In AFL (Aussie Rules) they used to ramp up the level of bans for offences caused during showpiece occasions ....

In other words, a one game ban during the regular season would be a two game ban if you committed the same offence during the say, the grand final.

I saw it live, as did the wife, and Claire Balding mentioned the BBC were getting lots of emails/Tweets on the subject.

I’m not an SL fan –so for me it’s not about being anti Wigan. It’s about the foolish action of a very talented player at our oldest and most prestigious event - viewed worldwide. This, screened on a channel that already bends over backwards for RU and will take delight in giving us negative publicity to hurt our image.

The more he behaves like a pantomime villain the more he will be treated like one. I want to watch his skills not his petulance. He runs the risk of being a target for fans at more than just internationals and that won’t be good for him or RL.

How many Aussies will watch the game? 12:30 am on a Monday Morning (tonight Oz time) about 2 dozen is my guess.
It did not get any mention in the media in Oz before or after the game.
Not live and as good as no coverage in the country with the biggest Rugby League coverage and support.

1 match ban and £500 fine.

Quote ="Jonesy" It did not get any mention in the media in Oz before or after the game. Not live and as good as no coverage in the country with the biggest Rugby League coverage and support.'" That's because Ch9 have the rights an are fricktards when it comes to showing any RL! 1/2 the country gets NRL at 12.30am so little hope of getting English RL at a decent time! www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 1jgk4.html

Quote ="Jonesy" It did not get any mention in the media in Oz before or after the game. Not live and as good as no coverage in the country with the biggest Rugby League coverage and support.'" That's because Ch9 have the rights an are fricktards when it comes to showing any RL! 1/2 the country gets NRL at 12.30am so little hope of getting English RL at a decent time! www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 1jgk4.html

Burn him.

I voted no on the banning, he needs to be locked in a room for 24 hours, forced to be kept awake and have nothing but Justin Bieber to hear in that time. That I feel is a sufficient punishment.

All while having a face transplant, even Ma Tomkins couldn't love that face...

Tomkins needs to learn to turn the other cheek and ignore it. The more he reacts, the more fans (and opposition players ie Aussies) will try to wind him up. Use it as inner fuel. Loads of players kop abuse and ignore it. He could do with a Farrell type character having a word with him in a guiding capacity.

Doesn't deserve a ban.

But he was on about the Briers incident!

Or was you not a fan then?

It must have been a good shot if he managed to hit one.

no he wasnt go read what he wrote

Yes for sure he should.

the problem for tomkins isnt the possible ban or fine.... its the way he is viewed by the majority of the rugby league community... yes he is a great player.. he is probably the best player in superleague...

But he has a history that has caused him to be disliked... and just when he is looking like he might be turning a corner.. he pre-meditates a v sign live on BBC during the day... he KNEW that everyone would see it and it would be an issue.... its almost like he set out with the intent to do it from the start.

a few days after his interview with the mail.... where he said he fancied union and the nasty boo boys made him feel sad.

poor sam

Horrid arrogant little runt!...

he wrote if it HAD of been briers
you fool

I'd definitely rather support this mode of punishment...

Sam Tomkins "I really don't know what it is."
Bill Clinton: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman"
'Comical' Ali (Iraqi Information Minister) "They are coming in their tanks to surrender."
Sam - the worst thing you can do is deny something that everybody in the world can see owing to the existence of television and the fact that what you did has been seen by millons and recorded.
You are the proverbial dog stood next to the puddle of urine.
And an idiot.

No he was merely reminding us all of the famous victory of Henry V over the French at Agincourt, well done you Sam.

Lest we forget:

This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say, "To-morrow is Saint Crispian."
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say, "These wounds I had on Crispian's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."

You, sir, are an imbecile of the first order. Do you not think that Tomkins should apologise as did Matt King - and King was not even on TV of any kind ( let alone playing before the biggest RL TV audience of the year ) on that occasion?

Well first off thanks for calling me sir.

But what are your thoughts on the Briers incident?

Did he ever apologise?

Please answer y boy.

It was another poster who first brought up the 'sacking offence' point. I did not say that ST should be sacked, merely underlined juts how serious was his misconduct to those Wiganers who seem to believe it a harmless prank.
It's amusing to read those Wigan fans like yourself who presume to read the minds of other posters. You have no clue what I thought about the incidents to which you refer. They are not the subject of the debate here. In terms of bringing the game into disrepute, 'far worse things' have, in fact, very rarely happened on such a big stage on such a big occasion in front of such a big TV audience. Do you not think that Tomkins should at least apologise?

It's a pity that you are incapable of returning the courtesy. Until you learn to do so, you do not merit a serious reply. However, in my view NO player should ever incite the crowd with abusive gestures and IF a player breaks this rule he should apologise profusely, as did Matt King in the (to date) best known incident of its kind involving a Wire player.

If you like seeing players incite the crowd, swear at the touch judges and abuse the referee with no recourse then I heartily recommend association football which I believe is on offer to the public in Wigan.

FFS you muppet it's only Monday, give him a chance to apologise, it is bank holiday weekend you know!

So you DO think Briers should have been cited and apologised?

That's all I wanted to hear sir.