Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:37 pm  

A decisive and important win for Catalans Dragons over formerly 3rd placed now 4th placed Castleford Tigers. Catalans are now placed sixth on the ladder, based upon match score points differential (just three differential points behind Hull FC). While I expect Catalans to be beaten by high flying St Helens in the next round, the following game against Hull in Hull, and the subsequent game against Wigan at Camp Nou in Barcelona, will together give Catalans a shot at 5th place on the ladder if they can win those two games.

Before people try to excuse Castleford's performance and defeat with reference to its missing injured players, I would remind forum members that Catalans were without the services of injured Benjamin Garcia, Benjamin Jullien, Michael McIlorum, Fouad Yaha, Lucas Albert, Jodie Broughton and Matthew Smith. The tough warrior Gregory Bird was forced to play at No 6 even though this is not his best and most suitable position.

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 5:56 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

A decisive and important win for Catalans Dragons over formerly 3rd placed now 4th placed Castleford Tigers. Catalans are now placed sixth on the ladder, based upon match score points differential (just three differential points behind Hull FC). While I expect Catalans to be beaten by high flying St Helens in the next round, the following game against Hull in Hull, and the subsequent game against Wigan at Camp Nou in Barcelona, will together give Catalans a shot at 5th place on the ladder if they can win those two games.

Before people try to excuse Castleford's performance and defeat with reference to its missing injured players, I would remind forum members that Catalans were without the services of injured Benjamin Garcia, Benjamin Jullien, Michael McIlorum, Fouad Yaha, Lucas Albert, Jodie Broughton and Matthew Smith. The tough warrior Gregory Bird was forced to play at No 6 even though this is not his best and most suitable position.

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 8:02 am  

Cokey wrote:

:SLEEPY:

The truth can be upsetting, especially for Leigh fans.

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 8:05 am  

cas all the way wrote:

First time I've seen Cas do it from what I can remember. Hate to see it. Ref should just say play on.

Incorrect . The official should penalise the cheating player , in this case Michael Shenton . The RFL need to stamp this out .

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 8:09 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

The truth can be upsetting, especially for Leigh fans.

Doesn't upset me Cappy, nor do I think it upsets any other Leythers either for that matter.You're just boring now tbh.

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:24 am  

Surprised to see Shenton stoop to that - but I don't care who does it - it's cheap and grubby and shouldn't be rewarded with a penalty; quite the opposite in fact - the offending player should be penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The RFL need to get the message on this one - it's an aspect of the game that coaches have exploited, and it should be taken away from them as an option.

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:30 am  

bren2k wrote:

Surprised to see Shenton stoop to that - but I don't care who does it - it's cheap and grubby and shouldn't be rewarded with a penalty; quite the opposite in fact - the offending player should be penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The RFL need to get the message on this one - it's an aspect of the game that coaches have exploited, and it should be taken away from them as an option.

Exactly this.

There are occasions when the defending player is deliberately slowing down the ptb and it can be a tough call for the ref but, some of the cheating going on by the attacking side is spoiling the game.
RL is starting to get like football, with players diving around looking for penalties etc and it needs stopping.

Maybe go for a review on such incidents and then warn / ban players.

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:38 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Maybe go for a review on such incidents and then warn / ban players.

Too much faffing about in my view - just issue a clarification of the interpretation and then penalise anyone who does it, consistently; and that's the key. At the moment, it seems that only Ben Thaler has the bottle to wave play on, and even then it's not entirely clear what criteria he's using to judge what does or doesn't constitute genuine impediment.

If players were penalised for it, they'd stop doing it - so long as they can get away with it, they will. It's very simple.

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:02 am  

Catalan passed / rolled the ball into the defender 4 times in the space of 25 minutes yesterday but naturally it's the cas player getting the attention! Catalan are the worst for it, absolute serial offenders especially at home, a really grubby side and a dour watch. Cas just went with a fight fire with fire approach.

Simply the rule needs changing because as it stands, it is a penalty. But its gonna take the coaches and officials to get together to get some clarity with it or it will just keep happening. Needs to be a blanket approach.

Whilst they're at it they can look at theatrics at the play of the ball, passing the ball into the defender and the defensive line defender encouraging a penalty for obstruction from the dummy runner.

[Bullseye]

Re: GAME ON : Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers - 17:00:00 : Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:12 am  

The mess that is the play the ball has become the “be all and end all” in the game and at the moment the coaches are winning the arms race against the referees. The result is that games are being dominated by both teams employing cynical tactics. It makes for a poor viewing experience.

Time for referees to be allowed to use their initiative. The same applies to the obstruction rule interpretation. Allow refs to make a call based on what they see and allow a bit of latitude. Get rid of the laws that are too prescriptive.

For me I’d allow a ball carrier to take a step to the side to play the ball if a player is lying in the ruck. If he doesn’t do that and instead plays the ball on top of a defender to try to win a penalty I’d penalise the ball carrier since he would’ve been able to play the ball in most cases.

As for passing the ball into a defender it’s easy to tell if it’s being done on purpose or not. Penalise those milking the penalty. If a defender is in the way deliberately let the ref make a call.

It’s not rocket science.