Does RL Deal Properly With Thugs?

I played the game and certainly enjoyed the physicality of it, as long as it was within the rules. Wanting to hurt opponents isn't sportsmanship. Late hits, swinging arms and the like have no place in the game. Someone forgot to tell Robert Hicks, the UK match official for the Wigan (UK) and Syndey Roosters (NRL) World Club Challenge.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves from the Roosters decided to hit a player late and then immediately went hunting for another player on the ground to try connect with a swinging arm, just in case anyone thought the first thuggish act gave him pause for regret.

The official should have at least sent him to the sin bin but chose not to. Perhaps he didn't want to be seen as favouring the home side. True, the perpetrator may have a case to answer later but the closer punishment is handed out to the offence, the more impact it has. The wishy washy option of putting everything on report is breathtaking in its ineptness. Foul play can be cited later regardless, so it is unnecessary. It allows a thug to stay on the field when he should be cooling down off the field.

There is another player in the same Roosters team who seems to have the knack of seriously injuring opponents, Dylan Napa. A coach has a responsibility to reign in aggression that goes beyond the rules and risks injuries that could have repercussions to that person's health, be it short or long term. On that issue coach Trent Robinson has failed miserably. The Sydney Roosters in my opinion the dirtiest team in RL.

The sport is often vilified for off field behaviour which is trumped up by a media intent on smearing the game. I take no interest in that, nor is it my business. Tacky journalism is off my radar. I am however wanting to see on field action taken against thuggish players. There are only a few of them but one is one too many. Giving them the feeling that they can get away lightly (or altogether) with it isn't good enough.