Super League play-offs FIGHT CLUBB
RUGBY LEAGUE Wig enforcer ban fear... but victim defends him Adam & the antics lifting Cas
TONY CLUBB is in danger of being banned for Wigan’s semi- final showdown with St Helens on Friday.
But Jackson Hastings, the man he appeared to elbow in the head, has attempted to come to his rescue.
Salford half-back Hastings was furious with Clubb at the time and the row simmered on through the rest of Friday’s 18-12 win for Wigan.
Clashed
But afterwards Hastings insisted: “You do not hold grudges. What happens on the field stays on the field.”
Clubb’s elbow connected with Hastings as he scored a 61st-minute try that brought Salford back to within six points.
Hastings said: “The ref said he was going down when he elbowed me in the head but I thought otherwise.
“I thought he could have pulled out. I watched the replay and it was pretty easy to move aside.
“But having said that it’s part of the game. He plays tough and front-rowers are meant to intimidate half-backs. half-backs I have always been taught not to back down, especially to bigger boys.
In a semi- final, against one of the best teams in the competition, there is no backing down.”
The pair later clashed again, physically and verbally, and Hastings admits things could get interesting next season when he j oins the Warriors.
He said: “We had a little kiss and hug at the end. He said he can’t wait for wrestling
[in training] next year so I will probably be avoiding that because he’s heavier than me.”
Clubb, who will discover if he faces a ban tomorrow, said:
“We were just sending each other Valentines cards. We both want to win and sometimes it goes the wrong way but there was no malice in it.”
Defeat means
Salford now face a do-or-die game at home to Castleford on Thursday. SPOILER supreme Adam Milner hopes to burst Salford’s bubble, just like he wrecked Warrington’s party.
Milner’s antics distracted Stefan Ratchford as he tried and failed to land a penalty that would have levelled the scores in their play-off game.
Castleford hung on to win 14-12, sending them into another do-or-die battle at Salford this Thursday.
Milner said: “Three of us were trying to put him off as much as we could and I think that helped. We can take a lot of confidence from this. The boys have been defending well and we came up trumps again. That is what play-off football is all about.”
Defeat ruined Ben Westwood’s dream of ending his illustrious 20-year career with an appearance in next month’s Grand Final.
The 38-year-old Warrington forward said: “It is not how I would have liked to have gone out, but I am happy with what I have done in my career.”