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Commission to outlaw 'shoulder charge'

Should the Shoulder Charge be banned?


  • Total voters
    346

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
And to make matters worse this RLIF ruling apparently means that NO competition anywhere in the world can have shoulder charges anymore. It doesn't just apply to international games, but to ALL games. So the Super League will also be banning them. As will the CRL (in fact they have officially done so as of this week also).

Wait, so the ARL can make up rules as they see fit, independent of the RLIF.

But the RLIF makes a rule and everyone has to obey?
 
Messages
14,139
Apparently.

The international laws of the game will be changed to include a ban on shoulder charges. Now, not all competitions play to the EXACT letter of the international laws. In fact the NRL is a prime example. But when it comes to a matter of infringement I'm not sure there is any scope for any competition to ignore the ban. Some competitions play under different rules, like interchange rules, but to have different rules on foul play is not likely to happen.

The ridiculous thing about this situation (sorry, not THE ridiculous thing, but ANOTHER ridiculous thing) is that the main reasoning behind other leagues falling into line and playing by the ARLC rules is because their precedent has actually created a legal threat. It would be easier for legal action to be successful against a league that didn't ban the shoulder charge BECAUSE the ARLC banned it from the NRL. So the imaginary legal threat these morons dreamed up to justify this decision has actualy created a legal footing that did not exist, and forced governing bodies to follow suit against their will. It's diabolical in its stupidity.
 

Quidgybo

Bench
Messages
3,052
After almost a full round, I say no. Even with the ban there's been plenty of big, even spectacular hits, particularly in the Rabbits vs Roosters game. And the referees aren't over officiating it, letting go anything that's merely borderline. Storm in a teacup.

Leigh.
 

Danish

Referee
Messages
31,835
It is not being missed because it is not being penalised. Graham flattened Idris with a massive shoulder yesterday and the refs smartly left it alone.

Would have like to have seen the burgess/Williams collision though if SBW were actually allowed to hit burgess as hard as burgess was trying to hit him. Line drop outs and kick offs were basically a free 20-25m across all games as defenders were simply not able to throw themselves into stopping the ball runner, allowing them to grab cheap yards after the hit.
 
Messages
14,139
They marketers will miss it when they go to create promos and they realise the thing that took up about 30% of RL ads in the past no longer exists. Have a look at the highlights videos from the last WC. It was almost all shoulder charges. Only one sport in the world would ban one of its most exciting and marketable elements.
 

Patorick

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
8,985
Shoulder charge is yesterday's news.

It's all about the "Chest Charge" now.

Keep an eye out for it.
 

Charlie124

First Grade
Messages
8,509
So far so good, i was afraid of it being over-officiated but after 7 games and quite a few "borderline" ones being let go im happy.

Ive got to give a huge wrap to Anderson and everyone else involved with the changes to the rules and "cleaning up" of the refereeing this season so far. I know its still very early days but i think the reffing has been 100 times better than last year, the video ref is being used like it was intended to be used and is no longer a complete lottery. The pocket ref is being used like it should be instead of 50-50 split its more like 80-20 to the more experienced ref. Even the new focus on the hand on the ball in the ruck has been good without being over the top. Its amazing how much of a difference its made not having Hollywood/Finch in charge anymore, games have flowed more and refs arent being so overly technical in their officiating, letting a lot of things go that would have been pulled up in previous years.
 

chrisD

Coach
Messages
13,454
They're not penalising it. One penalised off the ball.

Players have toned it down a bit, and yes it's been missed. Has been some good contact in the Souths/Roosters and Panthers/Raiders game that would have been epic if the Stains weren't a bunch of soft f**kwits and the league not gutless.
 

Liddell

Juniors
Messages
2,175
Would have like to have seen the burgess/Williams collision though if SBW were actually allowed to hit burgess as hard as burgess was trying to hit him. Line drop outs and kick offs were basically a free 20-25m across all games as defenders were simply not able to throw themselves into stopping the ball runner, allowing them to grab cheap yards after the hit.

It's not like the shoulder charge is the only way to stop yourself being run over.
 
Last edited:

chrisD

Coach
Messages
13,454
It's not like the shoulder charge is the only to to stop yourself being run over.

Yeah, options are;

1) Head to hip area.
2) The 10m escort play.
3) Running away.
4) Standing and trying to brace without your shoulder, and getting Burgessed.
 

Danish

Referee
Messages
31,835
It's not like the shoulder charge is the only way to stop yourself being run over.


Its the only way to do so without giving up yards or a quick play the ball.

Given you can't hit the as hard as they are trying to hit the only options now are passive ones, as seen by every line drop out hit up making massive metres this weekend. Props know they can go full Martin Lang this year without fear of being knocked senseless.
 

Clarke

Juniors
Messages
471
It is not being missed because it is not being penalised. Graham flattened Idris with a massive shoulder yesterday and the refs smartly left it alone.

Incorrect. But thats not your fault.

I knew this would happen as soon as I hear the "Shoulder charge" was banned. The ARLC should of worded it better. But as of now, what is a official shoulder charge is banned. This definition of a shoulder charge is completely different to the fans.

basically, you are allowed to shoulder charge as long as you make some attempt to use the arms. The refs have been refereeing it really well. That is now a shoulder charge.

The fans definition and the old definition of the players and coaches was is now what is a shoulder tackle. Aka, a shoulder charge with the use of arms.
 

Usain Bolt

Bench
Messages
3,728
People get over it. Same thing happened in the NFL with the whole hitting defenseless receivers rule, people moaned about it and now everyone's used to it
 

anjado

Juniors
Messages
1,092
As others have said it hasn't been enforced really,there were at least 5-6 shoulder charges i saw on the weekend let go. The referee's know it was stupid to ban it so aren't enforcing the rule.

Once a coach begins to whinge that one was missed or the rules are followed to the absolute strictest letter of the law probably during an international. We will see a really soft penalty and people will complain the game has gone soft etc.
 

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