: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:18 am  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

Is it my perception or is Burger Boy Cunningham getting more violent in his old age?

I think it occurs fairly naturally in most players to some degree. Your hero (and one of mine) while previously all pace and majesty became a bit tetchy towards the end. Come to think of it he became a bit tetchy while still at Leeds.

Even previously angelic like figures such as Francis Cummins spent time cooling his heels in the sin bin after a bout of fisticuffs at Halifax IIRC.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:23 am  

tvoc wrote:

I think it occurs fairly naturally in most players to some degree. Your hero (and one of mine) while previously all pace and majesty became a bit tetchy towards the end. Come to think of it he became a bit tetchy while still at Leeds.

Even previously angelic like figures such as Francis Cummins spent time cooling his heels in the sin bin after a bout of fisticuffs at Halifax IIRC.

I dont think Peacock is a saint either, and appears to get more tetchy (as you put it) each season.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:46 am  

Senior is certainly more up for a bit of Biff this last 12 months, and is definitely more niggly.

Hate to see what Ablett is like at Seniors age

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:00 am  

leicester_rhino wrote:

Senior is certainly more up for a bit of Biff this last 12 months, and is definitely more niggly.

Hate to see what Ablett is like at Seniors age

well he is going bald already!

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:22 am  

tvoc wrote:

I think it occurs fairly naturally in most players to some degree. Your hero (and one of mine) while previously all pace and majesty became a bit tetchy towards the end.

A sweet head butt on Andy Gregory in the JP semi at Bolton comes to mind.

Funnily enough, my fuse got shorter as I hit my 30's. I was the proud recipient of my first yellow card at 33 (I think it might have been the refs nephew I snotted).

[Wheels]

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:52 am  

"He's spilt a bit of claret there..."

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:11 pm  

The merry whistleblower/flagwaver.
Grrrhhh.
Mind you almost as annoyiog is the BBC's use of "the square in the air" for any video ref decision.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:14 pm  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

On Boots 'n All he launched into a tirade about "thugby league" because of a couple of over the shoulder hits, then almost had a coronary during the Wakefielgame when Dimetriou "handed off" Wellens. Even the Saints fan working as video ref for the night didn't see anything wrong (despite not actually being asked to look at it by Mr Hallibut).

The hand off to the face is one I've wondered about for a while. Why is it we allow the attacking player to make contact with a defenders head, but not the other way round?

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:17 pm  

Lord_Percy wrote:

The hand off to the face is one I've wondered about for a while. Why is it we allow the attacking player to make contact with a defenders head, but not the other way round?

Probably because the hand off is basically a flat of the hand delivered front on to the face/head and isn't likely to do a great deal of damage. Using anything other than the hand (e.g. forearm/elbow) is still a penalty offence.

Most tackles are made with the upper arm/shoulder, which applies considerably more force particularly if swung into the tackle and especially if it lands/wraps around the neck area of someone running at pace.

Basic Health and Safety awareness, innit.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:21 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Probably because the hand off is basically a flat of the hand delivered front on to the face/head and isn't likely to do a great deal of damage. Using anything other than the hand (e.g. forearm/elbow) is still a penalty offence.

Most tackles are made with the upper arm/shoulder, which applies considerably more force particularly if swung into the tackle and especially if it lands/wraps around the neck area of someone running at pace.

Basic Health and Safety awareness, innit.

That still means it's possible for 2 players to make identical contact with each other and only one of them commit an offence. This all started when I saw a picture in LE of 2 players basically handing each other off and a mate commented on the fact.

If you outlawed all contact with the head you would also stop the referee having to make a judgement on what type of contact was made. It's much easier for refs to rely on facts, not opinions. OK, it SHOULD be easier