Do the Aussies play a different game to us?

Hock - Punches thrown (Sent off, 2 game ban).
Tuson - Punches thrown (Sent off, 1 game ban).
Mossop - 1 punch thrown (1 game ban).
Micky Mac - 1 punch thrown (Sent off).

2nd minute of the Origin, punches thrown galore...the one thrown from Tate to the face of a QSL player who was lay on the floor, which was worse than ANY of the ones above thrown.

Origin always plays to slightly different rules which is why Paul Gallen was so vociferous in Melbourne against the ref who reffed it to the letter of the law rather than using his common sense. Ben Thaler did the same at Magic with the brawl.

Origin is always reffed much more leniently than any other game. It wouldn't be the spectacle it is if there wasn't a chance it could blow up at any point, this wouldn't happen if players were getting sent off.

We are trying to sanitise the game too much. Emotion is part of the game and a few punched puts numbs on seats. A few controlled flair ups do not harm the game in anyway and the sooner the refs and the rugby league recognise this the better in my opinion.

I was watching it and thinking if a little punch up happens tonight it will be more worthwhile to watch. However if anyone did it would ruin the match

Tate was punching a NSW player not QSL

The British game is becoming boringly sanitised.

It's a family sport. I don't want my kids exposed to that kind of violence, i've already written a letter of complaint to the NRL, QLDRL and NSWRL.

Its almost expected that at some stage during an origin match it will go off big time, origin wouldnt be origin without a bit of biff.

As to the RFL in this country, well the powers that be are succombing to the politcally correct brigade and are more concerned about silly gimmicks than the actual product on the pitch.

Jeez my 10 year old is never off you tube watching old origin fights and he plays RL but has never once copied anything like that at all.

The RFL need to get a grip !

Why is it unacceptable to have a bit of fisticuffs when both of the players are facing each other when compared to a high shot with a closed fist? The only publicity about millenium magic was the fight vs Stains and that was for the whole weekend. The match in September against our nearest and dearest rivals the build up in the media will include this.

My son will soon be able to play and the fact that a biff won't be putting me off him playing (lets afce it he will be doing that in play ground) it's the delibrate high shots that is what is giving me doubts about him playing the sport of Rugby League.

I really enjoyed the game, And the high intensity and odd bit of biff is what makes it so special.

a large portion of tackles in that match today would have been penalised in superleague. but it was tit for tat. and I thought it was good. Rather than taking a big hit and a bit of a dig and just standing there crying to the ref (i.e Elima) why not be given the chance to play on and get your own back in a "controlled" manner.

The punch from Tate was cheap and dirty , and considering Jennings was sin binned in the first game I was dissapointed nothing came of that. but other than that, like i said, it was tit for tat. some unbelievable hits and an awesome spectacle.

and heaven forbid we encourage the british game to become a 'spectacle' eh!