Banning the biff has been like a wet cement sign to a toddler. That cement has had several fists imprinted into it since the order came down from on high that punching another human in the head was perhaps a tad barbaric.
It’s almost as if being told not to do it made it impossible to resist.
Parramatta’s Mitchell Allgood is the latest to test the resolve of the powers that be at Rugby League Central.
The Eels prop has been hit with a grade three striking charge after lashing out at Manly centre Steve Matai on Monday night at Brookvale Oval.
He’ll get two matches if he takes the early guilty plea and three if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary.
The penalty could’ve been harsher, but the swinging arm that preceded the punch actually hit his own player. The match review committee couldn’t really charge him with friendly fire.
Grading a punch is an interesting concept.
It opens up the possibility that one punch is better or worse than another.
But isn’t the intention of every flying first the same?
The match review committee should consider separating punches from the ‘striking’ category and with it lose the ability to grade them.
A punch is a punch and every strike deserves the same punishment. The only thing that wouldn’t fit would be king-hits.
An instant sin-bin obviously isn’t proving to be a big enough deterrent.
There has been a long and loud outcry against the crackdown on the biff. How could administrators possibly limit a player’s ability to belt an opponent in the head? The game has gone mad!
No… no it hasn’t.
To say banning the biff is ruining the game is to sell the code extremely short.
It earned a billion dollar television deal because it is the perfect mix of toughness and finesse.
Rugby league is built on legal, yet brutal tackles and hit-ups, the amazing skills of players like Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston and the acrobatics of wingers who wouldn’t look out of place on a circus high-wire.
Do people really watch the game to see two players throw wild haymakers?
On most occasions the punches have been in retaliation to what we’re told is niggle from the opposition.
You can only referee against that to a certain extent.
The whistleblowers have played their part for not taking stronger action before situations escalate, but punches are the wrong response to a situation.
The inevitable sin-bin costs the team during a game and in the weeks that follow.
There is no upside to throwing one.
John Steinholtz
Guest
No, its actually quite easy to understand. My original post summed things up quite nicely and doesn't need further explanation.
Liatrevlis
Guest
Matai jumped at the tools fist, in a couple of weeks that same tool will be jumping back at several "fists" wait n see ,,, bet the cat comes down with a mystery virus ,,, can't wait for round 2
Anakin
Guest
+ 1
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The question isn't about the merits of the biff, it is about perceptions and the growth of the sport. The administrators of League, or any sport for that matter, need to look at what is best for the long term prospects of the sport, regardless of their own personal preferences. Posters need to ask not whether or not they believe in the biff, but whether the impact of the biff on young families' willingness to have their children engaged in the sport (either as participants or spectators) is negative or positive. This is the question the administrators have to answer, and it should be the basis upon which their answers are judged.
Johnno
Guest
origin steve. The Biff is what origin, was built on or the promise of a biff and big should recharges. No biff, and no shoulder charge, no origin as an exciting product. The "purity" of it just being 2 states NSW/QLD doesn't sell, you need the biff. That all in a few years ago, Mark Geyer and wally lewis, chief harragon and Marty Bella, Benny elias and steve boxed walters going hammer and tongs is what origin has always been marketed on in the 80's and 90's, and 2000's.
Red Rooster
Guest
The comments by Gallen and Bird in todays SMH are a disgrace. If these two blokes carry on like this its time Loz stepped in and reminded them who makes the rules around here. He should let them know in no uncertain terms that if they get Bin time in the 3rd game and NSW lose then they will leave the game in disgrace. I dont want to see our NSW Captain giving this bad advice to his players. If we need a role model as Captain look at Cameron Smith.
Conor Hickey
Roar Pro
I can't remember where I read this but apparently a survey of Ice Hockey fans revealed, from memory, 50% go just to see a fight. Having said that I go to the footy to see a good match though to be honest if there is a fight it certainly spices things up a bit. Not a bad idea about punching though, 10 in the bin automatically and one week for every punch thrown which connects.
Hoy
Roar Guru
The way it was wasn't working. Hence Gallen not being binned for some pretty blatant one way punching.
oldcodger
Guest
You cant stop punches been thrown. Its done in the heat of the moment. The most punches that a Thrown are cream puff punches The most damage done to Players are Stiff Arms Knees in the Back. Head high Hits.
steve b
Roar Guru
Hoy I don't think anyone goes to the footy to see if a couple are going to be thrown , but the knee jerk reaction from the powers to be is an overkill let the judiciary be the ones to hand down the punishment and leave it the way it was .
Hoy
Roar Guru
Old mate at the Roosters got let off the other day because his punch had no force in it. Can you follow that? He punched for all to see, but because his lawyer argued it was a glancing blow, and the legislation or law or whatever it is says a strike has to have "force", he got off. Biggest joke that isn't funny. I don't understand why people want to see punchs in a game of football. I would rather see good football.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Steve +1 Let the refs make the decision and put them on report,Let the judiciary deternine the length of time on the sidelines. This is the 3,000,789 thread on the biff.Yawnn!!!!!!!!!!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yes, do gooders are clearly bad and do badders are clearly good. It's a very confusing world we live in.
Steve
Guest
Jeez, can we ban punching this dead horse on Roar for a start? Same article again and again. I guess it's good bait for a lot of fighting in the comments section, but I'm off to read something that isn't regurgitated flame bait.
Do Gooder
Guest
Well for a start MMA and boxing are sports which allow for punches to be thrown. On your second point War is not sport and if we could just "ban" it then I am sure we would live in a much nicer world. In ice hockey when punches are thrown you usually get 5 mins in the penalty box. So with that I am not sure what your trying to say. I think the rugby league admin is heading in the right direction. I want to watch rugby league and not thugby league. This is a tough aggressive sport as it is. We dont need to see punches thrown in games. Players need to show some discipline and not lash out if refs are missing things like a bit of niggling. Play to the whistle fellas.
John Steinholtz
Guest
Let's ban MMA and boxing first. Those involve far more "punching of another human in the head." In fact, here's a crazy idea if you really want to go after violence in the world, why not ban war. That would really be a step against barbarism. Of course, going after the occasional fisticuffs in league, ice hockey, and other team sports are a much easier target for the do gooders.