Quote Kernel="Kernel"Magennis is a soft arris, man on man that guy would get smashed by any one of our pack. Typical Saints player, soft as e.'"
He did. Tuson battered him, then Mossop put him on his backside.
For what it's worth, and I've tried to be as objective as possible here, Magennis' conduct was nothing short of appalling.
McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Hock had a bit of handbags. The pair of them were putting their heads in each others way, and it kicked off. That's happened more times in RL matches than anything. Props wind each other up, it's as simple as that - it's what the game is all about.
Magennis on the other hand is a coward. Him and Tuson had a bit of a go at each other face to face and nothing really happened other than they both had each other by the shirt. Tuson turned around to face the melee, and Magennis blindsided him when his back was turned. I'm not condoning the way Tuson went at Magennis after this, but I defy anyone who as been firstly blindsided in such a manner, and secondly in the heat of a derby game like this, NOT to retaliate.
Hock should never have been sent off. He was sent of simply because he is Gaz Hock, and I hope the RFL see this. LMS should get exactly the same punishment as Hock, because he did exactly what Hock did even if he did avoid getting sent off.
Magennis should get eight matches for what he did. It was cowardly. Sadly, Tuson will probably get a ban - probably not for retaliating per se, but for the way he went at Magennis the way he did.
As for Mossop. That punch was a blinder, but that will probably earn him a ban too. He wasn't involved in the fight, was not in any immediate danger, but still chose to punch Magennis. Technically, that's a ban, I'm afraid.
One amusing bit to come out of the scrap, though, was the reaction of my girlfriend's Salford supporting colleague's girlfriend, who was at her first RL match, who was geniunely shocked but excited that something like that could happen on a sports field.