I've already put this on the Facebook page of RL Fans, so I'll throw it out to you Chemics as well, if I may.
I presume some Aussie refs will be flying over for the World Cup, and if so, how will the PTBs be judged?
Watching the NRL, it's done correctly, whilst over here, it's generally just a stride over the ball, and (despite his massive talent in other aspects of the game) Alex Walmsley is (in my opinion) one of the biggest offenders.
I've mentioned on here many times how much respect I have for our officials, coz it's such a thankless task that they do, but...............
Are they under instructions from on high to cast a blind eye to the (non) PTB scenario?
I accept totally that if we commenced an immediate clampdown, and insisted that wrongdoers would be pulled up at every offence, for the first couple of weeks it'd be a penalty-athon, but........
Players, and more to the point, coaches, would very soon learn, and we'd have "proper" PTBs again, coz.................
If we stay as we are, I can see being hammered in the penalty count come the World Cup!
Over to you!
Spelly.
Not playing the ball correctly with the foot is just cheating IMO, it's a skill in itself and a fundamental part of the game
Allowing players to just roll the ball through their legs is a joke that's condoned by the authorities as it supposedly makes the game quicker
Players should have to get to their feet place the ball on the floor and play it - not attempt to play it as they allow now but actually play the ball with the foot, there is no reason for it not to happen especially as striking is no longer allowed
If they don't do that they should be penalised until they learn to play the game properly
Unless I have missed a rule change, the markers never stand behind each other but side by side, and players who play the ball and then walk into the marker are never penalised.
I have said before, that the play the ball could instantly be cleaned up if the referee gave a team warning for the first offence, then started sitting players down for ten minutes.
I know that the scrum is now more of a ceremonial occurrence, but if the players were made to bind properly and bend their backs, we may start to see more exciting moves from the back of the scrum.
Unless I have missed a rule change, the markers never stand behind each other but side by side, and players who play the ball and then walk into the marker are never penalised.
I have said before, that the play the ball could instantly be cleaned up if the referee gave a team warning for the first offence, then started sitting players down for ten minutes.
I know that the scrum is now more of a ceremonial occurrence, but if the players were made to bind properly and bend their backs, we may start to see more exciting moves from the back of the scrum.
Absolutely correct, they place the ball on the ground and use it as a lever to stand and then just step over it as they roll it back, not putting the foot on the ball, moving off the mark and obstructing the defence when they walk into the marker, 4 offences at nearly every single PTB
As I have said many times, Rugby League is the only sport that doesn't follow its own Laws.
No wonder so few people and media outlets bother to take it seriously.
Unless I have missed a rule change, the markers never stand behind each other but side by side, and players who play the ball and then walk into the marker are never penalised.
I have said before, that the play the ball could instantly be cleaned up if the referee gave a team warning for the first offence, then started sitting players down for ten minutes.
I know that the scrum is now more of a ceremonial occurrence, but if the players were made to bind properly and bend their backs, we may start to see more exciting moves from the back of the scrum.
Absolutely correct, they place the ball on the ground and use it as a lever to stand and then just step over it as they roll it back, not putting the foot on the ball, moving off the mark and obstructing the defence when they walk into the marker, 4 offences at nearly every single PTB
Unless your name is Alex Warmsley then you step 5 yards forwards after the tackle then PTB.
I've already put this on the Facebook page of RL Fans, so I'll throw it out to you Chemics as well, if I may.
I presume some Aussie refs will be flying over for the World Cup, and if so, how will the PTBs be judged?
Watching the NRL, it's done correctly, whilst over here, it's generally just a stride over the ball, and (despite his massive talent in other aspects of the game) Alex Walmsley is (in my opinion) one of the biggest offenders.
I've mentioned on here many times how much respect I have for our officials, coz it's such a thankless task that they do, but...............
Are they under instructions from on high to cast a blind eye to the (non) PTB scenario?
I accept totally that if we commenced an immediate clampdown, and insisted that wrongdoers would be pulled up at every offence, for the first couple of weeks it'd be a penalty-athon, but........
Players, and more to the point, coaches, would very soon learn, and we'd have "proper" PTBs again, coz.................
If we stay as we are, I can see being hammered in the penalty count come the World Cup!
Over to you!
Spelly.
I think you are spot on here Spelly. We will ne penalised to death if we get an Aussie referee. Let us face it they have always penalised opposition teams for often questionable "offences" since Adam was a lad so they will have no hesitation in issuing penalties for actual rule breaches. Players should be playing by the rules anyway & this needs to be sorted by our own referees immediately. The players will not be able to revert to playing the ball properly overnight when they have never done it. There will be fumbles etc etc. However I am not holding my breath on anything happening soon.
We have the same law as rugby union relating to a deliberate knock on but when did you ever see someone penalised for palming an opponents pass onto the floor to prevent a try
Unless I have missed a rule change, the markers never stand behind each other but side by side, and players who play the ball and then walk into the marker are never penalised.
I have said before, that the play the ball could instantly be cleaned up if the referee gave a team warning for the first offence, then started sitting players down for ten minutes.
I know that the scrum is now more of a ceremonial occurrence, but if the players were made to bind properly and bend their backs, we may start to see more exciting moves from the back of the scrum.
Absolutely correct, they place the ball on the ground and use it as a lever to stand and then just step over it as they roll it back, not putting the foot on the ball, moving off the mark and obstructing the defence when they walk into the marker, 4 offences at nearly every single PTB
Unless your name is Alex Warmsley then you step 5 yards forwards after the tackle then PTB.
Minor amendment Mick, you stumble awkwardly for 5 yds (cos you're big and awkward!), then you ptb!
The flood of games on TV encourage referee comparisons and they are not good imo.
Two very similar situations where a tackler, 'lying on', was forcibly dragged away by the acting half back. On one game the tackler was sent for '10' and penalised, in the other one the acting half was penalised for interfering with the tackle!
Just how players from different continents are supposed to play the game Heaven knows!
Unless I have missed a rule change, the markers never stand behind each other but side by side, and players who play the ball and then walk into the marker are never penalised.
I have said before, that the play the ball could instantly be cleaned up if the referee gave a team warning for the first offence, then started sitting players down for ten minutes.
I know that the scrum is now more of a ceremonial occurrence, but if the players were made to bind properly and bend their backs, we may start to see more exciting moves from the back of the scrum.
Absolutely correct, they place the ball on the ground and use it as a lever to stand and then just step over it as they roll it back, not putting the foot on the ball, moving off the mark and obstructing the defence when they walk into the marker, 4 offences at nearly every single PTB
Unless your name is Alex Warmsley then you step 5 yards forwards after the tackle then PTB.
Minor amendment Mick, you stumble awkwardly for 5 yds (cos you're big and awkward!), then you ptb!
The off the constantly off the mark by players is a joke, I am hoping that at least one coach will tell his players to stand firm in front of the tacked player and not move to stop the off the mark.