My email:-Dear Sirs,
Once again I think a mockery has been made of the disciplinary in Superleague. How does Keith Senior (incident ON/704/09) get away with a 1 match ban for striking an opponent (twice) with enough force to put him to the ground!? (The RFL is based in Leeds is a possible theory?)
But I can point you back to a complete over reaction by the RFL with a decision regarding Ben Westwood against Catalan Dragons 21.02.2009 ON/38/09 A high tackle that is witnessed week in week out in Superleague, that supposedly warrants a 5 match ban. In my opinion and many others you have the disciplinary guidelines upside down here. Punching is completely unacceptable. Senior has got away without punishment. 1 match on a nothing game against Salford where he would probably be rested anyway is no punishment to anyone! It should have been 4 games.
Kind Regards,

RFL's response:-
Dear ***
The Tribunal considered Senior’s punch ugly and unacceptable. Particularly as Senior is a high profile player in a high profile match and a role model to hundreds of youngsters in the game. However Senior has an excellent record, having only 2 appearances before the Tribunal in 16 years as a professional, and none since 2000. The Tribunal gave Senior significant credit for this record. In Westwood’s case the Tribunal believed that the tackle was particularly bad as his opponent was knocked out cold and sustained an injury in the tackle that caused a 6 match absence from the game. Westwood had previously been found guilty of high tackles by the Tribunal on a number of occasions. On that basis the Tribunal considered a 5 match ban appropriate.

Thank you for contacting the RFL.

Kind Regards

My next question should be if he knocked Wilkin out cold.... would he have received a 5 match ban!

fair point i think.

aswell as Seniors excellent disciplinary record, there may have been some provocation from Wilkin that we weren't aware of. Senior did seem to take exception to something Wilkin had done or said - he was livid wasn't he.

and to be fair it was more of a slap than a punch, Wilkin went down like he had been shot by a sniper

well done for asking the question tho and well done to the rfl for giving you a good explanation.

what about buchanan chicken wing tackle, ginger missing at least the next game.

I could have mentioned that.... but 1 match ban for a chicken wing tackle is the going rate!

I actually thought that was a very good response from the RFL, explained the situation very well.

For Senior to have a disciplinery record like that after being in the game for so long is exemplary.

I agree it was a very good response, I just wanted to see what their motives are behind decisions!

I questioned them a few weeks ago with reference to the Kieron Cunningham punching Stosic with the ball carrying arm. (Which fractured his eye socket!) I have their resposne to that one if anyone is interested lol

yes please.

same again question and answer.

yes post it, lets see what they have to say.

I'm impressed with the RFL for getting back to you.

Also can't argue with their reply. Fair play to them.

total bollox...what about cunninghams punch that put a wakey player out for a few weeks.nowt done claiming it was accidental that he hit him around the eye area...top teams get away with it more than the so called lesser teams..it stinks