Couldn't believe they watched it back in video and didn't even give a penalty?!

Strange seeing Paterson actually playing Rugby League. He never did that first game of the season.

Some good rugby on show, and a bit of niggle. Some of the defense has been very soft indeed however.

Catalans didn't bother turning up for the first 20 minutes (neither did French tv by the looks of it), although credit to Salford, their energy and work rate was really good.

Can't see them holding on though if Catalans carry on like that in the 2nd half. First 10/15 mins of the 2nd half are crucial for Salford, they'll have to hope that the break has halted Catalans momentum.

That was a knock-on by Henderson, should not be a penalty to Catalan.

Carney brilliance. Catalan resilience.

Short side scrum move! I love 'em!

Carney hurt with bad ribs

Jean hurt with a broken heart

That's a harsh penalty.

40-40 is a ridiculous scoreline.

It really is comforting to know that referees don't even know what the rules are

Bentham strikes again!! Disgusting decision.

Total clanger by Bentham there robbed a point from Catalans because he forgot the rules

Not so sure it was harsh. The ruling is if you don't know you are tackled, you play again. He was on the floor, stopped, and a player laying on his legs. He took a chance at cheating by getting up and running. Clear penalty for mine.

Was the suggestion not that Escare knew he was tackled, and feigned the not being tackled to waste time? That was my read of the situation ...

And what rule is that then? The tackle is complete, he's got up and carried on running. It's a penalty.

I've seen many of those before and the ref makes them go back and play the ball.

If he doesn't hear the call from the ref then he goes back to play the ball... as Cummings explained.

How bad is it that a professional sporting referee doesn't know the rules of his game.. absolutely ridiculous. What will happen for his incompetence? nothing..

Yeah I think that should be a penalty. I'm all for going back when a ball is offloaded just as the ref calls held or if there's some doubt as to whether the guy is held......but he was clearly tackled and had the Salford player on his legs.

Stupid play from Escare and rightly punished imo.

Up until 2 seasons ago, it was a penalty but, for 2 seasons, play goes back to the original tackle and ptb. : nice one ref

Cheating is against the rules. Learn them yourself, the ref was correct.

Had it been debatable he would have got to play the ball again.

Whatever the player thought, the rule is that you send the player back to play the ball,. You do not penalise him. Shocking, disgusting and inexcusably incompetent decision by Bentham.

The rule about going back and playing it was iirc, originally brought in for when players are upright and pass out of a tackle simultaneously with the red shouting held. It's been extended a bit to give botd to guys who don't think they were tackled, but this was obvious. Lee was laid on him then we wriggled out and he got up and ran.

No it's not. You only send the player back if he is unaware the tackle is completed. If Bentham feels Escare was aware the tackle was complete, and just wasting time, it's the right decision.

What's shocking and inexcusable is to go from a 22 point deficit to 8 points clear and then to let it slip.

The ref got that right. Cummings, again, got it wrong.

Escare was most definitely tackled. There was no ambiguity in it. He was on the ground with a player on his legs. Anyone in their right mind would get up and play the ball. Escare got carried away and wasn't thinking straight.
This wasn't a situation where a player couldn't know he'd been tackled (eg where a tackler has bounced off) or where the player is waiting for a held call.

Bentham was quite right. Penalty. It was Escare's mistake, in the same way as Salford had a try disallowed, and conceded a penalty, for a double movement.