Hope he is ok - second big knock for him in a fairly short space of time.



Did not see the incident on the big screen - was it a red?

If Pulatua's was, then yes.

second man in, direct contact with the head, I've certainly seen them given

Not seen it on TV yet, but I'd say so, yes. I just want consistency from the refs - at present it seems to depend who's reffing, and what mood they're in.

There's a case for it being red and there's a case for it being on report (due to inconsistent refereeing).



Westerman hit Lauaki in the face with his upper arm.



Previously Moa and Puletua have done similar and been sent off.



However, when Mika hit Turner in the face in the Hull Derby and nearly knocked him out, it was put on report.



So due to inconsistent refereeing you can argue it both ways.



Personally I would have put him in the sinbin.

What annoys me, also, is that punching is seen as an automatic red, yet challenges like the above mentioned are far more damaging than a punch.

Spot on. Whilst I'm in the pro shoulder charge camp, providing its legal, there needs to be consistency in punishing offenders when it goes wrong. That's all the fans, and indeed the players, are asking for.

having now seen the tv replay, it's poor technique at least, but a red for me, i'm not against the shoulder charge per say but that was without any control and the player moved his arm to make contact! should have been a red on the field for me

Why not in televised games if a player has deemed to have committed an offence and especially if the wronged player has to leave the field injured.There is reserve referee and the video referee at the game sin bin the player who has committed the offence whilst they look at the footage and if they think the offence is punishable with a red card after the 10 minute period when the player comes back on the field and the video has given the call that it is a sending off offence then show him a red card .Better still get rid of Cummins and get a controller of referees in charge .

And the best part is that the team who the offence was commited against get the benefit and not the team played a week later when a ban is dished out.

Shoulder / upper arm to face , should be a red card .



Ref last night stated to his touch judge that he didn't get a 100% clear view , thus couldn't be sure of point of contact .

Said very similar when it happened. I always thought 'on report' was for incidents where something has clearly happened, but neither the ref nor touch judges have seen it - it now seems to be just for when the ref doesn't want to make a tough decision. The disciplinary panel are only going to see the same footage as was on the big screen, so why couldn't he watch that & make his mind up?



And sin-binning seems to have almost disappeared completely. Always thought it was a good rule for incidents like, potentially, the one last night where a sending off may be deemed too harsh, but some punishment is warranted. It seems to have been replaced completely by on report - which as others have pointed out, has no impact on the game where the offence occured.