Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:28 pm  

secondstanza wrote:

I'm saying that because Wigan have a reputation for it people are hyper-sensitive, dissecting every play to check wether it was dirty. Other teams you let it go. Let's face it, there's no jealousy where Wigan is concerned for other people.

Again, happens frequently, but it's MM so it's dirty. Play should have stopped but the knee was quite clearly accidental. Ref got it wrong saying Wilkin was in the way.

i'm not so sure it was "clearly accidental", i thought he could have easily avoided wilkin's head!

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:30 pm  

I'm not even trying to say MM dosen't have that bit of naughty person in him. I hate seeing it personally, but let's get real. The "knee"? I don't know how to break it to you but if you think he made contact with the knee then your knowledge of anatomy is way off - Wilkin was on the floor, MM isn't 4ft tall. He would have to make contact with the knee VERY obvious.

But yes, MM is a naughty person, therefore every contact with a player must be thuggish behaviour. No comments about Travis Burns then?

meast wrote:

i'm not so sure it was "clearly accidental", i thought he could have easily avoided wilkin's head!

He was trying to milk the penalty for me.

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:33 pm  

secondstanza wrote:

I'm saying that because Wigan have a reputation for it people are hyper-sensitive, dissecting every play to check wether it was dirty. Other teams you let it go. Let's face it, there's no jealousy where Wigan is concerned for other people.

Again, happens frequently, but it's MM so it's dirty. Play should have stopped but the knee was quite clearly accidental. Ref got it wrong saying Wilkin was in the way.

I remember at the DW Stadium a few years ago, Wello was on all fours after attempting a tackle. McIlorum was unfortunate enough to run past him and accidentally knee him in the head. Weird how it's happened twice, can't remember the last time it happened with another hooker.

Ferdy wrote:

I don't think anyone has a problem with a hard challenge. 2 players holding someone upright exposing the ribs for a 3rd to steam into the exposed ribs doesn't sit particulary well with me but something you associate with this Wigan team

Third man into the ribs I wouldn't class as "good" defence, but it's part of the game nowadays and you can't really legislate for it beyond referees calling held quicker. Don't really have an issue with it providing it isn't a cannonball.

Part of the reason people suggest the game has become soft is because the Sky commentary is useless. Because they have no idea what a shoulder charge is, they suggest that ANY tackle that uses a shoulder is a shoulder charge, unnecessarily creating controversy and so on. It's awful to listen to

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:36 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

The off the ball, lifting above the horizontal tackle on Burns in the build up was worse imo ...

It was accidental, clearly.

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:38 pm  

Saint #1 wrote:

I remember at the DW Stadium a few years ago, Wello was on all fours after attempting a tackle. McIlorum was unfortunate enough to run past him and accidentally knee him in the head. Weird how it's happened twice, can't remember the last time it happened with another hooker.

I don't remember this one. I'm not going to defend MM and I believe you that he did that because he's done worse, but I judge every situation on it's own merit. The contact wasn't with the knee, wasn't with any force and in real time looked like he was trying to run over him for the penalty rather than specifically going in to injure.

The lift on Burns was a worse one for me.

loiner81 wrote:

It was accidental, clearly.

*cough*

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:40 pm  

Some grubby play from the Pies tonight.

Sarginson got away with a swinging arm on Wilkin and also a dubious and unnecessary shot into the ribs of Burns.

Micky Mac seemed to 'kick' Wilkin in the head with his shins which looked far from accidental. Also tipped Burns above the horizontal even though he didn't have the ball.

O'loughlin with a bad high shot but got away with just a pen.

Surprised nobody got 10 minutes as there were several bad incidents of nasty play that went relatively unpunished. Glad they lost.

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:59 pm  

secondstanza wrote:

Any other player and nobody would bat an eyelid.

Bolox

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:02 pm  

Nozzy wrote:

Some grubby play from the Pies tonight.

Sarginson got away with a swinging arm on Wilkin and also a dubious and unnecessary shot into the ribs of Burns.

Micky Mac seemed to 'kick' Wilkin in the head with his shins which looked far from accidental. Also tipped Burns above the horizontal even though he didn't have the ball.

O'loughlin with a bad high shot but got away with just a pen.

Surprised nobody got 10 minutes as there were several bad incidents of nasty play that went relatively unpunished.

Agree with that. Wigan should have had both McIlorum & O'Loughlin sinbinned for the lift and bad high tackle.

If we're serious about head injuries then let's get serious about them. We have a fantastic punishment tool in the sin bin that is sorely under-used. Salford fans will rightly be annoyed that Griffin gets a red card for his shot at the magic Weekend yet one like O'Loughlin's tonight doesn't get a yellow.

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Sat Jun 13, 2015 12:16 am  

Why is this question asked a lot these days? Why does looking after the safety of the players and eliminating dangerous play make the game 'soft'.

You need to get over yourselves.

McIlorum's dangerous lift on Burns was shocking. Really bad and could have caused serious injury. Yet was left unpunished. We have O'loughlin swinging his arm at Wilkin and then Sarginson hitting Burns whilst being held up. Admittedly this isn't an 'offence' but it's sly and cowardly and completely unnecessary.

Instead of asking 'why has the game gone soft?' Why don't we ask why the game isn't doing enough to protect players?

Re: Is Rugby league becoming soft? : Sat Jun 13, 2015 12:25 am  

Albion wrote:

Why is this question asked a lot these days? Why does looking after the safety of the players and eliminating dangerous play make the game 'soft'.

You need to get over yourselves.

McIlorum's dangerous lift on Burns was shocking. Really bad and could have caused serious injury. Yet was left unpunished. We have O'loughlin swinging his arm at Wilkin and then Sarginson hitting Burns whilst being held up. Admittedly this isn't an 'offence' but it's sly and cowardly and completely unnecessary.

Instead of asking 'why has the game gone soft?' Why don't we ask why the game isn't doing enough to protect players?

Sarginsons tackle in the air on Percival was a pretty bad one too, and just as dangerous ... 4 separate incidents in a single game doesnt reflect well on Wigan - and their fans wonder why they have a rep for it!

Didn't think too much of the burns tackle. Yes, it was a pretty grub move, and probably just the natural wigan progression now canonballs are clamped down on, but perfectly legal as far as Im aware