Well JC, I think any player found guilty of diving should be suspended. There first needs to be proof of course but anything that stamps it out of the game has my vote. I like Danish's and Quidgybo's suggestions as well.
It's nothing new, unfortunately. But does seem to have been on the increase over the last 5 years or so.
Uncertainty over `diving
ANTONY STEWART
June 16th, 2007
FAIR OR FOUL ... Paul Gallen attracted criticism for staying down after being hit high during last Monday's clash against the Dragons. A Dragons player was later penalised.
JUST try to picture it.
There is two minutes to go in the grand final, the Cowboys are leading by one point, right in front of their own posts and working the ball out of their own 20m zone.
Then, as Matt Bowen takes a dart out of dummy-half, the force of the tackle from Melbourne defender Dallas Johnson causes the fullback to stay down.
As per the NRL's slight modifications to refereeing interpretations this week, which attempts to prevent players feigning injury to acquire a video referee-spotted penalty, Bowen must give up the ball so a teammate can play the ball 5m to his left.
However in his legitimately groggy state Bowen doesn't hand over the pill as quickly as he probably should.
This puts referee Paul Simpkins in a difficult situation.
He's left wondering: "Is Bowen actually hurt or just trying to waste time in an effort to ensure North Queensland claim the premiership?"
If Simpkins decides on the latter then he now must penalise the Cowboys for time wasting.
It's not a change to the interpretation but the newly announced strict enforcement of the existing rule following a spate of actor-type penalties in the middle of the season.
As a result, Storm hooker Cameron Smith lines up a shot and kicks the penalty goal that hands Melbourne the NRL crown for 2007.
OK, so this is a pretty extreme example and it probably will never happen but the fact is it could.
The whole `faking injury to allow the video referee to have a look and get a penalty' thing has been around for a while, but it has probably never received more attention then when Cronulla's Paul Gallen clearly `took a dive' last Monday.
It led to the NRL putting out a media release outlining some modifications to the rules to act as a `disincentive for players feigning injury'.
But if anything, the grand final example from above proves that no matter what rules are put in place, there is always going to be a grey area that is going to lead to controversy.
If Simpkins doesn't award the penalty and Bowen was indeed faking then the Storm cry foul after the match and say he cost them a premiership.
Alternatively, if he does and Bowen ends up spending the night in hospital, North Queensland have just as a legitimate right to cry foul and Simpkins once again cops the blame.
Leaving it up to the referee to decide on a potentially match-turning penalty based on whether one player is a better actor than another just is not fair on the man in the middle.
So perhaps the blame should not be pointed at the ref in those situations.
The responsibility should be totally on the shoulders of the players.
If someone wants to stay down, that's fine ? it's gamesmanship and you don't want to lose that or you will risk turning rugby league into a game played by robots.
But if they choose to do it, they should be the ones to cop the ramifications ? the media scrutiny and public disgust ? and the potential lifelong reputation that accompanies it.
If that happens you will soon find `diving' becoming a thing of the past and we can all get back to enjoying real footy.
http://www.cowboysstampede.com.au/showthread.php?4008-League-Lines-Uncertainty-over-diving-(16Jun07)
