It frustrates me when we charge down. In a percentage of gains & losses regarding possession it will show we give the ball back more often then not. This obviously leads to more defending and more energy sapping. I can think of just three in recent years where we have scored from them them. Leeds in CC Final 09, St Helens 09 or 10 M Monaghan & at Magic Weekend this year v saints from a Wilkin kick.

I love it, it's akin to not taking an easy 2 and going for the try.



I like it, it's exciting.

I do sigh when we try this and it doesn't come off. I don't see the point in risking it unless we have a team pinned down in their own half.

Do you think it would be a positive move to change the rules - so that a charge down does not result in the tackle count being reset?

I'm 50/50 on this, a charge down is not just about getting the ball back there and then, it's about affecting the quality of the kick, and having Matty Smith thinking he has to rush each kick to get it away cleanly. On the other hand, absorbing an extra 18 tackles to a good side will be difficult....

My pet hate. Stop doing it!!!! We were just about to get the ball, then we chargedown, Wigan get another set of six leaving them close to our line, they then pin us in our in-goal area. Drop out and another set of six to defend. It's energy draining and it gives the opposition more time to get into the game.

I think we charged down four kicks and got another deflected out of play that was played at; all five instances were negatives for us and gave Wigan a new set of six. I think that is what set the pattern of the game morsel than anything else. Wigan played well but we also has them plays to do so with the charge downs.

It puts pressure on the kickers and makes the opposition work harder to get the kicks away, as Wigan to their credit did last night. Overall I think it's a positive and definitely adds to the excitement and shows we have confidence in our ability to hold out if the bounce of the ball goes against us!

I like the fact we attempt charge downs.

Nothing annoys me more than when an opposition kicker has all the time in the world to get a kick away and we end up defending a scrum from a 40/20 kick or goal line drop out.

There is a difference between putting pressure on the kicker and attempting a chargedown

i used to like this when we first started doing it, i can't think of one that we've recovered any time recently, now it's ing me off.

I'm in the 'keep doing it' camp, just.



Wigan's kicking game was fairly poor yesterday, in part I believe due to the pressure that was being put on them. Of course, Bentham found a couple of 'chargedowns' yesterday that never were.

Hull FC at home this season



kicking on 3 & 4, i really believe they did this because of our chargedown antics

A charge down shouldn't imo return the tackle count back to zero it penalises the defensive team only attempted and failedinterception should return the count to zero or a failed ball steal kicking the ball at a player shouldn't return it unless its intentionally played at by a hand imo

Weren't there supposed to be some changes made relating to charge downs for this season that would benefit the team that tried it ?

Maybe an ideal rule would be if the attacking team regain, instead of getting a repeat 6, they just get one tackle again, there's a reward of such for the defense in that they don't get punished with a full 6 but not as much benefit for the attack.

If you kick on 1,2,3 or 4 and get charged down you still would only get one more tackle if you regain.



If you get charged down a second time same set, it's a handover in attacking team regain again.

I belive they did trial a new rule or it was mentioned in the off season that it didnt revert to six again.

I am actually. Well, I think I am.



Nothing annoys me more than when someone like Danny McGuire gets closed down, he steps and essentially taps the ball against an opposing player and jumps on it, getting the reset. I can see why the rule is there, but for me it just rewards poor attack and punishes industry.

A rule change is needed I think. It was trialled in a couple of pre season games so could be a possibility next season.

Its logical in relation to the general rules of the game, but we want players to be encouraged to keep intensity high.

The very fact this thread has started means that the average results of a charge down is of debatable.



I always want my players to charge down, because it makes the opposition work harder and, if they're doing it, it shows they got a determined mentality imo.

Well I would be interested to see the stats, but what would you estimate ? perhaps one in three or four charge downs are successful for the defending side ? Yes, that means you are 'in the faces' of the opposition, but unfortunately your players will be working harder - they will be defending another set most of the time. So for me, they do need to adjust the rules to prevent the attacking side getting an 'easy' return of the ball at the expense of a more aggressive and adventurous defending side.

This.



I think that aggressive defending is an important part of the game as it builds intensity and surely there is enough 'room' in the game for example in the tackle count to balance risk and reward for both teams?



Until there is a rethink, although it didn't come off on Monday for example I think we should still go for it and press, as it shows intent and that we are a team that are willing to back themselves

Good thread this. I don't see why the kicking side should get another set of six because they are the ones who have not set themselves up into a position of space and time to get a good kick away. The defensive side have worked hard and are then punished for the charge down with a reset of the tackle count.

Heard this subject discussed (briefly) on RL Extra a couple of weeks ago. The conclusion from a couple of players along with Stuart Cummins was that the tackle count shouldn't be restarted. Apparently it has been raised as a possible rule change for next year. Despite one in every four or five (at best) of our charge-down attempts not coming off, we still persist with it. It's a demonstration that we are prepared to accept the consequences and back it up with working harder for each other. Still frustrating though as the tactic rarely pays off.

Change the rule. We are a handling game not a kicking game and chargedowns should not be seen as a low percentage play.