Does anyone have an email address for Robert Finch ? Or a copy of the rules ? I want to clarify a ruling from the Roosters v Manly game.
Obviously the ruling in question did not effect the result. The Roosters were always going to win by plenty after a dream first 40 minutes.
However, I think it is an important ruling that gets missed too often and one day it will change a big match.
The ruling in question relates to the Roosters try straight after half time.
After making his long break, Ryan Cross was 25m out from Manly's line when he threw a long pass towards Justin Hodges.
Quite clearly, Cross threw the ball backwards, but because of the momentum Cross had, the ball "floated" forward relative to the ground, ending up about 21m out from Manly's line (I've checked the replay).
Had Hodges caught the ball, it would have been play on, try under the posts, no forward pass, no problem.
However, Hodges didn't catch the ball. The pass from Cross hit the deck and it is my understanding that as soon as it did, it was a KNOCK-ON because it landed in front of the point where Cross had passed it from. My understanding is that Knock-on's are absolute. There is no allowance for a ball "floating forward" when it comes to knock-ons.
There was a similar incident last season in the Bulldogs v Panthers game at Penrith involving Adam Perry and Ben Harris. In that case, Harrigan called it back as a forward pass, although I think the correct ruling should have been knock-on.
If my understanding of the rules is correct, then I think the Ref's need to be reminded of this one before a big game is ruined by a dud decision.
Obviously the ruling in question did not effect the result. The Roosters were always going to win by plenty after a dream first 40 minutes.
However, I think it is an important ruling that gets missed too often and one day it will change a big match.
The ruling in question relates to the Roosters try straight after half time.
After making his long break, Ryan Cross was 25m out from Manly's line when he threw a long pass towards Justin Hodges.
Quite clearly, Cross threw the ball backwards, but because of the momentum Cross had, the ball "floated" forward relative to the ground, ending up about 21m out from Manly's line (I've checked the replay).
Had Hodges caught the ball, it would have been play on, try under the posts, no forward pass, no problem.
However, Hodges didn't catch the ball. The pass from Cross hit the deck and it is my understanding that as soon as it did, it was a KNOCK-ON because it landed in front of the point where Cross had passed it from. My understanding is that Knock-on's are absolute. There is no allowance for a ball "floating forward" when it comes to knock-ons.
There was a similar incident last season in the Bulldogs v Panthers game at Penrith involving Adam Perry and Ben Harris. In that case, Harrigan called it back as a forward pass, although I think the correct ruling should have been knock-on.
If my understanding of the rules is correct, then I think the Ref's need to be reminded of this one before a big game is ruined by a dud decision.
