Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Sun Sep 01, 2024 10:28 am  

ArthurClues wrote:

Hmm. I don't think so. I don't often speak to players, but I'd hazard a guess that slightly changing their tackling technique ( in recognition of the long standing laws of the game) is a preferable and more controllable option to getting smacked round the chops as a matter of course. The gum shields that players are now mandated to wear will provide the scientific data that should drive decision making on this topic, and so far those results look promising. That's surely something to celebrate.

Nobody speaks to the players as they have no representative body. All these things just get decided, when it’s actually their future and safety on the line……

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Sun Sep 01, 2024 12:28 pm  

Shabino wrote:

Nobody speaks to the players as they have no representative body. All these things just get decided, when it’s actually their future and safety on the line……

I think that's an exaggeration, Shabs. But even if it isn't I think their answer to the question - "would you like us to police the existing laws of the game properly in order to reduce the risk of brain damage to you in later life?"- would be a very predictable one. It is (forgive the pun) a no brainer.

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Sun Sep 01, 2024 10:05 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

I think that's an exaggeration, Shabs. But even if it isn't I think their answer to the question - "would you like us to police the existing laws of the game properly in order to reduce the risk of brain damage to you in later life?"- would be a very predictable one. It is (forgive the pun) a no brainer.

Fair point, but there needs to be a balance with the integrity of the game too. They are very clear with this in the NRL, we have gone OTT here imho…..

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Mon Sep 02, 2024 5:40 am  

Shabino wrote:

Fair point, but there needs to be a balance with the integrity of the game too. They are very clear with this in the NRL, we have gone OTT here imho…..

The NRL has gone overboard with some aspects, for example pressuring the kicker. Some of the penalties/sin bins/SO's are crazy. Yet what we have seen as SO'here, Vaughan for example against Leigh, is nothing more than a sin bin e.g. Whitehead for the Raiders yesterday. The two comps aren't aligned at all on the rules, never mind interpretation or application.

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Mon Sep 02, 2024 9:37 am  

YosemiteSam wrote:

The NRL has gone overboard with some aspects, for example pressuring the kicker. Some of the penalties/sin bins/SO's are crazy. Yet what we have seen as SO'here, Vaughan for example against Leigh, is nothing more than a sin bin e.g. Whitehead for the Raiders yesterday. The two comps aren't aligned at all on the rules, never mind interpretation or application.

Two different games - the speed, athletisism and skill set in the NRL demands different interpretation of the rules.

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Mon Sep 02, 2024 1:07 pm  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

Two different games - the speed, athletisism and skill set in the NRL demands different interpretation of the rules.

Vaughan gets SO, Whitehead gets 10. NRL less concerned about player safety? And vice versa when it comes to policing pressure on the kicker? I'm not so sure.

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Tue Sep 03, 2024 7:21 am  

YosemiteSam wrote:

Vaughan gets SO, Whitehead gets 10. NRL less concerned about player safety? And vice versa when it comes to policing pressure on the kicker? I'm not so sure.

NRL equally concerned about safety, but also balanced again the integrity of the sport……

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Tue Sep 03, 2024 7:44 am  

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The NRL has less sending offs, but they have way more sin bins, and their bans are harsher. The fans are equally frustrated by how the rules are interpreted in terms of head contact. Not to mention the ongoing issue regarding hip drop tackles.
They also have the opposite problem SL has in how the ruck is policed, here it's too slow, and over there it's too fast, some of the games have been like touch rugby this season.

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Tue Sep 03, 2024 8:36 am  

From a spectator's perspective I'd far rather have the ruck too fast than too slow. That ought to be the mantra of all referees in RL.

Re: 2024 | Play Off Chance : Sat Sep 07, 2024 4:04 pm  

If, and it’s a big if, Catalans can win a close game at Salford, it’s in our hands with two weeks left. We didn’t think we would be able to say that a few weeks ago, so wraps to the whole squad and staff for hanging in there so far. If we can make the 6, which would be a massive task, then we would go in with a bit of form having beaten the top two in our last two outings.