Whitehead made the tackle of the tournament, sadly the fake newsers are making everyone see something that isn't there.

Yes, first point of contact was bottom of shoulder and top of bicep, there was slight contact with the ball as he pulled the arm for a second. When the ball was lost in the carry Whitehead was already horizontal on the ground.

when you look at every game played not just the world cup ever game in super league and all leagues their is all ways something that you do not think is right but that's the way the games are played

Superb last gasp tackle by Whitehead. He saved our bacon that's for sure. Shame about the whining afterwards from some Tongan supporters but I expect if the boot had been on the other foot it would've been the same reaction.

It was never a try. I don't think anyone would be talking about it, had it happened in another game, or even earlier in this one. People just love a bit of controversy.

Key question to always ask in these situations is what decision would be made if it were anywhere else on the field, and that to me is loose carry, knock on.

Some? Have you seen the comments on YT, there's apparently a petition with allegedly 50,000 signatures to it calling for the game to be replayed/ref to be hung drawn and 1/4'd, video ref to look at it etc.
Pretty much every man, woman and child from Tonga/Pacific island nations is calling the ref bent, the game is bent, white mans rules and so on.
I don't agree, the reaction if we'd lost it in the dying seconds like that would be nowhere near that of the tongan's or other countries 'fans' sticking their oar in.

Don't read YT or Facebook comments sections is a good rule to live by.

I was watching the highlights package after watching the game live (on tv), I just read the top comments and it was incredible what was being said, how vociferous, how nonobjective and how numerous which was what my point was in response to the previous poster

I think the commentators were very unfair on the ref too. Had he had the slightest doubt he would have gone to the VR. He had a perfect side on view, and saw what the cameras did, that Fifita was guilty of a loose carry and Whitehead's tackle made him drop it. They complain about refs using the VR too much, then when he makes the call they whinge, mainly because it didn't go the way they wanted it too.

I really don't buy the whole Tonga being better/more deserving stuff. That last 5 minutes or so was as much down to England clocking off and then panicking as through anything Tonga did. Whilst Australia are likely to beat england, I think they'd put a bigger score on Tonga by moving their big forwards around far more than England did.

I'm actually hoping all this negative stuff works in Englands favour. Nobody likes being told they don't deserve to be where they are especially if they think they do. The one thing that always brings the best out of the British is backs against the wall so long as it's heartfelt and for real. It's not even a cliche I've seen it myself time and time again.

England can feed off that as a goal that truly unites them. If there is one way to prove your worth then giving your very best in a final has to be it.

It probably won't be enough to win but it might be enough to bring a bit of real passion back into the interaction alone game.

Finally I'm not a huge fan of 'the biff' but I'd make an exception this week. If I were to see that level of commitment return I may start wearing my England shirt again. I'm not being daft either, the Aussies have never responded well when teams get into them. They have gotten used to being respected with teams holding off allowing them to show off. You disrupt that sense of entitlement they have and they will lose composure and that's half the battle.

They won't look like supermen when they are being legally carried off by the bucket load. I exaggerate but you get the idea.

No respect - No backward steps - Never admit it's over
It might just work with a big dollop of luck

He might get knocked for being on the starting team-sheet but Batemans about the only one who's got it in him, ain't he?

Compare to the semi? against Aus where Hall's finger tips definitely touched the ball in the last few seconds & the VR never gave it. Now that was robbed. The reaction was far more reserved than Tonga.

Having read the comments on YT (sorry Seth) I hold my hand up. Those idiots have taken whinging to whole new levels. Pathetic.

Maybe against their backs/halves, but he's like Scrappy Doo compared to their forwards. The problem I've found with Bateman is he isn't that smart in these situations, a fight early doors deep in their own half when they are in possession is great, but he would just as likely do it in possession on his own goal line, kickable range late in the game etc. I'm sure Graham, Burgess x2 and Walmsley would be fine with a bit of biff.

Not about size size though, innit?
It's what's inside.
If it was Bateman against a big pudding like Aaron Woods I know who my coin would be on.

I admire your optimism, and Bateman certainly wouldn't back down, but no, I think Woods would laugh at him, and we would be a man down.

Just give that girly hair a yank then get right in his fat fooking chubby face.

The rest of our forwards are all soft. Im so glad it hasnt kicked off or else we would get an even bigger pasting than the last time we played Tonga. Comes to something when our only enforcer is bateman and he would struggle seeing as though bottles arent allowed on the pitch

Regards

King james

Says the hard as nails keyboard warrior - crawl bag under your stone there's a good lad.

Then predicts England by 4 v Aus on the other thread, some special kind of odd you arent you with all your 'regards' bollox.

A famous wembley no try https://twitter.com/Halifax_RLFC/status ... 2909896706

A famous wembley no try https://twitter.com/Halifax_RLFC/status ... 2909896706

Quote ="The Chair Maker"A famous wembley no try https://twitter.com/Halifax_RLFC/status ... 2909896706'" Looked foward to me.

Quote ="The Chair Maker"A famous wembley no try https://twitter.com/Halifax_RLFC/status ... 2909896706'" Looked foward to me.

On the biff, if the plan is to start something I'd be looking at the first kick by one of our players. Australia for years have got away with dubious late hits on kickers - especially with one ref. Klemmer absolutely smashed Hayne after he'd kicked for Fiji early on. The ref missed it and Hayne ended up giving a penalty for shoulder charging Slater soon after. Somebody ting Klemmer in that situation would highlight the fact he did it, and also let the Aussies know that England won't get pushed around by them. I doubt it would put Australia off their game but you never know.

Quote ="The Chair Maker"A famous wembley no try https://twitter.com/Halifax_RLFC/status ... 2909896706'" That’s video is a fantastic example of what is considered a loose carry. The defender has every right to tackle the ball/ball carrying arm, the ball was knocked out in the initial impact. There’s a big difference between that and reefing the ball which occurs after the initial impact.

Quote ="The Chair Maker"A famous wembley no try https://twitter.com/Halifax_RLFC/status ... 2909896706'" That’s video is a fantastic example of what is considered a loose carry. The defender has every right to tackle the ball/ball carrying arm, the ball was knocked out in the initial impact. There’s a big difference between that and reefing the ball which occurs after the initial impact.