Re: Diving : Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:28 pm  

knockersbumpMKII wrote: Couldn't agree more, watching PSG at 'tellins in 1997 and look how quick the tacklers get off without the aid of the ref telling them to 'release' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRum3y2hh00 It's something I noticed too when I re-watched the Saints v Leeds Cup semi final from 2003. The tackle was much quicker. Now sometimes this leads people to say the game was a better standard 10/15/20+ years ago, which is just plain wrong. And obviously players are fitter and, crucially, conditioned to play RL now which means they've got the energy to put into turning players on their back etc and the energy for 3-4 men to get into tackles regularly. Back in 03/98/whenever they didn't have that conditioning. But I do think it was better to watch.

knockersbumpMKII wrote: Couldn't agree more, watching PSG at 'tellins in 1997 and look how quick the tacklers get off without the aid of the ref telling them to 'release' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRum3y2hh00 It's something I noticed too when I re-watched the Saints v Leeds Cup semi final from 2003. The tackle was much quicker. Now sometimes this leads people to say the game was a better standard 10/15/20+ years ago, which is just plain wrong. And obviously players are fitter and, crucially, conditioned to play RL now which means they've got the energy to put into turning players on their back etc and the energy for 3-4 men to get into tackles regularly. Back in 03/98/whenever they didn't have that conditioning. But I do think it was better to watch.

Re: Diving : Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:47 pm  

The whole ruck area is a farce imo. Laying on, third/4th player flopping after the tackle is completed, turning players on their backs after the tackle is completed, defender pawing at the ball player as he tries to PTB, ball player diving in to defender, ball player staggering forward and pinching yards, ball player pushing defender away etc etc etc. All against the rules I believe and making the game messy and pot luck as regards reffing decisions.

Re: Diving : Fri Feb 27, 2015 7:04 pm  

Striking?????????????

How is a push striking?

Re: Diving : Fri Feb 27, 2015 7:16 pm  

All very true, and I can't see us ever going back to 'quick, clean' p-t-bs (if they ever existed). But there's one modest step in the right direction that could be taken. Most ruck infringement decisions go in the favour of the team in possession, and I don't think that's right. The ball-carriers walk forward off the mark for a pastime, knowing that if the markers stand their ground, it will usually be the markers who are penalised for 'crowding'. And/or, if the ref doesn't penalise the markers, then the ball-payer will often get away with pushing them. Sam Tomkins used to do this all the time. Refs should be a lot more willing to penalise moving off the mark.

Re: Diving : Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:51 pm  

There's a clear advantage to slowing the ruck down. Why Would a defending team allow a quick ptb?

Re: Diving : Sat Feb 28, 2015 6:58 am  

Based on last night: because the opposition would cough the ball up quicker?

Re: Diving : Sat Feb 28, 2015 11:35 am  

not just diving. O'Connor gave bentham a gobful and continued a tirade of abuse. wigan whenever a big decision go against them surround the ref screaming. the only people to stop all this are the refs. get a gobful then yellow card them. every time. it will soon stop

Re: Diving : Sat Feb 28, 2015 11:43 am  

Whatever did happen to marching the players 10 yard/metres for verbals?

One of the best things RL had going for it.

RL is not Mo & Ron Ball's game.

Re: Diving : Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:25 pm  

A few years back I used to marvel at the s*** that NRL refs took from the likes of JT, Robbie Farah, Gallen, and would boast on Aussie forums that they wouldn't get away with it in SL, or they'd be carded. But now, we're just as bad.

Re: Diving : Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:32 pm  

Has this behaviour coincided with tendency for referees to act all pally with the players these days?!