Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 6:26 am  

Agree with the other posters comments about the red card.. never in a million years was it sending off not even a yellow card.. frustrating for me as Wire to see that happen. Interesting that Paul Vaughan in his Sky interview was all for the new rules put in place.. wonder how many other players are onboard with the changes..

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:06 am  

RobRiches wrote:

Just do spear tackles. The mrp will realise it was a Wigan player and let then off, and instead blame the attacker

Fans are worried about the game and you can do is come up with this sh*t,just f*ck off will you and let the adults talk.No one, absolutely no one wants you on here.
Go and watch your union and see that implode instead little man.

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:27 am  

Enjoying NRL this morning even though it's only their pre season. It feels normal, and it's kind of medicinal after what happened last night. Good luck to you guys today, and lift that trophy.

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:42 am  

While I agree the game has probably shifted too far, and I'm certainly glad I've finished officiating, we can't place the blame entirely at the door of the RFL.

If things had not changed, we wouldn't have any form of RL to watch in this country. Too many people have backed the game into a corner. I can see a point where the impact of the cards will finally see a real adjustment from players and it will improve things.

I know several people will call this a dream or stupidity, but it's the only way our game can survive and I have to try and believe it can.

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:03 am  

mikey800 wrote:

While I agree the game has probably shifted too far, and I'm certainly glad I've finished officiating, we can't place the blame entirely at the door of the RFL.

If things had not changed, we wouldn't have any form of RL to watch in this country. Too many people have backed the game into a corner. I can see a point where the impact of the cards will finally see a real adjustment from players and it will improve things.

I know several people will call this a dream or stupidity, but it's the only way our game can survive and I have to try and believe it can.

The problem is not the outlawing of head tackles.

Head tackles have long been illegal, and rightly so.

It's the outlawing of accidental contact with the head, as in last night.

You can't outlaw something you have no control over. If accidental contact with the head is a sending-off offence, you will have no rugby league.

It's that simple.

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:13 am  

mikey800 wrote:

While I agree the game has probably shifted too far, and I'm certainly glad I've finished officiating, we can't place the blame entirely at the door of the RFL.

If things had not changed, we wouldn't have any form of RL to watch in this country. Too many people have backed the game into a corner. I can see a point where the impact of the cards will finally see a real adjustment from players and it will improve things.

I know several people will call this a dream or stupidity, but it's the only way our game can survive and I have to try and believe it can.

Just no on every level and with all due respect, as I don't know you, that's exactly what I'd expect a ref to say.

Firstly, you can't adjust for things like last night. Heck, I'm not even in favour of lowering the tackle height. It would just mean softer defence, more stupid offloads and games ending 60 points to 40. Give me a 8 - 4 Wigan Vs Manly, or a low scoring, attritional SOO game any day of the week. Brutal defence, big hits, hard running and a bit of good old biff.

There is nothing wrong with the game. Players don't need to be protected. The game doesn't need it's gladiatorial elements removing from it.

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:31 am  

I don’t enjoy the game anymore which ultimately will lead to me not going at all. The excitement of hearing and seeing the big hits is what attracted me to the game all those years ago. But now, watching it is akin to looking forward to a pint of Stella and being served a Skol shandy
It’s sad times and unfortunately I don’t see a way forward

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:50 am  

I’m in favour of the clampdown on head high contact. With the legal action being taken by past players the game has no choice. Insurance is obviously a problem though the NRL must have insurance so why not approach that company?

I’d go as far as to say that 90 - 99% of high tackles are accidental. Some are simply an accident, others due to circumstances or down to poor technique. I’ve no issue with players being sent from the field, it puts the onus on them to get their technique right. If they do and it still happens then it’s a penalty and no more. Ellis against Cas is a prime example of that. His tackle position was good, he was wrapping the arms and the Cas player slipped into him so the attackers height changed fractionally before contact. Conversely Watts, although not intended, his body shape was tall and arm wrapping so although Dupree was low he did not change height therefore red card & 4 matches.

The game simply HAS to apply some common sense. I get why the red card was given against brown, by the letter of the law direct forceful contact with no obvious mitigating factors.

I’d argue that Currie swung round and went into Brown as much as Brown went into Currie. There was literally nothing either player could do about it. It wasn’t a head butt. There was no swinging arms, no recklessly throwing arms and legs in random directions. Just a simple accidental clash of heads.

I quite like an idea muted by Wilkin last night. If they’re not sure about whether it’s yellow or red sin bin the player and give the VR 10 mins to review then upgrade to a red if appropriate. Perhaps introduce an orange card for this.

All that said I’m not going to throw my toys out of the pram and suddenly stop watching a sport I’ve loved for 45 years because the RFL have not quite got the interpretation right for a new law introduced for the best intentions.

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:41 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Just no on every level and with all due respect, as I don't know you, that's exactly what I'd expect a ref to say.

Firstly, you can't adjust for things like last night. Heck, I'm not even in favour of lowering the tackle height. It would just mean softer defence, more stupid offloads and games ending 60 points to 40. Give me a 8 - 4 Wigan Vs Manly, or a low scoring, attritional SOO game any day of the week. Brutal defence, big hits, hard running and a bit of good old biff.

There is nothing wrong with the game. Players don't need to be protected. The game doesn't need it's gladiatorial elements removing from it.

I mostly agree with this. I'd argue that player welfare is important, but it's also plain that the best and surest way to protect players is for them not to participate at all.

It's their choice. As it always has been.

No one is forced to play rugby league. And anyone who says they didn't know how dangerous it was is simply lying. They shouldn't even be given the time of day, never mind be allowed to put a court case together.

In all honesty, I don't know what rankles with me more: the fact this is happening just when we were entering a new age of mass publicity, or the names of some of the players who are causing it.

You talk about two-bit troublemakers. That doesn't even come close to describing them.

Re: Decisive Action : Sat Feb 24, 2024 10:59 am  

This isn’t hyperbole but on Good Friday we genuinely could be looking at 11 v 11

With a capacity crowd and a hostile atmosphere it could happen.