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Ever since the introduction of the four tackle rule, the eight tackle rule, and the current six tackle rule, the ‘bomb’ has been used by teams that cannot crack the defence near the try line.
Perfected by the likes of John Peard and John Dorahy, the bomb – formerly called an ‘up and under’ – became the attacking weapon of choice in an era when attacking time and options were lost due to limiting of possession.
It remains in use today, very much for the same reasons.
Current sports commentators refer to it as a lottery: when a team decides to use the bomb, they are rolling the dice.
If it is a gamble, then who has the most favourable odds?
My contention is that a bomb contested by the attacking side fouls the defending player’s attempt to catch the ball, often resulting in a call of ‘knock-on’.
The attacking players, meanwhile, only have to get their hands somewhere into the contest, and “lady luck” does the rest.
But there is rarely, if ever, any such ‘luck’ for the defending side.
If the ball is not caught cleanly by the defender, the attackers are there in numbers to pick up the ball, score, or get six more tackles. Whereas the defenders cannot crowd into the same area in order to defend without exposing their portion of the try line against that possibility.
And if the defender does cleanly catch the ball in the field of play, he is often monstered back in goal. So by regaining possession, the defending team loses it by way of a goal-line dropout.
To me, this is not a fair contest – it is heavily weighted against defenders.
In my opinion, a solution would be a rule change so that any bomb contested by the attacking side that comes down within 10 metres of the defenders’ try line cannot be called a knock-on against the defender.
Interference can be called against the attacker if he doesn’t either secure possession or pass/bat the ball to his support players.
That way, there is equal advantage and disadvantage to both sides if the ball is dropped during the contest.
Also, a successfully caught contested bomb by a defending player in that same zone should lead to a 20 metre tap restart. That way, there is less disadvantage if a bomb is defused just near the try line.
Finally, bombs that come down in-goal should be contested by only one player from each side, and any ball dropped during such contest should be ruled a knock-on or interference against the attacking side.
What do you think Roarers? Does this finally even up the odds on a fifth tackle bomb?
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