Major contact, A clear punch (Not my words the lino's whilst describing the punch thrown by a certain K Senior).
Not a red card?
What does he have to do hit him with a half brick?

Sums up Bentham's display tonight, the $hithouse.

I actually thought Bentham was very good tonight, and he certainly got a lot of praise from the commentary team, but I do agree that this should have been a red card, and he took the easy option.

JJB wraps Grahams arm round his back. He didn't see it.

Countless other things going on which he didn't see.

Then yellow card for the punch.

He had a crap game, simple as that.

I was absolutely amazed. The touchie's comments screamed "Red card him".

I don't see why he didn't either. It's the 78th minute of the game, if it's proved harsh they can rule "Sending off sufficient". This way he lets the player get away with it and puts the frustration levels of a whole lot of people up a notch or two.

Gutless performance from him all night. If he stamps down on JJB for the chicken wing early on it might not have happened. Referees these days are scared of the media scrutiny a sending off provides. They don't want to ruin games and be accused of spoiling things. But if JJB is subsequently banned for that, does it not prove he should have been sent off?

I think he handles the 10 and holding down better than most which makes for an attractive game, but he's one of those referees who chooses to leave things to the disciplinary panel rather than punish those responsible in the appropriate game, i.e the one they misbehave in.

Red Card? No, no.

Two match ban for Wilkin courtesy of precedent set by UEFA.

Should you be sent off for a chicken wing? If so then the game has gone soft, it was a yellow at best, Senior should have seen red though Wilkin went down like an Arsenal striker...

It's really not as simple as that. You are the only person I have heard criticise the ref.

I liked Tony smith saying 'players need to have more control than this' whilst Senior was acting like a nutter
I was hoping beyond hope that someone was gunna pipe up with 'So you wont be picking him for the 4 nations then Tony'

Wilkin didn't go down easily. Watch it again, Senior hit him very hard, there was a proper connection.

What I'm saying is that if a player is banned for doing a chicken wing, doesn't that make it worthy of a sending off? Players have been banned for multiple games for it already this season. If it's worth a ban, it's got to be worth a red card?

If the potential exists in the rules, and it's a serious offence, I see no reason why not. Ditto punches and high tackles.

I do agree about the punch. It was a red, and I thought it was a very good report from the touchy. The only thing he could have said further was 'send the slaphead off!'.

In terms of the chicken wing, two things. Firstly he didn;t see it, the touchy reported it a couple of tackles later. Secondly, I am split on these tackles. I don't think he intentionally went for it, and when an attacker is using his arm to fend off a tackle it is very difficult to not get the arm involved from a defensive point of view, so I do have slight sympathy with the defense on that one.

Overall, it was a very good game, and I am loathe to spend too much time talking about the ref, when we should be talking about the players.

You're a neutral. Saints lost so the referee should take some flack. Eases the pain somewhat.

Great game though.

Fair enough. For what it's worth, I watched the game with a Saints fan round at mine, so I do have to keep a neutral head on and help him through the game.

The ref was garbage (simples).
Old man in front of touch judge should have seen red(simples)

What, the old man who monstered Wilkin.

Saints fan
"pass it forward"

Dave T
"they are only allowed to pass back mate"

Saints fan
"but the Leeds team are"

Dave T
"There are different rules for Leeds"

Saints fan
"Punch the fat ---t in the face"

Dave T
"no, you get sent off for that"

Saints fan
"that bald guy didn't get sent off"

Dave T
"He's special"

Saints fan
"how many points is it for a try again Dave, 5 ?"

Dave T

well, seeing as he has retired from internationals he won't be picking him will he

Very good mate.

In all seriousness, I can't really let myself go when he comes round to watch the match, as he would have plenty of opportunities to get me back, it's sort of an unwritten rule that we don't rub it in.

At 78 minutes, Sky had a real chance of broadcasting to the watching audience what an exciting game Rugby League really is (the game itself was actually very good) but still, that spineless, gutless, boring twart Bentham took it all away by sinbinning Senior.

Sky must have been livid.

Thought Senior deserved MOTM tonight, the spat at the end probably ruined it though.

He was excellent.

Senior? He did nothing bar tipping a ball onto Hall? Eastmond handled him very, very well.

Give over

He looked dangerous every time he had the ball. There were a good few times when he had Eastmond stretched! That isn't to say Eastmond had a bad game though, he was decent.

Senior's tackling and work rate coupled with the ability to find space to allow Hall an easy run is why I thought he deserved MOTM.

Give over, watch it again, the second punch catches Wilkin good and proper.

Just why won't people give over?