3 matches for that

Doesn't seem too disastrous then, we should still be winning 2 of them 3 without him imo.

I agree with gareth too, 3 matches seems excessive for what was (while really stupid) a seemingly light headbutt & after also being shown a red.

Whilst on disciplinary matters, Grade F questioning integrity of referee for Griffin, could be sat down for quite a while, Grade F for the Leigh player with the spear tackle

3 games for that seems excessive (especially when you consider it’s 4 games in reality) to me but that’s the modern game. Raise none ball carrying arms in tackles and nothing, clobber a half back around the head late and get 2 games but move your head towards a player squaring up to you, with that little force it’s embarrassing calling it a head butt and you get 3 games.

Only himself to blame but it’s all a bit confusing at the moment.

How Hardaker has only received 1 game for a suplex Kurt Angle would be proud of, I don't know.

That Hardaker one is another. Compare that to what Isa got 2 games for in the Wakey game!

When people call them out as bias against a particular team, I just don’t buy that. The disciplinary aren’t bias at all IMO but they are wildly inconsistent and seem to focus heavily on certain issues, while giving huge leeway on others.

The've managed to find another one for Walmsley to get a charge back on his rap sheet. I'd appeal again just for the craic.

Can only think it was for that collision with Satae that Kear said was worth the admission alone. If that's a high tackle the game has gone.

There's huge inconsistencies with the MRP. I expected Batchelor to be in trouble for a shoulder charge where he didn't wrap his arms but I don't even think its made the minutes

I think everyone is pretty lost with it all. I’ll never call bias against them but it all looks totally incompetent at the minute. If some of these cases were in a court of law, they’d be absolutely ripped apart. Obviously we all only really remember our own cases well but that Isa one I mention against Wakefield was an incredible ban at the time and now I see the Hardaker one and it’s just astonishing.

I said at the time that the Isa tackle was the best I'd seen since TL on Fasavalu. The charge was a joke as they put it down to "releasing the player" in the final split second of the tackle. He must have been all of 6 inches off the ground when that happened. How there is even the remotest possibility of injury from that is bordering on the farcical.

He might have hurt his feelings

Quote ="Stu M"The've managed to find another one for Walmsley to get a charge back on his rap sheet. I'd appeal again just for the craic. Can only think it was for that collision with Satae that Kear said was worth the admission alone. If that's a high tackle the game has gone. There's huge inconsistencies with the MRP. I expected Batchelor to be in trouble for a shoulder charge where he didn't wrap his arms but I don't even think its made the minutes'" Will only get worse if the new rules they are trialing at academy level get through, may as well fold the game if the Armpit rule passes through. Take a look at how many high tackle penalties were given in the first trial. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... concussion

Quote ="Stu M"The've managed to find another one for Walmsley to get a charge back on his rap sheet. I'd appeal again just for the craic. Can only think it was for that collision with Satae that Kear said was worth the admission alone. If that's a high tackle the game has gone. There's huge inconsistencies with the MRP. I expected Batchelor to be in trouble for a shoulder charge where he didn't wrap his arms but I don't even think its made the minutes'" Will only get worse if the new rules they are trialing at academy level get through, may as well fold the game if the Armpit rule passes through. Take a look at how many high tackle penalties were given in the first trial. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... concussion

Pile drive a player on his head-6 games

Call a ref a cheat-7 games


Griffin was out of order clearly but the disciplinary is just out of control at the moment. There are just wild inconsistencies across the board and the level of punishments for various incidents just seem so wrong.

Does seem harsh but it will be interesting if we find out what has been said. There are young refs quitting in droves across grassroots football and rugby due to the abuse they receive so I do believe a marker needs to be put down to say that dissent won't be tolerated.

Also Griffin committed a similar offence earlier in the season and was banned so undoubtedly this has probably added another 2-3 games on this particular ban

Quote ="BoredWiganer"Will only get worse if the new rules they are trialing at academy level get through, may as well fold the game if the Armpit rule passes through. Take a look at how many high tackle penalties were given in the first trial. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... concussion'" Yeah saw that. Crazy number of penalties

Quote ="BoredWiganer"Will only get worse if the new rules they are trialing at academy level get through, may as well fold the game if the Armpit rule passes through. Take a look at how many high tackle penalties were given in the first trial. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... concussion'" Yeah saw that. Crazy number of penalties

Griffin looks a plank and ref abuse is becoming an issue but the bans just don’t stack up sometimes. Some of the bans we’ve seen for contact with the ref have been staggering. It all feels like they’re slightly precious at times. The issue in football is far worse and Griffins incident looked next to nothing in comparison to Mitrovic from Fulham, who went wild at a ref and put hands on him and got 8 games. Now maybe we have it right and football has it wrong but 7 games for verbals, compared to 6 games for a potential career ending tackle raises questions in my head.

The Ellis incident is a 4 game ban effectively, when it’s two blokes coming together and the contact is that light, you’d be loathed to call it a headbutt. Again that stacks up poorly against incidents like the Charnley one and even the O’Donnell one (which you could say is a 7 game ban, but only 3 games more than Ellis for those incidents? Not for me).

Griffin should have been banned until next season to get a message out.
The pile driver also should have been a ban until next season.
Both of these offences need to be eradicated from the game.

When it comes to Refs, footy have it right imo. The attitude players, coaches and fans have towards refs is exactly what I want to see in RL.

If that’s the line they want to draw with players giving the ref grief, then do it but they need to draw the line, tell people where it is and what was said in this case and then everyone can move forward but it’s all a mystery at the moment. ‘Questioning the integrity of the ref’ makes it sound like he’s said something along the lines of him being an ‘effing cheat’. Is that worth 7 games?! If it is, get the message out there and players can deal with it but I go back to it all feeling a bit precious if that’s the case.

O’Donnell got off extremely lightly IMO and Hardaker and Leigh should’ve been sanctioned for having the brass neck to appeal that ban. What’s happened to the old frivolous appeal line?!

The ref has an hard enough job without players whinging and moaning all the time. I’m assuming Griffin called the ref a cheat which for me should be a serious charge with a very lengthy suspension. The authorities have let discipline drop over the years and now all teams continually challenge the refs decisions and claim for penalties when there is no reason for the ref to give a penalty. How often do we see 10 yards given for backchat? I would agree that the authorities should advise clubs that a line has been drawn in the sand and make them aware of potential consequences if players cross that line.
The biggest cheat on the day was Griffin. His ill discipline cheated Hull fans and players of staying in the CC.
Historically as a game most fans were proud how players respected refs unfortunately, that no longer applies. It’s an easy fix if the authorities have the balls to resolve the issue.

Agree that Leigh were out of order in appealing on those decisions.

I agree but, on the other hand, how are players supposed to react with such inconsistency with the refs decisions. The refs decisions should 100% be respected on the feld of play but, if found to be incorrect, they should be subjected to the same scrutiny as a players actions during a match

Refs need to be protected from the abuse of players/fans etc... but they should not be protected from their own mistakes

I don’t disagree Gareth.
But in the heat of the moment so to speak refs need to be protected from abusive attacks.
Refs should be reviewed post match on their performance and if this found to be below standard then they should be advised of this and if necessary dropped from future matches.
Nobody is perfect but players at times think that they are.

Does the coach have the opportunity to speak to the ref at half time? If so, i know both coaches are likely to be saying you are letting the opposition get away with x, y and z, however, it can be done in a more controlled fashion, than in the instance we are talking. Griffin is clearly f***ed off with a decision or series of decisions, bite your tongue and let Tony Smith have a word at HT

another option could be a ref challenge, which if the team is correct, they retain or lose if incorrect. i know that may not prevent the Griffin incident, especially if you've blown the challenge early doors

IMO the ref should be protected in a way on the pitch during the game, however, should be scrutinised post match, and if found to be sub-standard, highlight the issues, if consistently poor, then demoted to lower league until performances are up to scratch. On one hand i feel for the refs as they are in a no win situation as both sets of players / fans will see a call differently, and we need them for us to have the game we love watching, but on the other hand at times it feels like it is all about them and making poor / inconsistent decisions

Isn't this what is already supposed to happen? Sure i have read before that ref's also go through a review and disciplinary process.

Griffin's ban is more than deserved imo. To speak to the ref in the manner he seemed to and is reported to have, get carded and then keep going as he is walking away to then be carded again. That level of disrespect towards officials can't be allowed to slide.

Then we should also stop refs laughing and joking with players during a game. They are there to officiate not to bond with them. They can’t be all pally and then throw out the toys when something is said back at them .

This.

There's kids and teenagers who play the game watching that game and if its ignored then its a green light for them to abuse refs with no fear of being punished. There has to be a precedent set from a professional point of view.