The misconception that a player has to play the ball with their foot

[LineBall]

Do they?

I wish they would do it more - for sure. There are plenty things the markers do wrong as you pointed out.

 

[OldPanther]

Players are lucky today that the hooker can't hook and the marker can't strike. Weak dogs.

The Hooker can. The props are the ones who get penalised.

 

[TheFrog]

Players are often using the ball as a crutch to stand up, attempting to roll it, then throwing their hands up when it gets fumbled due to a defender trying to clear the ruck.

Someone suggested the marker be allowed to strike for the ball once it is placed on the ground, as was originally the case. That would certainly solve this problem but no doubt create many others.

 

[LineBall]

Someone suggested the marker be allowed to strike for the ball once it is placed on the ground, as was originally the case. That would certainly solve this problem but no doubt create many others.

I think the positives would outweigh the negatives.

 

[adamkungl]

Rugby League rules have tended to streamline, moving away from messy contests for the ball.
Hard to see it going backwards in that regard.

 

[LineBall]

Rugby League rules have tended to streamline, moving away from messy contests for the ball.
Hard to see it going backwards in that regard.

True, but it also has resulted in the game being "dumbed down" IMO. Striking for the ball at marker was an art. You had to pick your time and also pick the right player to try it on. Personally I'd love to see rules come back that would introduce some more variety into the game, such as striking for the ball, and allow stripping in 1 or 2 man tackles.

 

[adamkungl]

True, but it also has resulted in the game being "dumbed down" IMO. Striking for the ball at marker was an art. You had to pick your time and also pick the right player to try it on. Personally I'd love to see rules come back that would introduce some more variety into the game, such as striking for the ball, and allow stripping in 1 or 2 man tackles.

You're right - look at the calls to remove the scrum from countless commentators as well as fans.

Despite the lack of push and fairly loose structure, it provides an opening for a set play. It might not be used every time, not even every game, but it is an opportunity. It was used effectively by the Sharks in the Grand Final.
People would have this stripped away because 'its ugly' failing to understand the valuable place it has in how the game is played.

Eventually if you strip everything away, Rugby League becomes what detractors have always claimed - crash 5 runs into a wall then kick.

Re-introducing those raking and striking though would have a huge effect on how the game is played. Would be interesting to trial in a local comp or something.

 

[Foz]

George Piggins won Souths a comp doing that.

 

[ed-grimley]

Someone suggested the marker be allowed to strike for the ball once it is placed on the ground, as was originally the case. That would certainly solve this problem but no doubt create many others.

They probably had good reason for getting rid of it at the time.

 

[big hit!]

It's probably just me but discussion about this issue bores the tits off me.

As long as the ball rolls to the hooker who cares whether it was a leg or hand that got it there.

People call sport talk back radio like it's crucial to the game of Rugby League.

If you're calling a radio program to talk about that you have serious issues.

same with passing. that's also not crucial. as long as it's not more than a metre forward, then just play on.

mate, if you don't think that the ruck is an integral part of the game, then I have serious concerns about whether you understand the game. It's getting out of hand, and defences will soon find ways to make the ruck even more of a mess than it is now in an attempt to further slow down play.

 

[big hit!]

True, but it also has resulted in the game being "dumbed down" IMO. Striking for the ball at marker was an art. You had to pick your time and also pick the right player to try it on. Personally I'd love to see rules come back that would introduce some more variety into the game, such as striking for the ball, and allow stripping in 1 or 2 man tackles.

agree about variety but allowing stripping would severely affect the amount of offloads in general play