Anyone else seeing this as a major problem at the moment?

There is no consistantcy in the decision, and it seems coaches are coaching their players to squeeze the oppositions arms to get them to drop the ball. Is a punched ball in a tackle a loose carry?

And another thing, when a player is tackled and drops the ball backwards, the ref gives a knock on and scrum down, surely this should be an incorrect play the ball and penalty?

Yes very grey area, think its a bit of a lottery which decision the ref goes with, as half the time he may be unsighted and don't know if the half witted linesmen help him come to the right one. Like u said a lot of the time the ball clearly goes backwards but he gives a knock 90% of the time, saw one in tonites game clearly backwards, very frustrating.

How about that forward pass from Riddell

So blatant.

didn't you read the thread title flower?

Could not be botherd to start another thread



Mind you it's normal for Wigan to get away with forward passes like that. We are good at Wakey for picking them up

said to mate at time it was a union pass

The knock on or ball steal thing is becoming a major source of frustration amongst both players and supporters.

Reference forward passes in last nights televised game, Wigan must have thrown at least 3 or 4 blatent ones missed by the officials.

The whole things need tidying up, its all been brought on by the "wrestling tackle" wheres the defense slows the game right down. You can get 4 pairs of hands around the rugby ball and the ref has to make a decision whose hands dropped the ball or reaped it out. This is very difficult I would suggest quicker play the balls to eliminate some of the grey area.

The forward passes, I would think half the time the officials don,t see them because of other players being in the way of the line of sight, its the spectators that probably have the better viewpoint from the stands even if we are 50metres away.

I,m sure the touch judges need to do more especially on the referees blind side, but Mr Cummings will always come up with some negative response.

It also seems like anytime the ball hits the floor the referee gives a knock on, even when the ball goes back.

I would say in some situations id call a 'ball steal' others not so

simple soloution stringent reworking of the stripping ball in the tackle. if more than one person is in the tackle and the ball is lost pen attacker. simples. this will lead to a reduction in the wrestle tackle and therefore a quicker play the ball.

Erm, so what's to stop the attacker throwing the ball away (or, more likely, losing grip on the ball) as soon as a second man comes in?