Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Tue Dec 02, 2014 3:03 pm  

I'd like to see the existing rules properly applied & observed before we add/change them.
Make players play the ball with the foot, it's not so difficult now that the opponent cannot strike for the ball.
We have some prime culprits, JP is arguably the biggest offender.

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Fri Dec 12, 2014 3:21 pm  

Not a new rule, but I'd like to see the red card for attacks/punches to the head being properly used.
There have been many times this year where red cards were (IMO) correctly given for punches to the head, but there were also occasions where red cards were not given out for this offence (for example Paul Wood vs Pettybourne; sorry it's the first example that came to mind). This is a 'rule' that should be followed consistently, and at the moment, the rulings on the field aren't consistent.

I'd also like a rule to clear up the fine margin between ball steal and loose carry, because at the moment the rule isn't clear enough to provide any real consistency.

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Fri Dec 12, 2014 4:07 pm  

What about if the attacking team scores a try from a play ball from within their own half it would be worth an extra point so not including kick returns or interceptions.

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:38 pm  

JWarriors wrote:

Not a new rule, but I'd like to see the red card for attacks/punches to the head being properly used.
There have been many times this year where red cards were (IMO) correctly given for punches to the head, but there were also occasions where red cards were not given out for this offence (for example Paul Wood vs Pettybourne; sorry it's the first example that came to mind). This is a 'rule' that should be followed consistently, and at the moment, the rulings on the field aren't consistent.

I'd also like a rule to clear up the fine margin between ball steal and loose carry, because at the moment the rule isn't clear enough to provide any real consistency.

For me the red card for punching should be dependent on the severity of the incident, not just a blanket application. If the players are both going at each other I think a sin bin is perfectly reasonable. If one player is in a vulnerable position (Flower on Hohaia, Radford on Bailey etc) then I'd be happy for a red.
I think there are other issues such as cannonball tackles, spear tackles and the twisting of limbs in tackles that deserve a red far more than a couple of props getting a bit carried away.

As for the ball steal/loose carry, the rule is very clear, it's just incredibly difficult for the ref to see what's happened and so is effectively taking a guess as to what happened, mostly based on how the ball comes out.
The consistency could be helped by 2 refs but other than doing away with the ball steal rule altogether (not a realistic proposition) then there's always going to be a problem with the refs seeing what happens.

I'd far rather the refs concentrate on applying the offside and moving off the mark rules properly and consistently, as I believe they're much easier for the officials to see.

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:21 pm  

Him wrote:

For me the red card for punching should be dependent on the severity of the incident, not just a blanket application. If the players are both going at each other I think a sin bin is perfectly reasonable. If one player is in a vulnerable position (Flower on Hohaia, Radford on Bailey etc) then I'd be happy for a red.
I think there are other issues such as cannonball tackles, spear tackles and the twisting of limbs in tackles that deserve a red far more than a couple of props getting a bit carried away.

As for the ball steal/loose carry, the rule is very clear, it's just incredibly difficult for the ref to see what's happened and so is effectively taking a guess as to what happened, mostly based on how the ball comes out.
The consistency could be helped by 2 refs but other than doing away with the ball steal rule altogether (not a realistic proposition) then there's always going to be a problem with the refs seeing what happens.

I'd far rather the refs concentrate on applying the offside and moving off the mark rules properly and consistently, as I believe they're much easier for the officials to see.

Yeah after coming back and reading what I wrote, you give a fair assessment on both my points. Especially the one for punching.
The only rule I don't understand is the punishment for retaliation. I mean if a big guy is laying into you on a rugby field, what are you supposed to do? Let him hit you without defending yourself?

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:30 pm  

if you're held up over the try line I'd like to see it being a turn over. rewarding the defending team for doing there job better than the attacker.

I also kind of like the idea that a knock on would be any dropped ball, whether its forward or backwards. it would certainly help ref's get knock ons right for a change.

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Sat Dec 13, 2014 8:08 pm  

JWarriors wrote:

Yeah after coming back and reading what I wrote, you give a fair assessment on both my points. Especially the one for punching.
The only rule I don't understand is the punishment for retaliation. I mean if a big guy is laying into you on a rugby field, what are you supposed to do? Let him hit you without defending yourself?

Yeah I agree on retaliation. It's a bug bear of mine where a fight is started and the ref just sin bins both regardless of what happened. As you say if someone punches you are you supposed to just stand there and ask them to stop?

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:35 pm  

Him wrote:

Yeah I agree on retaliation. It's a bug bear of mine where a fight is started and the ref just sin bins both regardless of what happened. As you say if someone punches you are you supposed to just stand there and ask them to stop?

Well as Jamie Peacock found out this season, if someone sticks the forearm and then the head into your face while you're on the floor, you're not allowed to take a swing at him in retaliation.

Personally, I'd make any contact with the head with either a swinging arm or a closed hand a straight red.

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Sun Dec 14, 2014 6:33 pm  

Him wrote:

Yeah I agree on retaliation. It's a bug bear of mine where a fight is started and the ref just sin bins both regardless of what happened. As you say if someone punches you are you supposed to just stand there and ask them to stop?

i personally don't mind the state of origin mentality when it comes to fisticuffs

i would allow 2 players to trade blows but the moment any other players got involved in the fracas then the key instigators of a mass brawl would be sent off,imo rl is getting far too tame and soft

rugby league is a full on contact sport between gladiators and some fisticuffs should be tolerated

Re: rules that you think would improve our game : Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:37 am  

I think fighting's about as well covered as it can be. I wouldn't like the laws tightened further, neither would I like to see the game descend into anarchy. In today's game, although there is still the occasional flare-up, there is no longer the once-common situation of two teams hell-bent on inflicting some pretty serious thuggery on one another. That'll do for me.
As for changes I would like to see:
abolition of the video ref (top of the heap by a country mile for me)
no tries to be scored from passes that hit the deck