The tackle that Cunningham described as "disgusting" and also seems to be saying was premeditated that sadly injured Matty Smith looks like tackles we see pretty much every game. It received a two game ban, plus the committee took away his EGP, it looks like there's going to be a lot of suspensions this year if this is the benchmark. https://twitter.com/John_V_Sharpe/statu ... 8150965249 The pitch looks in a shocking state, with large divots all over the place again last night, maybe the iPitch is the way forward?

The tackle that Cunningham described as "disgusting" and also seems to be saying was premeditated that sadly injured Matty Smith looks like tackles we see pretty much every game. It received a two game ban, plus the committee took away his EGP, it looks like there's going to be a lot of suspensions this year if this is the benchmark. https://twitter.com/John_V_Sharpe/statu ... 8150965249 The pitch looks in a shocking state, with large divots all over the place again last night, maybe the iPitch is the way forward?

Nothing wrong with that, was just unfortunate the way he fell.

As I said previously, RFL making judgements on the outcome (as per usual) if no injury then that doesn't even get mentioned.
Same thing happened in union recently. First it was Dylan Hartley when he was actualling swinging an arm as part of his tackle/attempt to dislodge the ball (well below shoulder height) and the player falls rapidly and thus contact to the head is made. 6 week ban. Last year a union player makes solid contact with ex Hull player Laurence Pearce right into the shoulder, the tackler has bent his back, Pearce stoops down somewhat also. Head snaps back due to force of tackle and Pearce has a brief moment of disneyland. Ref sends off tackler and also gets a ban. Pearce meanwhile gets up and doesn't make out, nor do his team mates that there is a problem with the tackle.
Penalising outcome as opposed to what actually happened.

Nothing at all in it for me. Like Smith, decent bloke, sad it's happened, but it just did. No foul play that I could see.

Well exactly, but I'm sure they can't have used that as the video evidence as you really can't see anything clearly on it.

It looks like the only view available as it is the same camera view as the video Saints released with the tries from the game.

If so a two game ban with no egp is ridiculous, if it wasn't for Cunninghams outburst because Smith got injured it would never have been a ban.

The EGP is removed when a serious injury is caused. I think Cunningham's reaction was probably made in the heat of the aftermath of the injury and the fact he'd gambled his entire career on signing Smith. He's spent the whole off season working with Smith as the central pivot of the team only for it to be worthless.

The disciplinary panel is independent of Saints and haven't got any reason to show bias towards Saints. From reading the review, it seems he was headed for a much longer ban were it not for his remorse and previous good record. To be fair to Cunningham also, he has been banging a drum about tackles where the tackler uses his weight collapsing on the ball carrier's legs to get the man down for about 2 years. It's not something he's just come up with to get a Manuokafoa banned.

Having said that, I don't see this tackle as being an example of that, despite the injury caused. I agree it's quite harsh.