This incident with Briers and Ablett started way before the final punch. Reviewing it on the TV coverage, you will see at minute 16:52, Ablett tackles Briers. Effects the tackle legally, but then has a bit of "afters" which don't get fully covered by the camera. It was right in front of me, and I can assure you, Ablett's hand was in briers' face while Briers was on the floor. Briers was trying to get up and Ablett was preventing him from doing so.



Hopefully, there are other camera views that cover this should Briers have to go up before the panel, as the provocation of Briers' punch was a long time in the making.

Put whatever spin on it you like, it was forward. Ball passed on the white line. Ball caught 5 metres after white line. Regardless of the way in which the ball was let go, it definitely did not travel backwards, and that is a fact. Lee Briers later on in the game threw the ball backwards over his own head and it was given as a knock on! But that pass went backwards? Absolute tosh.

interestingly, that briers 'knock on', he actually passed the ball backwards, and went backwards off the torso of Watkins, so how the hell he gave a knock on, is somewhat amazing.

Having watched in patches your first half, my first reaction was that Briers should have walked. But that is now a matter for the disciplinary committee.



If I were a Wire fan I wouldn't let one moment of madness from Briers take the gloss off what turned out to be a dominant display, and most certainly a Statement of Intent that you mean business this Play-off Series

This may have been stated already but, I'm watching through the game again and Ablett was looking straight at Briers when the punch was thrown so all the Leeds fans can quit with the accusations of punching a man while his back is turned. Ablett turned his head to avoid the shot.



Secondly, although he didn't throw a punch himself, is everyone missing Bailey running in and scragging Briers? He did this after the punch had been thrown, Ablett was walking off and Chris Hill was pulling Briers away. So why did he get involved??



I don't condone Briers actions, but lets look at the facts rather than what people want to see.



I also agree with a poster on the virtual terrace I think, at the play when Hill kicks to Riley's wing (about 17 mins in), Ablett had been in Briers face and there had been a bit of a scuffle on the floor that was out of shot. So, again to put the Whinos fans in the picture, the punch minutes later was not unprovoked.

I'm pretty sure Bailey played the full eighty. His stats show 6 hit ups for a total of 19m. Pathetic for the 3rd prop.