When I heard I thought "had to be an accident". Then I watched the video. He did not need to do that. Bad 'un.

His collision with Bentham last year was much worse imo and looked far more intentional than this one. He successfully appealed against the charge last year.

On the basis that I can't believe anyone would be that daft I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

The fact that he could have avoided contact makes it deliberate.
He's likely to cop a ban for it and although it seems petty, it seems the only course of action, especially in view of the "previous contact".

I can't remember ever seeing a player accidentally knock into a teammate in those circumstances. The fact he was arguing over a penalty not much earlier doesn't help his case. Deliberate IMO. It won't let me vote in polls for some reason.

Its an odd one.

I really can't imagine why he'd deliberately collide with Bentham, but I also can't believe that he wasn't aware that Bentham was there and then decided not to take any avoidance action.

I'd think a definite ban.

Widnes have accepted the charge, so the 2 game ban will stand.

Bentham actually stops and moves across into Houston's path, I think it was accidental particularly since his eyes were on the ball. We often see players from the defending team stepping across chaser's paths and colliding with them and it looked similar to that.

I suppose the problem is that the referees are obviously not expecting or braced for any contact so when it happens it is more likely to cause injury.

2 matches seems harsh, he will be a big miss for Widnes he's started the season well, I reckon they will be going after Leeds on Sunday as well with them coming off the back of the WCC and losing him takes a fair bit away from their pack.

I was convinced it was deliberate however after re-watching it over you are correct, Bentham stops and moves into his path at the last minute. Had he not done so the collision would never have happened

A 2 match ban is odd. If it was deliberate it’s 5+ isn’t it? If it was accidental then probably shouldn’t be a ban at all. So where does the 2 come from?

i thought that, don't no how he got away with it last year looked very deliberate, but this one looked pure accidental, if anything Bentham backs into him. both were looking up at the ball.

Houston banned for 2 games should help relieve the amount of penalties conceded.

He's certainly got form didn't he do it twice last season ?

i've been in two minds about this, bentham does do that step to his left, which led me to think it was more of an accident than last years incident.

however i've just watched it back again now, houston was looking up at the ball but he clearly has a look forward towards bentham's location, even if phil hadn't stepped to the side, houston will still be making contact with him.

the rfl are very tough on any contact with the ref even if it is an accident... not surprised to see a ban

except when he completely cleaned the same ref out last year and they did nothing.

Not quite true. They charged him for it, grade D iirc which could have landed him with a 5 match ban.
But they actually appealed the charge last year and won. Which makes their decision not to appeal this one strange to me because, as I mentioned on the previous page, the collision last year looked far more intentional.

i think he was found no case to answer, which flabbergasted everyone.

I was thinking along the same lines.
Maybe he meant to just brush against him but as you say Bentham steps back into his path which makes the impact a lot greater.
Then again rugby players are adept at swerving around or side stepping players so I guess he could have avoided the impact

The 2 match ban is a bit odd, I guess they have ruled it as reckless play. Surely if it was deliberate it would be a season long ban or even "sine die"

they charged him

but appealed and got overturned

Accidental is my opinion.
On the basis of Bentham's little step to the left, Houston is looking up at the ball, and also that I can't believe in this day that any of the players are daft enough to run straight into a ref, knowing full well that a likely van is on the cards for even putting a hand on a ref. Mitch Allgood, was it? Got reported and banned when playing for Rovers for simply putting his hand of the refs shoulder.

It's totally deliberate, scumbag had a sneaky look ahead when he's about 8 metres away which you can see in the side on shot and is about 2-3sec into the YT vid. This is not shown on the close up replays as Houston is closer than that in any case.
It could have been even worse because if Bentham doesn't move to his right Houston would have run right over the top of him.
Has ample time to look, it's encumbent upon him to not make contact, he makes zero attempt to look where he is going knowing that the referee is in the vicinity.

Should have got the full 5 games given that players have being given 3 for a silly push to move them out the way and Carney I think got 3 games for putting his arm up when Child deliberately walked into him.

Total b0llox as you don't know whether it was or wasn't deliberate unless you are Chris Houston. Looking at the video over and over you can see Houston looks twice and each time he looked Bentham is crabbing to the right, so Houston in the line he is running would miss Bentham had he not stopped and then leaned in to the left. As Houston has looked he has clearly made attempts to see where he is going.
There also has to be some responsibility on behalf on Bentham and the officials, as Bentham being a professional and experienced ref should know that when a kick goes up a chase will ensue. Bentham has a responsibility to make sure he is out of the way for both his and the players safety. just because he is an official it doesn't make him infallible.

How can he get out of the way of people who are coming from behind him? Or does he turn round to look at them, and miss the catcher knocking on, being tackled in the air etc? He was exactly where he should be, in order to make that call. The responsibility is absolutely with the players as they are the only ones in a position to ensure his safety.

Players and officials both have a responsibility to each other you can't just blame the players as the ref has a responsibility to ensure his and all players safety. Bentham wasn't stood still he was moving right then stopped and leaned left as Houston ran past. As a pro ref with experience he should be aware as I said of players coming chasing the kick.