K.i.s.s.

[Fibroman]

The last 5-10 years has seen our game become more and more complex. With the introduction of wrestling coaches and the video referee, in my opinion, the control of the ruck and how the ruck is refereed, has spoilt rugby league.

I think we need to simplify the game. The video ref gets half the calls wrong anyway, so just get rid of them. Invest in better quality linemen instead.

In the ruck. Get the ref to count to 3 and if the tacklers are still lying all over the player blow up a penalty. We might need to go back to a 5 metre rule to compensate for the faster speed of the play the ball?

Something needs to be done to fix it. We need to keep it simple.

 

[Dogs Of War]

The video ref has it's place, I guarantee the pressure on ref's without it would see it return so quickly it's not funny. Just rework it, so we have captains challenges or something of the sort to reduce the instances where it's used.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

I'm not a fan of the 5m rle. Plaers have become too fit and qick over 80 minutes for that. Nobody would ever get passed the advantage line. Imagine trying to work the ball out of your own twenty with a 5m rule.

What about changing markers into roamers?

Instead of markers having to stand directly in front of the tackled player and behind each other they should be allowed to roam free between the ruck and the defensive line. To prevent them from ambushing the dummy half/kickers they aren't allowed to come forward passed the ruck until the defensive line has put them onside or until the ball runner has passed ruck. They can move sideways and backwards but not forward.

This rule would in theory.

1. Reduce dummy half running.
2. Force the ball to be moved further from the ruck as it will be easier to protect the centre of the field and won't have as many line breaks created simply because the ref calls a player out from marker.
3. Reduce the amount of penalties/attempted milking of penalties because a marker is a fraction to the right or left or goes a fraction too early.
4. Bring back the art of tackling around the legs as all the tacklers have to do is get back on their side of the ruck rather than get up and be perfectly straight, something which is almost impossible if tackling around the legs.
5. Give referees less to worry about at the ruck and makes it harder for them to find penalties. It would also give them a clearer view of the ruck if markers are off to the side a bit or standing deeper, or wherever they're roaming.

Skilled dummy halves would still be able to make metres and exploit roamers/markers and there'd still be plenty of metres to be made up the middle, but it would actually require some skill/talent to achieve.

Some rule changes should be obvious.

Reduce the video ref, especially during normal play.
The seperation rule drives me crazy too. A player should have control or some sort of owndership on the ball to claim a try. A pinky finger sliding along the edge is ridiculous imo.

 

[Fibroman]

I'm not a fan of the 5m rle. Plaers have become too fit and qick over 80 minutes for that. Nobody would ever get passed the advantage line. Imagine trying to work the ball out of your own twenty with a 5m rule.

What about changing markers into roamers?

Instead of markers having to stand directly in front of the tackled player and behind each other they should be allowed to roam free between the ruck and the defensive line. To prevent them from ambushing the dummy half/kickers they aren't allowed to come forward passed the ruck until the defensive line has put them onside or until the ball runner has passed ruck. They can move sideways and backwards but not forward.

This rule would in theory.

1. Reduce dummy half running.
2. Force the ball to be moved further from the ruck as it will be easier to protect the centre of the field and won't have as many line breaks created simply because the ref calls a player out from marker.
3. Reduce the amount of penalties/attempted milking of penalties because a marker is a fraction to the right or left or goes a fraction too early.
4. Bring back the art of tackling around the legs as all the tacklers have to do is get back on their side of the ruck rather than get up and be perfectly straight, something which is almost impossible if tackling around the legs.
5. Give referees less to worry about at the ruck and makes it harder for them to find penalties. It would also give them a clearer view of the ruck if markers are off to the side a bit or standing deeper, or wherever they're roaming.

Skilled dummy halves would still be able to make metres and exploit roamers/markers and there'd still be plenty of metres to be made up the middle, but it would actually require some skill/talent to achieve.

Some rule changes should be obvious.

Reduce the video ref, especially during normal play.
The seperation rule drives me crazy too. A player should have control or some sort of owndership on the ball to claim a try. A pinky finger sliding along the edge is ridiculous imo.

I think you might be onto something with the markers situation.

Markers rarely remain square until the ball is free of the ruck anyway. Allowing the markers to stand apart will probably see the wrestle in the tackle removed, which would be good for the game.

I think some simple rule changes in the ruck area are needed.

We need less penalties and less scums. There are too many stoppages in the game.

 

[RLS]

A great idea, the only hard part would be for the ref to know who the markers are and who is running back onside, but the linesman could help with that.
You could also rule 1 dummyhalf run per 6 in your own half.

 

[Fibroman]

Maybe only allowed to run from dummy half in your own 40?

 

[Eels Dude]

The last 5-10 years has seen our game become more and more complex. With the introduction of wrestling coaches and the video referee, in my opinion, the control of the ruck and how the ruck is refereed, has spoilt rugby league.

I think we need to simplify the game. The video ref gets half the calls wrong anyway, so just get rid of them. Invest in better quality linemen instead.

In the ruck. Get the ref to count to 3 and if the tacklers are still lying all over the player blow up a penalty. We might need to go back to a 5 metre rule to compensate for the faster speed of the play the ball?

Something needs to be done to fix it. We need to keep it simple.

I agree.

It especially makes a difference for the referees because they have so much to keep an eye on that not only do they make mistakes, but the players know that they can get away with that little bit more.

I'm sick of this dominant tackle, movement stuff. I still think we need a video ref, but only for grounding of the ball and for contests of the ball. And they certainly shouldn't be allowed to award penalties... if a player is a foot offside in a try scoring situation, it's a penalty, yet if that happens in a non try scoring situation the ref is not going to blow the whistle.

 

[Fibroman]

Interesting little segment on the Sunday Footy Show this morning when Ron Massey said refereeing was a big problem in the game.

It doesn't only happen to my team. i see alot of results being determined by bad calls at crucial times in the game by referees.

We need less penalties. Some infringements should just result in a turnover of possession and no substantial territorial advantage by way of kick for sideline.

It really is rafferty's rules at the moment.

I've had a gutful.

 

[Dogs Of War]

I agree with that part. Some penalties like not being straight at marker, should just be a quick tap instead.