R.L.C A JOKE ?

I see the R.L.C. in their wisdom have handed out bans for 1 game each to three of Wigan Warrior players . How damn pathetic is this when as some one has reported they were not especailly severe crimes??? How petty the judicery panel are ? I will state they are completely BIAS against the Wigan club , then again wev'e always known they are anti -wigan . I have read that the three players will use the reserve loop-hole which will effectively count towards the ban thus leaving them available for first round . G.B.

'not severe' - French was charged for contact with an official, Hill for striking and Ellis a high tackle

should NEVER lay a finger on a ref

Agreed, GB. It's not paranoia and this bias has been going on for years. I remember way back in 1966 when Wigan stood out against the live televising of matches on a Saturday afternoon. They argued that it was having an adverse effect on attendances both at the televised game and other Saturday afternoon matches. Things got so heated that Wigan refused to play in front of the cameras when we drew a plum tie away at Bradford Northern. A huge crowd was expected and it would definitely have been affected if the game had been televised. It looked like stalemate. Then God took a hand in the proceedings and sent down a shed load of fog so that the game had to be called off! [I always reckoned He had a soft spot for Wigan!]

Anyway, the game was played the following Wednesday night [untelevised] in front of a bumper crowd of over 27,000 - the biggest at Odsal since the club re-formed. I was there.

Leap forward a few months. Wigan had qualified for Wembley to face St Helens. In the championship play-offs, Wigan played Leeds in the 2nd round and Colin Clarke was sent off for what was deemed a technical offence. The usual punishment for such an offence was a one match ban. Seeing that Wigan beat Leeds and were to face Halifax in the semi-final a week later a one match ban would mean Clarke [our only hooker] would be free for Wembley. The disciplinary committee suspended him for two matches, hitherto unheard of. It meant we had to play Saints with no recognised hooker at a time when hookers were a vital part of the team. We lost, with Murphy going offside time and time again, knowing full well they'd get the ball from the resultant scrum. Worst final ever.

But everyone knew the real reason for the unprecedented ban on Clarke - the RL held a burning resentment against Wigan for their stand against the televising of live rugby.

My wife says I have a long memory and bear grudges!

Now don't ask me about Keith Hepworth. That's another long-held grudge!

Hi Gideonfel…I was at Wembley in 1966 for the first time…. I was 15 and Tony Pennington came with my other 3 mates….our coach back to Golborne only left at midnight so we went to Wembley 10 pin bowling alley….and bowling next to us was the one and only Eddie Waring and a few TV crew….happy days but terrible match…Len Killeen kick goals from all over the pitch

Hi Roylew. I was there that day. Went down on a coach from John Rigby. I knew Tony Pennington well. Great lad. We left Wembley after the match and listened to the Ali - Henry Cooper fight on the coach going back to Wigan. Happy days, aye, but that game at Wembley was the worst final ever. Thanks to Murphy and his blatant offside tactics. Killeen was a great kicker but not the toughest of players. I was there in 1965 when we played Saints in the 2nd round at Wigan in front of almost 40,000 speckies. Killeen was marking Boston who went off at half time and Alan Davies came on as a sub. My uncle was on the paddock side at Central Park and actually heard Davies threaten Killeen after Davies had banjoed one of their players. Davies shouted "You're next Lennie boy!" Killeeen couldn't wait to get rid of the ball after that. Wigan won 7-2 thanks to a magical pass from McTigue to send Roy Evans running 60 yards to score under the post. Great memories. Happy days!

Remember McTigue doing his overhead cricket passes…one tough guy…a friend told me he sorted out the Standish thugs in his own way and the Police just let him get on with it
I miss Tony very much,we played cricket and golf together for many years…we made our debuts for Golborne CC when 15 years old…we were very nervous…he batted no.10 and me no.11….can’t remember what Tony scored but I was 18 not out and a hero for one day….we drew the match after holding out when all seemed lost….the summer of 1966…aaahh

It looks like Ellis has been put on the list of players of players marked out for special attention like Connor, Mcllorum, Watts etc.

And how can any player suspended for committing an offence in a first team game serve the suspension in a reserve game?

The disiplinary system in Rugby League is embarrassing!

I agree,it doesn’t sit well,and needs changing.
However,the Yorkshire press are wrongly announcing that ‘Wigan have found a loophole ‘in another attempt to discredit the Wigan club…

Joe Maplin

They should be more concerned about the demise of Leeds Rhinos and Leeds United than making comments about a loophole made by the RFL.

But that's the Yorkshire for you who since the War of the Roses have always been moaning about anything concerning Lancashire.

Poor Losers both then and now!