Having now watched the GF at least 20 times thanks to catch up TV. I'm now convinced that
(1) The first Ryan Hall =#BF0000[itry[/i was not from a forward pass.

(2) The head butt on Sir Kevin was deliberate.

If the head butt had been used as part of a tackle, instead of an attempted block, then I'm sure the officials would have taken more notice of it, instead of following the play. I'm also convinced that it would have been a sending off offence.

However, final outcome wasn't affected and the best team won on the day.

Congratulations to Sir Kevin on the England captaincy.

Who cares?

We won.

Stop whinging.

Case closed.

Pointless thread.

Lock it.

I don't think Monaghan is that type of player and if you did want to take a player out using your own head is not the bet idea

Agree on the pass considering the momentum rule but it was very border line so no complaints

Remember a Leeds try at Odsal being disallowed because Brent Webb was offside at the play the ball? Long range effort involving a few passes with Rob Burrow being the eventual scorer if I remember correctly. Officials spotted it & checked with video ref - no try. If you're offside at PTB you are offside until the next tackle.

Watch Atkins try in GF. He's offside at the play the ball. Hodgson at dummy half, moves in front of Atkins, passes to him & Atkins scores. All in about a metre square patch of grass. And the officials don't spot it. In such a small area. With one pass. What were they watching?

To me that was the more obvious and potentially the more crucial error by the officials. Points immediately before & after half time could've made our heads drop. Good job we don't let such stuff derail us at OT

I spotted that 'downtown' offside for Atkins too. They got away with it cos it was on the blindside and I think silver wood was unsighted. Touchy should have spotted it though

I thought that you had to be making an effort to be getting back onside, which is why the Webb one was ruled out because he just stood there and waited for there for the play to caught up with him.

Atkins was just about level with the ptb, nothing like webbs IMO, it was pish poor defence the cost us that try

I think Atkins did just about get back behind the point of the play the ball, it was close but I think he just made it.

You don't have to get behind the play the ball, you just have to be making an effort to do so.

The worst non decision was the punch in Hardaker's face which caused the knock on and led to the possession for Atkin's try.

To level the argument up I'd also say the penalty given which Sinfield kicked to make it 8-6 was ridiculously soft. That 2 points proved crucial as the 8 point gap at the end instead of a 6 point gap made Wire head drop for the final 5 mins.