: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:03 pm
Dirty Pretty Thing wrote:
My issue with the Webb "try" is that while technically correct, this is the first time I've seen it given. As mentioned on Boots & All last night, Hanley and Edwards must have scored dozens of tries between them doing the same thing.
Also, if Webb was judged offside shouldn't teams be penalised every time teams put in a long kick?
There is no issue he was offside.
When teams put in a long kick in any player in front is offside, when the oposition player catches the ball he must be given 10 metres by the players in front of the kick, if the person who kicked the ball runs in front of the players who was offside he puts them all onside, this is seen and heard (By the ref shouting give him 10) all the time.
Offside at the play the ball is completetly different to a kick. Had Webb not got involved in the play the try would have stood, a player cannot stand offside then get involved in play without making an effort to get onside. for webb to touch the ball he would have needed to run back at least inline with the PTB.
Imagine rugby league without this rule, whilst in attack you could have 3 or 4 players standing in the defensive line waiting for the break then follwing up for an instant 2 on 1 against the fullback. Saints and Leeds are the best two teams at supporting players after a break we flood through and score. By not enforcing this rule slow and lazy teams would have the advantage and the need for speed would be reduced.
I can remember especially Edwards doing this not so much Hanley. When Edwards did it though he often stood around the PTB or just the side of it, he would then step back onside as the ball was played. Webb was almost in the bulls defensive line.
