The NRL decided to implement the Gallen rule because the new administration felt it wasn’t a good look for the game. But apparently elbows to the face are not a bad image.
At least in some part, I assume, the decision was made because the NRL doesn’t want mothers to see similar scenes to Origin I and deciding they don’t want their children playing such a brutal sport.
I admit it, I do love seeing a good dust-up in Origin but if the NRL says they have to go, I have to adjust.
I question though why the NRL thinks punch-ups are a bad image but elbows to the face are not.
I am struggling to comprehend how Billy Slater got off without punishment except an on-field penalty.
I simply do not understand how an elbow hitting someone’s face is different to a fist from a punch or a swinging arm in a tackle.
Contrast Slater’s punishment (one solitary penalty) with the farce which ensued a few moments later in which four players were sin-binned.
I agree completely with Trent Merrin and Justin Hodges being binned.
The new rule clearly stated if you threw a punch you would be cooling off in the sheds for 10 minutes.
Merrin, in particular, deserved all he got because he started throwing them unprovoked, he wasn’t pushed off the tackled player, Paul Gallen was.
Hodges too could be clearly seen on replay throwing haymakers.
The farce began when Brent Tate and Greg Bird got sent off.
I can with Tate being binned simply because the ensuing punch-up wouldn’t have happened without his big shove on Gallen, though I would have been equally happy for him to remain on the field.
Why Greg Bird was sent off I have no idea because as far as I could see he wasn’t throwing any punches.
The repercussions of that fight left four in the bin and Trent Merrin got a week on the sidelines.
Whereas Billy Slater, who elbowed Mitchell Pearce in the face, was placed on report and then cleared of any wrongdoing.
As with so many rules in rugby league, they are enforced inconsistently and the new fighting rule is just one of them.
I feel that Slater’s actions were equally as bad as Trent Merrin’s.
If you’re going to send Greg Bird to the sin-bin for trying to break up a fight, not to mention Brent Tate for pushing a bloke, then why not Billy Slater for elbowing a bloke?
Unfortunately, I don’t see anything happening in the future.
The Gallen rule will stand and the next time there is a fight anyone within 10 metres of it will be sweating that they are not the next innocent party to have a breather on the sidelines while incidents like Slater’s continue to go unpunished.
And as a biased Blues fan I feel sure NSW will somehow end up on the wrong side of the rule though I would love to be proved wrong.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Not one Blue in the top 5. Understandable I guess with the players they pick to celebrate in NSW
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Look at Slater's suspension record. He has been suspended 3 or 4 times. Once for like 6 games
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Billy actually has been suspended a few times with multiple missed games actually. The Billy never gets punished notion is a myth
V.O.R.
Guest
Ha, ha... so you conclude that Billy Slater gets off everything because he was rated the most 'marketable' NRL star... that'll do me. No chance that the market likes Billy because of what he represents, that being the essence of success in the market place? This just show's that there exists a small 'mob' of disgruntled and frustrated league fans that are well out of touch. It's a hand over. These angst fueled detractors of Slater have been egged on by a Sydney Centric media in attempt to tarnish one of rugby leagues best attributes on and off the field. Why this is so...who knows.....maybe these people can just be honest about where their true intent comes from? If Billy Slater was born in Sky Blue pyjamas he would be lauded as the second coming to Joey Johns. Get a grip you mob. The rest of the world obviously sees things differently to you.
Luke M
Guest
From today's Telegraph: "Melbourne fullback Billy Slater was rated the most ‘marketable’ NRL star – heading a hot field that includes, in order, Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk and Benji Marshall." This probably explains why Billy gets off on everything.
oikee
Guest
The Sharks are struggling, cant find a sponser to save their life, Gallen seems to be the reason why the Sharks are gone, gone i tell ya. To keep the Sharks is to keep a team on life support. Sooner or later even the doctor tells you it is time. The NRL has to take the game off life support, time for Gallen to retire. Greg Bird for Captain, now.
seven dollers worth
Guest
Get rid of Gallen and the NRL has a chance of survival.
Raugeee
Guest
I whinged like crazy. The whole thing is set up for a 3rd game decider. Before the series started I claimed that NSW would get all the reffing Game 1, likewise QLD would get all the reffing Game 2. Hello? Is that what happened? Game 3 will be reffed fairly and we'll finally get a good tough close Origin. My guess is that Haynes and Archer will ref. They should ref all the games. QLD to win by 6pts. Folks, we are being robbed of viewing our greatest spectacle by greedy business people. If it doesn't stop I'll vote with my feet.
Raugeee
Guest
Is this another version of NSW whinging? Watch replays of the Slater incident. I felt he was unlucky to be even penalised, it was Pearce who should've been. He comes in with an elbow and then continues to lay all over Slater while he's trying to get up for a quick play the ball. Slater flails about and the elbow hits Pearce on the cheek, if he'd gotten off when he should've he wouldn't have been there to be hit. That's just tough Rugby League. Compare that with Merrin's act. Pearce was frustrated that Slater's skills are extraordinary and stopped his feeble attempt at getting the ball in goal. Grow up NSW.
maximillian
Guest
I agree there is a difference between murder & manslaughter but you can be charged with either. The judicial system in the NRL has similar guidelines & you can be charged with reckless/careless acts if there is foul play without intent. I haver no issue with Billy throwing his elbows around when a player is lying on top of him, but if he (accidentally) hits an opposing player in the head causing facial cuts how is he then not charged with recklessness/carelessness?
Conor Hickey
Roar Pro
You're right I can't prove that Billy did it intentionally. A high tackle results in a penalty whether it is accidental or not. You're also right that plenty of players struggle to get out of tackles but I have never seen what Billy did. I feel that in this case intent should not be an issue. He made contact with another player's head with his elbow, accidental or not. NSW did get a penalty but to me it looked a deliberate move from Billy which should have been more harshly penalised.
Marldon
Guest
No The judiciary have a responsibility to judge every incident for what it was and that is exactly what happened. In law, there is a very very big difference between man-slaughter and murder. The difference is intent.
V.O.R.
Guest
This is from a Devout Saint who obviously believes it is normal for players in the State of Origin arena to say sorry to their opposition. Although your idea is amusing it is not the only reason why your logic does not stand up. A question for you. Could it just be possible that Slater did not have real intent to make contact with the elbow to Pearce's head, however having made contact and seeing the obvious displeasure displayed by Pearce, Slater then chose to let him know that it was payback? You can do something by accident but then justify the accident by saying the player deserved it anyway. You are correct in saying one does not need a PHD to apply common sense but a good education can assist one to provide a logical argument.
Devout Saint
Guest
Slater is a dirty player and he has been for a long time. He also continues to get away with things that lesser players would not. Didn't he stamp on a players head while playing the ball early in his career? and people gave him the benefit of the doubt at the time. I remember the time he layed into Nightingale (I think it was Nightingale, if not Beau Scott) while his Melbourne team mates held Nightingale. Watch him closely and you will all see for yourself. He is a very talented footballer, one of the best ever. As for the "One all C***" quote just after he elbowed Pearce. If it was an accident he would have said "sorry" not "One all C***". One does not need someone with a PHD to work that out either. lol
junior
Guest
Well if rules can be made to avoid this for the good of the game. Think the good old days of playing style still looks good with all those punch ups. The game is been weakend by so many rules tgha otherwise keeps the mumentum of teh game going.
damoinaus
Roar Pro
That's a long bow to draw...There's wriggling and milking for a penalty, and then theres deliberate upwards thrusting with your elbow.
V.O.R.
Guest
"Well i’m saying the attention that Gallen receives from you is way, way out of proportion." Time will tell. I'd suggest finding a new hero though.
Renegade
Guest
Hold on you stated that "the attention that Slater is receiving from this mob is way, way out of proportion" Well i'm saying the attention that Gallen receives from you is way, way out of proportion. "You focus on Slater because he is the best, possibly the best fullback ever, and he is not one of yours." I have openly said many times Slater is the best fullback in the game and i can't say he definitely meant the elbow to Pearce.... Now just as easy as you wrote that, i can say "you focus on Gallen because he is the best forward in the world and he is not one of yours". EJ, is correct in saying that you are unable to be objective....the fact that you are calling out someone who makes an allegation that Slater is a grub as a whinger because the supportive facts are subjective is quite odd considering you are going on about Gallen sending Dank text messages and "judgement day" with ZERO supportive evidence (i'll now wait for the copy and paste of a transcript from the daily telegraph as 100% fact)....your either a) a hypocrite which isn't really the type of person who should be talking about moral fibre or b) you need to open your other eye..
V.O.R.
Guest
yer, I went into some detail to show that it is all a beat up to cover Southern inadequacies. If that's all you got to take the shine off this fella, you aint got much.
V.O.R.
Guest
Meninga and Smith simply answered the press questions about the concerns they took to the proper channels. Where is your evidence that any QLD player or management member whinged about a refereeing conspiracy post game in State of Origin 1? This has been a purely Blues phenomena of late led by Captain Gal, Sticky and now Loz.