But whatever it was, it got the Giants' former Canterbury three quarter pretty hot under the collar.

In a heated exchange, prompted by a seemingly innocuous tackle, Fielden did an awful lot of finger pointing and shouting, prompting Lolesi to complain to referee Steve Ganson.

Immediately after the match, Wigan boss Brian Noble claimed "the player concerned" had withdrawn the allegation.

Unfortunately for him, because it had been placed on report the RFL have now unleashed their snappily titled 'compliance commissioner', Norman Sarsfield, to look into what was, or wasn't, said.

In any sport where passions occasionally boil over - and there are few more passionate sports than rugby league - things are said in the heat of the moment.

Like it or not, sledging is as much a part of the game as tackling and passing.

Remember Willie Mason's rather graphic account of his exchange with Fielden in last season's Tri Nations, a bust up that ended with the Kangaroo prop unleashing that devastating punch?

And while the old chesnut about what goes on the field, stays on the field, holds true 99 per cent of the time, there are clearly lines that should not be crossed.

Wakefield's Tevita Leo Latu is currently serving a six match ban for crossing one of those boundaries when he aimed a racist comment at Warrington's Kevin Penny earlier this summer.

And if Fielden took a step too far, in whatever direction, then he should be punished.

I just hope Lolesi doesn't come over all shy through some misguided sense of loyalty to a fellow player.



THE sceptics who expected an afternoon of one way traffic at Wembley on Saturday week must have received a rude awakening as the scoreline of the dress rehearsal between Catalans Dragons and St Helens drifted through from sweltering Perpignan on Saturday night.

The Frenchies, as they are affectionately known in our house, gave the reigning champions a good, old fashioned, 21-0 hiding.

It will, of course, be a different kettle of fish on the wide open spaces of the new Wembley.

Or will it?

Mick Potter's side may blow hot and cold, but there is little doubt that, on their day, they can play a bit.

So much depends on Stacey Jones.

If the little Kiwi has one of those magical days when everything he does turns to gold, then a Catalans victory might not be such a big shock after all.