Depends what risk the governing body deem acceptable and, to a lesser extent, what image they're trying to portray. I think there's enough risk in the game without allowing bare-knuckle fighting.

Fighting should never be a red card offence unless it gets really out of hand. The Jewitt Vs Walker and Tickle Vs Hauraki bouts didn't deserve red cards, just some forwards letting off some steam.

Sin bin to cool off should be adequate. No need for red cards at Hull the other night - bizarrely two others did get yellow. If anything really naughty happens then the judiciary in the week can act further.

I don't think anyone's advocating fighting to go unpunished but the sin-bin is perfect for this kind of offence. A sending off with the standard match ban is far too harsh in the scheme of things.

I dread to think how many players will be left on the field on the Hull derby or if this red-card frenzy goes global and in the Origin. I remember last year's SOO, an outrage broke out after the ref decided to sin-bin both players in a minor scrap, it was unheard of

The refs are getting over enthusiastic about carding players.
Two weeks ago Robert Hicks binned Sam Tomkins for dissent after his decision on a 20 restart v goal line drop out. Replays showed Hicks made the wrong decision. Tomkins shouldn't have verbally had a go but Hicks made five wrong decisions over catching the ball whilst the foot is our of play during the game. He was applying last year's rules. Don't know anything about Hock's red card for swearing but Hicks was the ref. I'd bet on the Hicks getting the decision wrong and Hock having a go.

Common sense needs to come in. Its a tough contact sport, at times it will cross the line. A yellow card should be enough. It allowts the coach to have a calming word ti calm things down and for the players to calm down. If it is that bad then thr disciplanary panel can be more severe punishment if needed.

Imo if biffs are sending off offences then head high tackles should be as well.

Hicks sent him to the bin after the touch judge ran on. That was the only time the touch judge interjected himself in the whole game, missing knock ons and forwards from both teams. So Hicks didn't even hear him swear the first time. The red came after Hock reacted badly to that.

Obviously angry at Hock for getting sent off like that but I've never seen a player sent off for swearing before. I know Jimmy Lowes was sin binned plenty of times because he couldn't keep his mouth shut but never red.

Im sorry, you've lost me there.

I can never wrap my head around British people who shout from the roof tops about "cultural marxism". You cannot care very much about the culture you presumably think you're defending from marxism, otherwise you wouldn't be adopting the ised and incorrect American understanding of cultural marxism.

I agree with a lot of Marxian analysis and love to see the biff as much as anyone else, if not more so!

Having seen the TV replay last night, not only were the two red cards over the top but Ganson managed to sin bin at least one player who as far as I could tell didn't throw a single punch.

Top officiating.

Unbelievable.

As a referee in the amateur leagues, when two players start to fight, i'll get both captains over and the offending players and I'll bin both players and tell the captains that the next time I'll take more action. I've never had anything more serious than a yellow for fighting. I think that a yellow is sufficent for fighting.

A guy who runs in a throws a few from behind gets a red, as should all cowardly acts. A toe to toe is a yellow and a beer in the bar afterwards - FFS its not soccer.

So in that case it should have been yellow's for Tickle and Hauraki, Red for Carney and nothing for O'Meley (who didnt throw a punch)

Maybe throw in a yellow for Chase who headbutted Lineham and an MBE for Lineham for taking Chase to the ground!

Carney was extremely lucky to stay on the pitch. Came in from nowhere and threw punches at a defenceless Liam Watts (who was caught up between players). Mark O'Meley didn't throw a single punch. How was he binned?!

Would liked to have seen more of what happened between Chase and Lineham. I saw that Lineham had him in a clinch on the ground at one point.

Think the biggest punishments will go to Tickle and Carney. Hauraki barely did anything other than niggle in the tackle and barely got a lunch in. Which player was it that swung the arm at Tickle in the first place? (The swinging arm that Ganson missed and still gave Cas a penalty).

Keith Mason was the instigator of the incident He put in the swinging arm (2nd or 3rd of the match by him) which missed Tickle (Luckily) and i think Tickle got confused and had a pop at Hauraki and that’s when it all kicked off.

Carney was lucky to stay on the field with running in wind milling.

Toe to toe fighting should be sin bin and let them let off some steam on the bench, cheap shot fighting should be a straight red i.e. running in and attacking someone from the blindside

To me there is adifference between a flare up and a fight.
If things get heated and two gusy start fighting, yellow card them to calm it down.

The guys running in and throwing punches are different. I'd send them off.

YES!

The sinbin is there for players to cool off. Sending players off ruins the rest of the game.

Carney got 2 matches, Tickle and Hauraki got 1 each. In my opinion, sending off sufficient for Tickle and Hauraki and a match for Carney would have been fair.

I was not at the game nor saw the video clips however I feel compelled to defend Keith Mason.

Keith is advising Mickey Rourke on a script about a rugby player (Gareth Thomas?)who comes out at the end of his career after years of hiding his homosexuality. He may even get a writing credit. And he has established a nutrition business with joe calzaghe. His head is full of writing arcs, welsh colloquialisms, marketing strategies and distribution logistics....so cut him a little slack if his arm swings occassionally.

So you're saying we should allow him poetic licence for having a dig. I've heard it all now!!

At least Carney didn't get away with what he did. Two players slugging it out is one thing but charging in and throwing punches like there's no tomorrow on someone who can't defend themselves properly is something else entirely.

Personally

Toe to toe between two guys - Yellow
Cheap shots on prone or unaware players - Red

Simple really

Toe to toe = dismissed to a MMA style cage at the side of the pitch with its own camera, which can be accessed via the red button. Last man standing is allowed to return to the field of play.

Running in = one free punch from every oppostion player.

Being Rangi Chase = automatic sending off immediately following the first whistle.

Being Gareth Hock = punishment enough.

+1

The sin bin is there for the lads to cool down nd make sure the game doesn't descend into a brawl. That's all that's needed.

Punish the cheap shots,though.