Rules and laws of games are made so that the game being played is fair. Simple? Well, it should be, but not so in the NRL it seems.
There are serial pests playing the game whose sole object appears to be to advantage their team by persistent rule infractions designed to disadvantage the opposition or force referees to make – or, just as importantly, not make – a penalty call.
Were referees to penalise these serial pests, the whistle wouldn’t stop for 80 minutes in NRL games when certain teams play.
Any spectator of any NRL game knows who they are. And it must be said that the refs are very, very, tolerant and lenient on these serial offenders. Too tolerant and lenient by far, in my opinion.
Readers know only too well the sheer frustration of watching the same players, week after annoying week, violating with rule infractions over and over.
Hand on the ball in the play the ball, lifting the foot of the tackled player while returning onside, loses the use of his arms in a tackle and lays all over the tackled player, debates every refereeing decision, and a thousand and one other things no-one has even considered yet.
Were a player in the NFL to infringe rules at such a rate as NRL serial pests, he simply wouldn’t have a job as a player. Period.
NFL coaches come down hard on players who do not consistently play within the laws of the game.
Not so in the NRL though.
It is an historical relic and technique that has become an accepted part of NRL play, and is perhaps even sanctioned by some NRL coaches.
The NRL would do well to introduce a ‘persistent infractions’ law that would enable refs to blow the whistle on these game-spoiling pests, and send them to 10 minutes in an isolation booth in full view of all spectators.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
rofl
Mals
Guest
Haha that's gold!
Dr NRL
Roar Rookie
Some coaches will always have players bend rules and create new slowing tactics, figuring the rewards outweigh the repercussions. Let's call that coach 'Craig'. Other coaches will haul their player off the field if they stop to fling their hands in the air for an obstruction, because they realise it could lead to a try and not a penalty. Let's call that coach 'Michael'.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Bring back the SIN BIN! Just keep chucking them in there.....Once they are playing regularly with 10 men against 12 they will soon work out and adjust.
Vivalasvegan
Guest
When I played as a kid, the ref was called Sir and his word was the law. No one spoke to him but the captain and no one challenged a call because it was pointless, it involved a march downfield and a furious coach. Lets get back to zero tolerance for disrespect. Lets stop calling the players by their names and use numbers. Lets stop coaching them about offsides and and scrums etc. I know he has his detractors but contrast Cam Smith's conduct with Hayne last night. He is a great captain.
NickF
Guest
I like the article Bazzio, but I want some names. Ennis is definitely No.1, other would include Issac Luke and Anthony Watmough. Beau Ryan gets pretty lippy, Beau Scott likes to rub faces, Jonothan Thurstan is in the refs ear all game marching around like an angry ant, Jarryd Waerea Hargreaves is always there just doing what he does, and Justin Hodges is a dog, or is it a cat, maybe both.
Needsome
Guest
In an effort to keep the game moving , they ignore most of these small irritants eg whens the last time you saw a penalty for offside when the attacking team is less than 20 metres out...However the game might move but speactators continue to bleat. Penalties counts under 10 are the norm whereas 20-30 used to be the case...
Wildman From Borneo
Guest
You are kidding if you think Coach's will stop these pests! If anything, some Coach's encourage these serial pests to do just what they do! The Referee's have to begin to have some self respect and self belief and simply refuse to be spoken to by any player other than the Captain. Any player that mouths off to the Ref who isn't a Captain should be simply penalised! The serial pests should also be penalised out of the game until they get their act together. The Manly team the other night against Souths were disgusting continually mouthing off to the Ref but he took it and I would say, it eventually swayed some of his decisions. Referee's have to rule with power, discretion and fairness. They have enough on their plate without having to answer whinging and whining footballers all day!
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Mod's pic choice oikee. #1 pest is mEnnis imo I don't think penalties are the total answer though. Until players are coached and contracted to play by the spirit and rules of the game, nothing will change.
oikee
Guest
Oh and P.S Bazzio, nice touch with the picture you have used with your post. Serial pest number one. Maybe not, but fast becoming one while his team staggers around like a pub team on holidays. I am starting to feel sorry for Ricky, which is not right.
oikee
Guest
You wont get any love on here while the refs reward these serial pests. Until the refs stop pandering to these nuisenses and awarding them a penalty for looking at them or putting the hands in the air, you wont get any love. Running from dummy half into a player, holding his arm so he cant get up, walking around with his arms in the air. Then kicking out like a fish out of water when he gets tackled, only for the ref to give him penalties. What chance have we got, as a game to penalise these wrong doers when the ones in charge, the refs, give them penalties for milking. We have too many refs who have not got a clue. They kill the contest, they have no feel for the game, and they take too much notice of these players and feel they need to obey their gestures and hands in the air attitude. They all need to be retrained, until then, we will have to suffer these con artists.