EGP fine only

Result

Can I just comment, as much as I like a bit of biff, Chris Hill is future captain material and mature beyond his years, he probably put the biggest hit in running in and literally carrying Briers away, Hill knows the importance of Lee and did the right thing and did it quickly.

+1 ...the bloke is quality

Seconded

The meltdown on the VT will be hilarious.

I can just imagine BiffaBoys banging on his keyboard, (ala the German kid trying to play Unreal on his PC) whilst attempting to write a strongly worded email to the RFL.

What was odd, and completely out of character was Briers' reaction to the incident.

We have all seen him clattered dozens of times and Lee's usual course of action is to "play dead" and milk the penalty, so it was very un-Briers like for him to see the red mist.

I wonder how much of it was him seeing an opportuntiy to light the blue touch paper and stand well back in an attempt to knock Leeds off their stride, just as they were beginning to take charge of the game. If this was the case - and I wouldn't put it past him - his ploy worked perfectly. From that moment Warrington were energised and Leeds were never in the game.

i thought that myself, and moreso when watching the game back, think back to the 'brawl' he started with wigan and Stomkins the year before last, he didn't swing a punch, but he start a melee to get them off their game and unsettle the ref as well.

Also, with players getting away with suposedly house tactics, and other teams fans going ape poo poo over it, are we a big team now?

Is this what it feels like being a wigan fan?

tricky one that.

Has the pope told you to fek off yet?

Briers isn't a fighter, he plays with his brain. It's highly unlikely that he's even going to contemplate getting involved in fisty cuffs with someone like Ablett....unless he has an ulterior motive.

He is very, very crafty.

Thirded.

The correct outcome, it was a nothing handbag punch & deserved a Pen a talking to by the Ref.

Correct decision both by the Ref & RFL Disciplinary Committee.

For me the entire incident changed the game because it fired us up.

From the penalty Peacock took a drive and our forwards ganged up and smothered him back, then Ablett was about to take the next one in before papping himself and knocking on as half out pack lined him up.

Loved seeing our team with that fire and from that moment our forwards dominated.

We had a one in all mentality with biff when I used to play rugby, what I love about Wire is that same attitude applied differently, pee one off and they're all pee'd off, fire one up they're all fired up and the best thing is we're like sharks, soon as we smell blood we're all straight to the table.

im struggling to see how anyone has a complaint still.

Ablett connects with Briers face, then grasps his shirt... Brier then gets up and throws a punch

Strikes – punching
A-B Reaction to opponent – lashing out
A-B Punching – self defence
A-B Punching – one on one – minor
C-D Punching – sustained, repeated or violent
E Punching – sustained, repeated, violent & aggressive
C-D Running in & punching
E-F Running in & punching – opponent off guard

Charge A

whats not to understand?

i'm actually glad that they've used the reaction to opponent grading, cos it indicates they recognise he did get caught high.

i'm pinning my colours to fine, and a strongly worded letter.

Reaction to being tackled legitimately isn't in there. There was no provocation, so he had nothing to react to.

He didn't lash out, he threw a pre-meditated clenched fist punch to Ablettt's head.

If it's worthy of a charge, why wasn't he sent off?

your eyes quite clearly don't work properly.

What did Ablett say to Briers?

If it isn't in there, then he can't get charged with it. The charge is correct. You might as well give up because you aren't getting anywhere.

Actually part of me thinks that Briers used the opportunity to get the Wolves players fired up. As has been said elsewhere - he uses his brain.
He's one of the most - if not the most - intelligent players in the game currently.
It wouldn't suprise me if he knew that by retaliating it would be a lesser charge if got caught but either way he'd inject a bit of biff and fire up the guys - as was seen subsequently at the next play.
Maybe he thought that was a key point in beating Leeds....

I think this is key and certainly got the reaction from Briers.

A dangerous game to play if as some are suggesting it was a motivational tactic by Lee. I can't see it, I know that he is crafty and gets opponents 'at it' and also his team mates, but, would have been less hazardous to do it with a push or a shove rather than a punch even though it was girlie style?

It wasn't a motivational tactic, but it did get the Wire players nicely wound up.

Well i ask the question as i have seen it posted many times that there was no provocation so the people that keep saying this must know what Ablett said.

And some still believe (or claim to believe) that Briers should have been charged with grade E-F "Running in & punching – opponent off guard".