It was right to ban Josh Griffin for seven games - we can't end up like football

23 June 2023 , 17:32

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Hull FC's Josh Griffin is shown a red card by referee Chirs Kendall after questioning his integrity, an offence that led to a seven game ban (Image: PA)

Josh Griffin's seven-match ban has caused some controversy but I actually agree with the RFL’s stance.

To me, it looks like players are now talking too much to the referees. One of the things rugby league has always been proud of as a sport is that we’re not like other sports - especially football - when it comes to the way we speak to officials.

There has always been respect for the referee and when you speak to people from other sports it’s always seen as a quality to be admired about rugby league. But, at the moment, things have started to fall away from that a little and it looks like the governing body wants to nip it in the bud.

To do that, if you want a positive change in behaviour, the bans have to be severe to act as a deterrent. For all a lot of people think it’s too severe that Hull FC’s Griffin got seven games for his red card against St Helens, I think the tribunal process has it right. Looking at the language it’s alleged he used - calling Chris Kendall a f****** cheat for and saying he’s f****** s*** - you can see why.

I don’t think there was that level of abuse aimed at referees when I played. I did get sin-binned once by Phil Bentham for saying ‘you’re f****** kidding’ but I’d been at him all the game, testing him out and I think he’d just had enough!

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But this now is a lesson to players to only worry about what they can control. You can’t control the referee or his decisions. So don’t bother trying.

Hull FC's Josh Griffin sees red in Challenge Cup quarter-final v St Helens (PA)

Obviously, the bone of contention for many fans is that Griffin got more games than Kai O’Donnell, the Leigh player who was guilty of a horrible spear tackle against York. O’Donnell received six games.

Where I differ from the RFL is that I feel the punishment for that sort of challenge should be greater than abusing officials. It was horrendous and so dangerous. I’d have given him 12 games for that.

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