should have hit him harder. It's no surprise he got his retaliation in first.

He said...

There you go again with this "sucker punching" nonsense. It might make you feel a little more self righteous to describe it this way, but to everyone else you look like a clueless idiot. Here's a tip, if a large bloke has hold of you - right in front of your face - after you've just slapped one of his mates, you need to f*****g pay attention to him. Garbutt gave him so much warning he could have called the ambulance, booked into hospital and ordered his meal before he was hit.
Maybe he's used to handing out the slaps rather than getting anything back.

Jesus Chris, what is this? Mumsnet?

I haven't read the full thread (too lazy) but for mine:

1) When Flower first smacked Hohaia he deserved it, it was the second punch that was way out of order which means these two incidents are not in any way comparable.

2) This is Rugby League... when did it turn into wendyball? It's the aggressive and violent nature of the sport that makes it so inviting for a majority of us. If I wanted to watch a load of skillful blokes playing a team game I'd be at Elland Road every other week (insert own joke here)

I'm going to bookmark this thread and then resurrect the responses next time a Leeds player gets biffed and there's an outbreak of hypocritical faux outrage.

Students, Aussies and vegetarians.

Axis of evil.

You might not need to. Only 3 days til we play Catalans.

I'm a Leeds fan. My view of the Hohoia/Flower incident is unbiased, unlike yours. In fact, between Wigan and Saints I've far less ill will towards Saints. We always beat you in finals, unlike Wigan.

However, I've changed my mind on one thing. Hohoia deserved the second smack. He was a grubby little player around the ruck and if you act like he did during his time in Super league these things tend to come to you.

I don't think Willie Mason is capable of ending anyone's career these days as he did that evening in Sydney. The Subway Franchisee was never the same after that.