But it was a late tackle on a kicker. It had to be a yellow as that is the rule. Even if he had got him by both legs it was still late on a kicker.

had it been a giants player it would have been straight red IMO.

would it not be an idea on these occasions where the ref is unsure as to the initial contact to issue a yellow card, let the video refs look at it and they can decide if it was worthy of a red and relay this information to the ref who can then issue a red card at the next stoppage in play.

the on report cop out is a joke now.

I fail to see why the range of punishments should be restricted. Refs should be allowed to give a yellow. But has been pointed out he could give yellow for a professional foul.

It was played on a Tuesday, Brisbane played the previous Friday, Wigan had 10 days over there to prepare, bit of complacency too maybe, it was a good Wigan team, but it was only 20-14, didn't the Bronx get back into it and if it had gone another 10 mins they would have won. Just like dealing in facts

[uIf Matt Bowen plays in the WCC[/u: Sydney Roosters 38, Wigan 12

[uIf Matt Bowen doesn't play in the WCC[/u: Sydney Roosters 46, Wigan 6

If Wigoon get hammered and pick up a few injuries, they could be in a relegation battle zone for a few months.

Wishing it had ten minutes extra isn't dealing in facts

when Gaz Raynor tried to slap the ball out the hand of Tomkins a few seasons back in the CC @ Odsal, Ganson asked the video ref to review it over and over. It was careless and probably deserved a yellow as clearly not malicious.
Now you have a deliberate shot on a player and with a single review could easily be seen what happened & probs red as a result..the RFL are a fooking joke and Silverwood a gutless inept official..

According to Cummings last night, Silverwood is one of the finest officials in the world

We're in more sh[it than I thought.

Bowen should play in the WCC despite any disciplinary action taken against him.

When Wigan arrived in Brisbane in 1994 Andrew Gee was in the middle of an eight match ban. The Broncos appealed it saying he should serve the ban in the (then) ARL League games as the offence was in a League game.
The Broncos won the appeal and Gee played against Wigan in that 1994 WCC.
As the precedent has been set for these kind of situations then the same ruling should apply to Matty Bowen, especially as it was the Aussies who gained the ruling.

That would be interesting. Wigan will rely totally on the Australian imports Matt Bowen and Blake Green, and the London bred players Sarginson and Clubb, to break opponent defences. Without those four you can forget about Wigan making the top 8 this season.

Agreed. Any ban he gets shouldn't apply to the WCC.

The Raynor on Tomkins incident you are referring to was in the Challenge Cup in 2011. Raynor didn't try to knock the ball out of his hand, he hit him in the head at speed as Tomkins was diving in to score. Tomkins was knocked out cold by Raynor, the referee issued a red card to Raynor as the incident warranted it. The incident was reviewed by the VR as it had to be determined whether the ball had been grounded as Tomkins was in the act of scoring. It had to be determined whether a try, a penalty try or even an "eight point try" (try plus conversion from where scored plus penalty goal in front of the posts) should or could be awarded. Raynor's was a deliberate attack to the head of a player in the act of scoring and warranted the red card.

Bowen's challenge on Grix was late, high and dangerous and should have got a red as well. It was similar to Shaun Edward's challenge on Bradley Clyde years ago which saw Edwards sent off. I agree that the ref copped out placing him on report. However the rules don't allow the VR to intervene unless there is the possibility of a try having been scored so they could not intervene. The on report system should have been scrapped as all incidents are now reviewed anyway so it is not necessary to flag up any incident for review.

I see a logical pattern here which could be applied in law.

Lets say you were caught speeding on a motorway , perhaps you should be banned for driving on motorways but can continue to be a menace and speed on other roads until caught.

There are merits to this line of thinking. You can be only partially guilty, just like being partially murdered or partially pregnant.

Yes I think people are on to a winner there.

What on Earth are you on about?

He's an fool. Just leave him to his inane, nonsensical ramblings.

In regards to the topic, Bowen has been cleared to play. No action to be taken.

I thought there'd be a meltdown on here by now. He isn't missing anything, penalty sufficient apparently!

how the hell did they not give at least a 1-2 game ban..........

who was the panel..??

Don't understand how they've let him off just because he's hit the shoulder (although i disagre) Grix doesn't have the ball, both Bowens feet are off the floor and its a swinging arm. Wasn't te worst challeneh I've ever seen, and i don't think Bowens gone out there to hurt him, but it's a definite ban and pretty indefensible from the RFL.

Well, the bar has been set for the discplinary this year.

And it's pretty low.

Lower than Bowen's high tackle.

Embarrassing, even most Wigan fans thought he would get a ban.

Any player who is guilty of high tackle when the player has the ball, should show the video of the Bowen incident and should get off.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=u3ZNHnNTdXM

m.youtube.com/watch?v=u3ZNHnNTdXM

Watching that more and more, his feet only leave the ground after the impact so didn't throw himself into it nearly as badly as some would have you believe. It was reckless, not malicious. Should have got 1 game I reckon, but I'm glad he didn't. Hopefully he'll realise how lucky he has been and is a bit more careful in future.

It was so late I'm not sure how it can't have been malicious.

Quite, Grix takes 3 paces after hes kicked the ball before he is hit