That is one aspect that football imo have right and we have very wrong. If a player deserves a ban he should get one. If the offence was committed representing his club then he should be banned for his club (and friendlies should not count). If the offence was committed representing his country the the ban should be for internationals.

Players have been sent off on the VR's advice before!

He got the loser's medal he deserved, and further staked his claim in the race for 'cheapshot merchant of the year', 'nuff said. Hope he does get banned sufficient to be dropped by England ( but of course he won't ), because I don't want the likes of him in the team. Enforcers? My a**e. We'll do a lot better sticking to professional athletes. He isn't even an enforcer, just a moron who runs and hides when it gets serious, exactly the sort of player I'd want to see in an England team if I was the Aussie coach.

That nobody called this in real time shows how hard the referees jobs is.

As despicable as Westwoods act was it is something that happens across all codes of rugby and starts from a junior level. That he was stupid enough to do it in a high profile televised game is a question of his temperament, but let's not go over the top and kid ourselves that acts like this don't happen regularly, just the same as high shots, swinging arms and reckless tackling techniques. They are elements of gamesmanship that we could do without, yet, like banning the shoulder charge, the RFL will no doubt get criticised from all quarters if it clamps down heavily (ie whines about; non contact sport; bring back the biff).

I do.

I want England to do well, but if the rules are a suspension would rule him out of the internationals then so be it.

If that happens, maybe next time he'll think twice before acting like a mindless, cowardly thug.

What you said ban him it might teach him a lesson

Never had Westwood down as this type of player.

Always viewed him as a hard working honest player but a deliberate punch to a player who was already tackled says otherwise.

Just like Briers a few weeks back he should of seen red.

Wasn't it the Tomkins/Raynor incident at Odsal that got the help of the VR for the red card?

You've got to be right. When somebody chooses a really stupid user name, then its a fair bet you'll get some really stupid posts from them.

Isn't that the case for 99% of users on here?

Leave it to the aussies to sort the ugly, fat coward out.

They'll kill him.

Didn't gain Warrington any advantage though in the end!

If he get a ban then how would it work with regards to the RLWC ? ie he's in the squad, but if banned would McNamara be able to replace him as the tournament is a few weeks away, and if he's replaced then surely he'd not actually be missing any games if no longer in the squad ???

If it's a 1 match ban would he just serve it against Italy in the friendly? A game the GF players were unlikely to play a big part in anyway.

I cannot imagine that just a 1 match ban would be sufficient, but let's wait until the charge and outcome

I'm not too sure in all honesty. Wasn't there a similar issue with Graham last season? If he got a very long ban, then McNamara would replace him from the squad, so none of the England games would count towards his ban. I think he will still be in the squad as I don't think he'll get a ban long enough for the whole tournament.

I think it's at least a 4 game ban. But can only see him getting 1.

What sort of message does this blatant act of cowardly,thuggery and violence send out to all the kids we are trying to get involved in the game.If you are a parent would you want your child to be involved in a game where this type of behaviour goes unpunished.The fact that its been carried out by one of the games big name players and a current England international makes it even worse.
The RFL have to set an example and be the leaders of the sport they are supposed to be regardless of how it would impact on Englands chances in the World Cup.

Disgusting cheap shot and he deserves a ban. I'd respected wire for always playing good Rugby but not after last night. Mike Cooper wasn't exactly squeaky clean either but to punch a player who has no way of defending himself like that in the face is as cowardly as it gets.

What about standing over over a player taunting them after they've just suffered a serious injury? Would you class that as cowardly?

Why, who did that?

Think he means roy keane/haaland???

I genuinely don't know what you're referring to but I'm sure I'll shortly be given a reminder.

What that has to do with what what Westwood did last night is beyond me though.

Especially as they are all fully trained orthopaedic surgeons and would have been aware of the severity of the injury. Oh wait, no, you need a scan for that... Pilchard...

One thing we can learn from union is how to deal with vicious, cowardly assaults on players, if he was a union player I doubt it would be less than 10 games, more 10 months.

I agree. Rugby league is a very tough sport. At the top level it can be brutal, just look at the state of origin or NRL grand final. What happened yesterday though does the game no favours. A forward punching a half back in the head in that manner. It's like a heavy weight boxer punching a bantamweight from behind when the round has finished and hes walking back to his corner. No one wants to see it and it should be dealt with severely.

There was plenty of cameras, a vid ref and word should have been sent to Silverwood about the seriousness of the incident and a red card shown.