Re: TV games (not Wire) : Mon Feb 27, 2023 4:04 pm  

No i never mentioned a red and i don't think it was a red but IMO he should have been in the bin for 10 minutes. Some head shots last season saw 3 game bans, no questions, in fact pretty sure we got a similar ban extended for a frivolous appeal, so it will be interesting to see if there is consistency in this sort of decision making.

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Mon Feb 27, 2023 4:18 pm  

CW8 wrote:

No i wvwr mentioned a red and i don't think it was a red but IMO he should have been in the bin for 10 minutes. Some head shots last season saw 3 game bans, no questions, in fact pretty sure we got a similar ban extended for a frivolous appeal, so it will be interesting to see if there is consistency in this sort of decision making.

Important to note that the RFL in conjunction with IMG have looked at that and are using fines instead of bans for most minor incidents this year. I suspect bans will be few and far between for normal players this year and head contact is no longer an automatic card or ban either. Players with bad rep sheets might have more of an issue however, but that is their own fault. The fines look pretty significant too really, £250 for a minor incident, £500 and £1000+ have been mentioned too. That will encourage players to behave more than a 1-3 game ban based on their previous behaviour I'd suggest.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Mon Feb 27, 2023 4:46 pm  

how long before we hear RL is a poor sport, we're not wealthy and fining players who aren't on a kings ransom will be another reason that puts junior players off.

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Mon Feb 27, 2023 5:24 pm  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

how long before we hear RL is a poor sport, we're not wealthy and fining players who aren't on a kings ransom will be another reason that puts junior players off.

IMG apparantly putting huge pressure on them to have the best players playing and not sat in the stands, which I can understand.

They should start tracking it.

Welsby - Grade A 0 matches / £0 fine
Wardle - Grade B 0 matches / £250 fine
Taufua - Grade B 0 matches / £250 fine
Farrell - Grade B 0 matches / £250 fine
Austin - Grade A 0 matches / £0 fine
Taylor - Grade C 1 match / £0 fine
Minchella - Grade A 0 matches / £0 fine
Smithies - Grade B 0 matches / £250 fine
Ackers - Grade A 0 matches / £0 fine
Hughes - Grade A 0 matches / £250 fine
Amone - Grade B 0 matches / £250 fine

All of those players listed above would have had bans last season, probably 1-2 games. So already they've probably saved half a season worth of rugby combined already.

The RFL Christmas party is going to be FIIIIIRRRRRRREEEEEEEE though. Vegas for a fortnight I've heard. Then Bali for a week of rehab.

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Mon Feb 27, 2023 5:30 pm  

So only that dastardly swine Scott Taylor banned so far. Hopefully it stays like this and we see a better product on the field because of it. Any serious foul play can still be dealt with properly, it doesn't prevent that.

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Mon Feb 27, 2023 5:45 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Important to note that the RFL in conjunction with IMG have looked at that and are using fines instead of bans for most minor incidents this year. I suspect bans will be few and far between for normal players this year and head contact is no longer an automatic card or ban either. Players with bad rep sheets might have more of an issue however, but that is their own fault. The fines look pretty significant too really, £250 for a minor incident, £500 and £1000+ have been mentioned too. That will encourage players to behave more than a 1-3 game ban based on their previous behaviour I'd suggest.

For a similar challenge last year Oliver Holmes got 3 matches. We contested ut and he got an extra match!

I'm sort of glad they have changed tact in their approach to this, but I have absolutely no faith that it will be administered consistently. Also if a player gets concussion don't they have to sit out for 12 days? With zero chance of a ban for a high shot expect a few dubious head contacts where teams play each other twice in quick succession, cup games, playoffs etc, that surely has to be discouraged? I'm all for the new concussion protocols by the way but whoever caused the concussion should miss out for the same spell, if not a game more.

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Mon Feb 27, 2023 8:06 pm  

I suppose some of the thinking behind this is that clubs could be disadvantaged on match days through HIA protocols & there is a need to keep squads as viable as possible in a sport that isn't really blessed ,to start with, with large playing squads.

But, woe betide the player who verbally offends the lug holes of an opponent or referee.

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Mon Feb 27, 2023 11:31 pm  

CW8 wrote:

For a similar challenge last year Oliver Holmes got 3 matches. We contested ut and he got an extra match!

I'm sort of glad they have changed tact in their approach to this, but I have absolutely no faith that it will be administered consistently. Also if a player gets concussion don't they have to sit out for 12 days? With zero chance of a ban for a high shot expect a few dubious head contacts where teams play each other twice in quick succession, cup games, playoffs etc, that surely has to be discouraged? I'm all for the new concussion protocols by the way but whoever caused the concussion should miss out for the same spell, if not a game more.

They can hand out bans and I'm sure they would if they suspect a player was deliberately looking to injure a player's head. But the option to assasinate a team's star players in that scenario has always been there. Never been anything stopping you sending your fringe players you don't need on a head hunting spree or two. I guess Terry Newton was the only player thick enough to make it entirely obvious though.

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Tue Feb 28, 2023 11:58 am  

You would think that in these days of head injuries & permanent damage that can be caused that the RFL would work on re-educating tackling techniques to players throughout the game.
There is totally no need for tackling above elbow height. Let's get back to the exciting days of round the leg tackling which has been sacrificed on the altar of shutting down plays & creating turgid games.

Re: TV games (not Wire) : Tue Feb 28, 2023 4:03 pm  

There is too much high contact - shoulder then head - these days.
I don't want to see the best players sent off BUT there has to be a duty of care - and I have to say it's looking like RU are taking a stronger position on this..
Personally I would have been more satisfied with a penalty try and a yellow card for the Welsby offence, but it is what it is.
I'm still not clear whether both punishments are allowed for the one offence.

Clearly there is a different emphasis this year compared to last when many players were sent off for high tackles - or ajudged high tackles.

Just watched the replay of the Leeds v Wton play off match (Briers and the 40m drop goal in the 78th minute to win at Headingly) and I'm glad to say that we don't see as many haymakers these days (how Rob Burrow escaped with his head still attached to his neck is beyond me).

On a separate note - watching that game just shows what a talent Briers was. His kicking was sublime.