: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:01 am  

Massive hit and a fair one at that. so good i even heard the old ladie next door house to me shout "GET DOWN!!!!" when he connected!!. class

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:04 am  

alanpdodd wrote:

Does this new ducking rule allow Burrows to have his head taken off time and time again as it's Burrows fault for ducking?

Sorry, but if your normal technique for evading tackles is to duck low, then you're regularly bringing your head into the region of the tackler's arm.

It's far more difficult for the referee to call a head-shot if the point of contact is actually at waist-height.

I'd agree that this is open to exploitation by those who routinely go for the head, but by the same token, to have every tackle of this sort penalised is also open for exploitation by the likes of Rob Burrow who always ducks because he's so short.

I wouldn't say that it's entirely Burrow's fault for ducking. But if he wants to cop it less round the chops, perhaps he should duck a little less.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:08 am  

I've watched it a few times now, and would tend to agree with what has been said - it was perfectly legal and Fa'as did have his head down so Bailey probably doesnt deserve a ban.

I cant agree that it was a "good" hit though - a man running in and connecting his shoulder with the other players head could easily snap his neck; so it is something that the RFL need to keep an eye on before it spirals out of control and more players use it as a legitimate tackling technique (as these things tend to do).

[Sadfish]

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:33 am  

ChrisA wrote:

He put the shoulder in, collisions happen and it wasn't intentional.

I hate Bailey as much as anyone, but it was nothing more than a shoulder hit.

Quit whining.

is right.

in this case Bailey is innocent.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:39 am  

Great tackle completely legal.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:26 am  

nowt wrong with it imo.

start banning those hits and we may as well play tick and pass, or tag rugby

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:42 am  

"Rugby League - Its Not For Girls"

Was a great hit

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:42 am  

Sadfish wrote:

is right.

in this case Bailey is innocent.

Which is a rare thing in itself

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:47 am  

Slightly OT but what about Cunningham's tackle on Burgess shortly after the Bailey incident? I may be wrong but was that not a grapple tackle? - there was definitely intent to 'attack the head'

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:48 pm  

The shoulder barge tackle for me is a lazy tackle and are rarely executed one on one but normally by the 2nd or 3rd man in. Poor technique and lazy footwork are good bedfellows with this type of tackle. Baileys barge was legal by the rule book though.