Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:24 am  

I don't think anyone would argue that he doesn't deserve a ban. But why would be banned for England?!? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24435906 I didn't know this was the rule, that a offence picked up for club in super league can be served in a international. Seems strange, the RFL are only to punish themselves on banning him for England.

I don't think anyone would argue that he doesn't deserve a ban. But why would be banned for England?!? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24435906 I didn't know this was the rule, that a offence picked up for club in super league can be served in a international. Seems strange, the RFL are only to punish themselves on banning him for England.

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:25 am  

The rules about bans in this sport are idiotic at best.
Danny McGuire got a 1 game ban in the last play-off game, but he won't miss any of Leeds SL games as the ban can be served in a friendly.

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:50 am  

It's always been the case, and it's always annoyed me. A player could pick up a ban in the World Cup and end up missing some games for the club. They should be banned for the next internationals surely. I know the argument is that there is not enough international games so the player might have to wait a long time or something, but still fairer then the club getting punished.
Mind you, what happens in football? Do club bans carry into internationals?

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:35 am  

Briers got off with a minor grade A offence, so there is a precedent for Wire players. I thought it was decent jab but was expecting the last rights to be read to Green the way he was being treated by the medics. Wigan put in a couple of worse pre-meditated high shots after the incident which have not made the front pages.

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:10 am  

I'll argue he doesn't deserve a ban.

Three men in a tackle and Green copped one. Slowed down it looks bad but at normal speed in the context of a big game it's just a swinging arm that connected. Penalty, get on with it.

[Pumpetypump]

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:34 am  

M@islebugs wrote:

I'll argue he doesn't deserve a ban.

Three men in a tackle and Green copped one. Slowed down it looks bad but at normal speed in the context of a big game it's just a swinging arm that connected. Penalty, get on with it.

Give over. It was cowardice and thuggery. When you are such a hard man that you need to wait until two other blokes are holding a player before you punch them in the face, you deserve to take a few weeks off.

[Bullseye]

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 11:11 am  

Did the video of the incident prove intent to punch Green in the face? It looked like a reckless tackle with poor technique to me. 1 game ban IMO.

TBH I personally would get rid of the bans for striking. You can't beat a good punch up. Bring back the biff etc.

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:02 pm  

I've no doubt it was deliberate; all credit to Benny. I thought the days of unprovoked smacks in the kisser were a thing of the past. Any of us who have played will have been on the end of worse & not cried like baby. The problem of trial by Sky muppets & message boards is that you get the myopics demanding bans to opposition players for a slap, in the name of consistency as another player, usually their own, was also banned earlier in the year. No 2 incidents are the same, each on their own merits, dependent on circumstances. The late, great Artie Beetson commented that England/GB were not as effective since they cut out the biff. There does seem a worrying lack of physicality in the England squad.

[Pumpetypump]

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:47 pm  

I always thought 'bringing back the biff' meant standing toe to toe in the heat of battle exchanging punches. There's also a place for niggle I reckon, rubbing the face etc, but what I don't think we want is punches coming in to someone who can't defend themselves. That isn't biff, its thuggery.

[Pumpetypump]

Re: Ben Westwood : Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:56 pm  

tigertot wrote:

I've no doubt it was deliberate; all credit to Benny. I thought the days of unprovoked smacks in the kisser were a thing of the past. Any of us who have played will have been on the end of worse & not cried like baby. The problem of trial by Sky muppets & message boards is that you get the myopics demanding bans to opposition players for a slap, in the name of consistency as another player, usually their own, was also banned earlier in the year. No 2 incidents are the same, each on their own merits, dependent on circumstances. The late, great Artie Beetson commented that England/GB were not as effective since they cut out the biff. There does seem a worrying lack of physicality in the England squad.

I've read and reread this a few times and still can't work out if you are being serious. Now I admit my career was rather short but no one punched me in the face, cutting my cheek and closing my eye with quite the same panache as Benny.