Not a good look : Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:40 pm  

We have been subjected to a barrage of rule changes ever since Super League started (and probably before) but the latest crop seem to have consistently given the game a bad look and detracted from it as a spectacle. We've lived with them this year and understand that some may have been a particularly poor response to Covid induced paranoia but we really must have a change now to restore some sanity to our game.

Ball Stripping - It's always gone on and some players like Gavin Clinch turned it into an art form and this definitely has a place in the game for a one on one tackle. None of this multiple tacklers all dropping off and leaving the ref in an impossible situation.

Six again - it's too arbitrary and the penalty for a significant offence may be 6 more tackles plus the one just gone but for a minor (discretionary) offence could be six more after 5 already gone. It is particularly noticeable that the top clubs (probably because they appear more on TV) are very happy to give away multiple six agains in their red zone, all on tackle 1 so they have plenty of time to reorganise their defence. The refs need to stamp out the minor offences in the red zone with yellow cards (for all teams) and clean up the rucks

Speeding up the game - Rules are introduced to speed up what is already probably the fastest game in the world and coaches spend all their time finding ways to slow it down. A spectacle doesn't have to be at breakneck speed to be effective. Lets take a leaf from RU's book, they barely get started for long periods yet crowds still flock to watch 2 packs looking at each other.

Moving off the mark - It's either an offence or it isn't. This nonsense of the ref stopping the game and sending a player back a couple of yards really doesn't fit the criteria of a professional sport. Resolve this by the referee stepping forward the defensive line by the same margin of stolen ground.

Wrestling in the tackle - It's rare for a player to be put to ground in the tackle until three defenders have attempted to twist his body out of shape. What about player welfare? Make the rule that the tackle only counts towards the 6 if the first contact is around the waist or below.

Tap restarts - The worst of the lot. Why would there be any reason to have a restart other than at the point of the offence. All we get now is every phase starting from midfield and it has removed much of the diversity from the game. Another pointless rule change, change it back.

Is this just me feeling a bit disillusioned with the way the game is going?

Re: Not a good look : Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:48 pm  

I believe the current rule on ball stripping will be removed for next season. I would also hope that scrums are reinstated because without them it is just not Rugby League albeit they are no what they were but it does take away 6 players from the defensive line.

Re: Not a good look : Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:46 am  

Personally I much prefer 6 again than a penalty for most ruck offences as I think it's disproportionate for a marginal laying on offence which is hard to judge fairly at the best of times to be penalised with a big punt up field.
We need scrums back as soon as possible just for the variety.

Re: Not a good look : Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:07 am  

Schunter wrote:

Personally I much prefer 6 again than a penalty for most ruck offences as I think it's disproportionate for a marginal laying on offence which is hard to judge fairly at the best of times to be penalised with a big punt up field.
We need scrums back as soon as possible just for the variety.

I don't agree its a lottery TBH I would really like to see the data behind on what tackle they are given and where. As an example at HKR we were caned by the ref in our half but seemed to get 6 again when we were deep in our own half on early tackles which instead of a penalty teams can slow the game don for 10 yards.

Re: Not a good look : Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:38 am  

REDWHITEANDBLUE wrote:

I don't agree its a lottery TBH I would really like to see the data behind on what tackle they are given and where. As an example at HKR we were caned by the ref in our half but seemed to get 6 again when we were deep in our own half on early tackles which instead of a penalty teams can slow the game don for 10 yards.

No more a lottery than penalties given they are judging the same offence, the only difference is the punishment

Re: Not a good look : Mon Sep 27, 2021 12:00 pm  

Don't mind the six again, but for me if its on the 1st tackle - as most are in the opponents own 20 - then it should be a penalty.
nothing is gained and the defending team get an advantage by being able to get their line set.

Re: Not a good look : Mon Sep 27, 2021 1:31 pm  

BarnsleyGull wrote:

Don't mind the six again, but for me if its on the 1st tackle - as most are in the opponents own 20 - then it should be a penalty.
nothing is gained and the defending team get an advantage by being able to get their line set.

Perhaps it should be a penalty if in your own half regardless

[PopTart]

Re: Not a good look : Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:59 pm  

You are making it more complicated for the ref.
Needs to be the same rule no matter what tackle.

Re: Not a good look : Mon Sep 27, 2021 3:50 pm  

It will not be a good luck till they make it a even contest .No super daddy's No spending above the cap ,and not allowing the so called better players going to the top clubs they have not got room in the sallery cap .As in marquee players .Who knows it could bring back crowds to grounds of all teams are on a even playing field The way the game is going at present it could be dead in 10 year

Re: Not a good look : Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:40 pm  

alegend wrote:

It will not be a good luck till they make it a even contest .No super daddy's No spending above the cap ,and not allowing the so called better players going to the top clubs they have not got room in the sallery cap .As in marquee players .Who knows it could bring back crowds to grounds of all teams are on a even playing field The way the game is going at present it could be dead in 10 year

RL has always been like that, don’t know what game you watch. When Trinity were in their pomp in the sixties it was partly down to local talent but it was also down to us being big spenders. We did all these things you mention so no issues from me I just wish we could do it.