Quote Cutter76="Cutter76"The way some people talk you'd think they've never watched rugby league before and have just been raised on football ,there's always been a bit of biff in league and every team needs players capable of dishing it out ,sometimes they get caught and cop a ban ,more often it goes unnoticed by Refs and fans ,get real this is a full on contact sport ,if you can't deal with it ,go watch footballers rolling around like they've been shot at every slight tap'"
I do think there is a subtle difference though.
I (and I doubt many others) have no issue with teams ripping into each other hard, particularly in the forwards. I love the physical contact and the spice it adds to the game. I don't have any real issues with a bit of "biff", but it has to be on level terms (ie there has to be a kind of "mutual agreement" between the players involved).
Some things are not "a bit of biff" and have no place in the game. These include:
1. Deliberate attacks to the head of players who are trying to play the game.
2. Late shots on players who have clearly passed/kicked the ball and who have no time to brace or defend themselves.
3. Attacks on already tackled players designed to damage the shoulder/knee/ankle joints.
4. Biting, gouging, spitting at other players, abuse of match officials (by players!).
5. By definition of the above, Gareth Hock.
Although I didn't see where the contact was made with Gale, from my perspective Westwood's tackle was late and Gale should not expect to be pummelled from his blind side long after he has passed the ball. This is not "a bit of biff" but action that can cause unnecessary injury to an innocent player. However, I've only seen it live and my perspective may be biased or simply wrong.