KaeruJim wrote:
Yes I think everyone can see the need to protect players' long-term health.
The problem is the way in which the RFL is trying to achieve this - it's harming the game so much whilst not doing much to prevent concussion. Would be interested in the stats as to whether the amount of concussions is actually decreasing over time with the new rules - I still see plenty of players leave for HIA. By the time you need an HIA brain injury has already occurred/is a risk. Often it is defenders who come off worst; where in the rules are we or can we protect defenders? This obsession with the obvious head-high tackling is not helping; rules have ALWAYS been in place to deal with dirty play.
Red cards on-field should be reserved for clear foul play as a punishment. They should not be used for any controversial or arguable cases live, this is where the match commission can review objectively and gather evidence. We need a points system for punishment where the sanction fits the crime much better.
The tackle Tariq Sims put on George Williams was awesome. Rugby League is a physical contact sport where you are going to get hurt at times. It's hard enough to attract players of quality to the sport in competition with football and RU, I feel at the moment we are shooting ourselves in the foot.
Spot on. The number of times i was concussed while playing not one was in the act of being tackled. Forcing tacklers lower and lower will increase the occurrence of tacklers getting a elbow/hip/knee in the head. Look at the problems Gannons going through now, all from being the tackler, i seem to recall this was the case with Stevie Ward too.
