The thing that really irks me about this is how outspoken Ricky Stewart has been on this issue and how hypocritical he has been in recent times when he needed a win and his sides have benefitted from it. When Shane Wlaker did it against Rossters he called him every name under the sun and questioned his integrity. Walker is the only player I have heard admit to taking a dive (he cracked gags about suffering from ADD and post-traumatic stress). When it happened in Roosters v Parra and NSW Ricky turns the thing on its head and says "Cayless is tough. Kennedy is tough"> That is not in question, but it is also not the point. The fact is there is an advantage to be gained by teams by doing it, so they will. The LEague has to immediately reign in the practice. If a referee does not penalise, and a player stays down, the penalty sghould only be given for a most serious act of undetected foul play, not technical high tackles like the Kennedy incident, and to a lesser extent the Morrison one. The rpractice began when players were losing the ball in tackles where they were hit by illegal tackles missed by the ref. It has changed now to the point where players are staying down if they think there is any chance of a penalty. The purpose and intent of the rule has been subverted completely. I have lost a lot of respect for Ricky, who I admire a lot, over his hypocrisy. I have defended his parochialism and his passion in speaking out about issues - but if he is only going to do so in self interest he will lose me completely.
