Those of us older members remember the days in rugby when the expression "The referee is the sole judge of fact" applied.
Obviously, this no longer applies, as it now appears to be: "The TMO is the sole judge of fact". My 'Official Match Day Program' from Saturday's Reds v Rebels match lists the "Match Officials" as Steve Walsh, Referee, Matt O'Brien, Assistant Referee, Damien Mitchelmore, Assistant Referee. No mention of a TMO, which suggests the QRU doesn't regard that person as a "match official", (of any importance).
After last Saturday's stuff-up, they may rethink their position on TMOs!!
IMO, most experienced refs (at club level at least), would have left the two combatants and their respective "seconds" to sort it out, and continue to do what they are engaged to do, namely referee a Rugby match, not a melee involving four of the 30 players on the field.
To many Reds fans, Steve Walsh is a 'serial offender'.