Weird Rulings...

[rabbitohs95]

So as a league nut I try and watch as much footy as I can from whatever period of time I can.

Just came across the 1991 World Club Challenge (Wigan vs Panthers) and got reminded of a very weird rule you could do back in the days.

Play the ball to yourself.

It was a cool little tactic designed for smarter players, one of which instances was when Brad Fittler got tackled just short of the line, played it to himself and then dived over for a try.

My main question is, when did this rule become ousted? Or should I say, when did the players stop using this tactic?

 

[unforgiven]

So as a league nut I try and watch as much footy as I can from whatever period of time I can.

Just came across the 1991 World Club Challenge (Wigan vs Panthers) and got reminded of a very weird rule you could do back in the days.

Play the ball to yourself.

It was a cool little tactic designed for smarter players, one of which instances was when Brad Fittler got tackled just short of the line, played it to himself and then dived over for a try.

My main question is, when did this rule become ousted? Or should I say, when did the players stop using this tactic?

Playing the ball forward was banned in 1997, the same year that the defending player at marker was also banned from striking at the ball.

 

[undertaker]

The one I used to hate was if the ball was still moving in the in-goal and you touched it with one foot over the dead ball line, you got a 20m restart. I can't remember when this rule was introduced and removed, but Thank God the NRL got rid of that, as it completely robs the kicker of a good kick which either forces the player on the other team to either make a play at the ball (if it holds up in-goal) or touch it dead for a line drop-out.

The most famous moment involving this rule was Paul Carige in the 1998 Preliminary Final, which led to a line drop-out and gave the Bulldogs one more chance at victory in the final minute of regulation time because the ball had stopped when he touched the ball:


Likewise, a team getting a penalty from the half-way line after one of their players catch a kickoff with one foot out of the field of play should be scrapped too. If you do it on the dead-ball line, it should be a line drop-out and if on the sideline, a scrum. Kicks that are positioned in a way that forces the opposition to play at the ball should be rewarded.

 

[blocka]

only used to be able to play it to yourself if there were no markers

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Ah...the old 'toeing ahead'.

I remember Gus Gould once said they took all these little rules out - toeing ahead, striking at the ball - held over from the era of unlimited tackle.

All it did was take the unpredictability out of the game. The things coaches couldn't coach against. Things that livened up a game. Some coaches would be fked if unpredictable stuff like this could still happen. And shit clubs would still have canny, wily, cheeky players who'd try it on.

 

[TheVelourFog]

Need to get rid of scrums, they are pointless in this day and age

 

[no name]

Ah...the old 'toeing ahead'.

I remember Gus Gould once said they took all these little rules out - toeing ahead, striking at the ball - held over from the era of unlimited tackle.

All it did was take the unpredictability out of the game. The things coaches couldn't coach against. Things that livened up a game. Some coaches would be fked if unpredictable stuff like this could still happen. And shit clubs would still have canny, wily, cheeky players who'd try it on.

When these rules were changed, it effectively made the ruck a 'no contest'.
Each ruck was a contest for the ball, hence two markers and striking allowed.

 

[Captain Apollo]

The one I used to hate was if the ball was still moving in the in-goal and you touched it with one foot over the dead ball line, you got a 20m restart. I can't remember when this rule was introduced and removed, but Thank God the NRL got rid of that, as it completely robs the kicker of a good kick which either forces the player on the other team to either make a play at the ball (if it holds up in-goal) or touch it dead for a line drop-out..

The rule had been in the rule book for decades, it just took a long time for people to cotton on to it.

 

[BrisbaneRhino]

Coaches likes these changes because it made their life easier. Same with changes to the rules around stripping the ball in the tackle.

The game is 'cleaner' but we've lost some unpredictability, which I miss, and I think the game is poorer for it.

 

[myrrh ken]

Never could quite get how the rake back rule was adjudicated. Only backdoor and boxhead could get away with it with regularity.

You can't even contest scrums nowadays.

 

[macnaz]

It was easy.. u could rake the ball once it was on the ground. Provided u were standing square and not touching the player.
It was just those 2 mentioned were good at doing it.

 

[macnaz]

Anyway i dont find them weird rulings , they were in the rule book. The refs TODAY are the ones using weird rulings and making shit up " or interpreting " for a better word.

 

[Frank Discussion]

Striking in the ruck was a mess. Every play the ball had blokes kicking out trying to get the ball. I'm glad they got rid of it.

 

[T-Boon]

This is where SouthWalesRabbitoh will come in and suggest continuous live rugby rucks.

 

[axl rose]

What play it forward rule said Bill. Whats Hollywood up to these days anyway, is he still on Gladiators

 

[Hawkins]

LOL, playing the ball yourself.

I'm sure a few of the boys still do that

 

[This Year?]

So as a league nut I try and watch as much footy as I can from whatever period of time I can.

Just came across the 1991 World Club Challenge (Wigan vs Panthers) and got reminded of a very weird rule you could do back in the days.

Play the ball to yourself.

It was a cool little tactic designed for smarter players, one of which instances was when Brad Fittler got tackled just short of the line, played it to himself and then dived over for a try.

My main question is, when did this rule become ousted? Or should I say, when did the players stop using this tactic?

If players passing to themselves like the Tony Williams one was allowed then playing the ball to yourself should be allowed too.

 

[myrrh ken]

And shit clubs would still have canny, wily, cheeky players who'd try it on.

Now we just have merkins staying down or flopping around to milk a penalty or passing the ball straight into offside players. Progress.

 

[ed-grimley]

Coaches likes these changes because it made their life easier. Same with changes to the rules around stripping the ball in the tackle.

The game is 'cleaner' but we've lost some unpredictability, which I miss, and I think the game is poorer for it.

Refs supply the unpredictability these days.

 

[OVP]

This is where SouthWalesRabbitoh will come in and suggest continuous live rugby rucks.

No he'll come in and say rugby league needs to go 11 a side. Thats all he says.

I used to love the tap ahead rule and the competing for the ball in the ruck. Too many rule changes these days.