Saint Steven Baker rubbed out

[dawson]

Saint Steven Baker has been rubbed out for three matches - does this help or hinder us on Saturday night?

[Charlie]

Help. It'll stretch them alot... they'll have one less tagger to cover Williams, Bolton, Cresswell... should help us to control the centre clearances (which would be about the first time all year).

It's also one less change to the side that they're likely to make voluntarily. We want to see Burke, Peckett, Milne and the rest of their underachieving cast of players IN the side. Forcing Baker out means that it's just another change... their list isn't that deep.

[Jimmy C]

Great news that he's out. Can't imagine who they'll replace him with.

While I don't condone kicking, I thought he was a bit stiff to get 3 weeks when you consider the much larger, oafish Allessio was standing on his foot at an odd angle. It looked like it may have been hurting him. I reckon Allessio could have stood a closer look over this one too (for a fine).

Imagine if it was Luke Darcy that Baker kicked. The way the umpires love that bloke, Baker would've gotten a year

[Jimmy C]

BTW, not that this has any bearing on the outcome, but did anyone else notice that the reporting umpire was one Darren Goldspink. Pity Baker didn't kick him.

[Jon]

I don't reckon his inclusion or exclusion will make that much difference.

I'll say this, though.

That tribunal decision is the biggest joke since Arnold Schwartzenegger got pregnant! You had the tribunal acknowledging that Baker was in "excruciating pain" and you had Alessio saying he hardly felt it.

And then you had Goldspink saying:

?It wasn?t a violent kick but in my mind it was a deliberate action to kick him,? Goldspink said.

Okay...so lets get this right....Baker WAS in excriciating pain, Goldspink AGREED it wasn't a violent kick and Alessio submitted that it was more like a tap to get his attention?

THREE WEEKS?

I usually don't get overly excited by Tribunal decisions, but the unfairness of this one is staggering.

[penga]

Originally posted by Jon
I usually don't get overly excited by Tribunal decisions, but the unfairness of this one is staggering.

and rioli gets so much sympathy from the tribunal

[TheHood]

Yeah Rioli attempts to extract a player's eye and gets the same result as that dolly tap.

SES is the biggest antagonist going around as well!

[penga]

Originally posted by TheHood
SES

what? State Emergency Service?

[BAM_BAM]

Originally posted by penga
and rioli gets so much sympathy from the tribunal

don't even start me on that one