I don’t even know why they still have tackle counts when nobody tackles anymore. A ‘grapple count’ would be much more suitable, given the fact wrestling appears to be not only the games present, but the game’s future.
Rather than bemoan Chris Sandow’s missed tackle count, Phil Gould and co. can much more accurately discuss his effective wrestle rate, total grapple time per wrestle and average catch count.
My recent article on Craig Bellamy mentioned his introduction of the wrestle and the way the rest of the competition has followed suit.
Just about every fan and commentator of the game recognises it as one of the most negative aspects of the competition, yet few offer suggestions on how to stop it.
And you know why? Because we can’t stop it. It’s just too effective. When a system works so well, no team is ever going to stop using it just for the sake of entertainment.
Rugby league clubs are in the winning business (well, all of them except Parramatta) not just the entertainment business and losing games but gaining kudos is not a viable business model.
However, I feel all hope is not lost. We can’t stop clubs from utilising grapple tactics to slow the play the ball, but we can discourage it.
The games rules need to change to promote one-on-one tackles to combat the wrestle, especially low ones.
When I was learning the game one was taught the best place to tackle was down low. Now, classic rugby league tackles such as these are punished with a quick play the ball.
They should be rewarded instead. Every time a player cuts down an opposition player one-on-one below the waist, the defence should be allowed to be ‘set’, to the referees discretion.
So if a player cuts down his opposition one-on-one with a great low tackle, he is allowed the time to get to his position at marker and all his team mates be ready for the next tackle before his opponent can play the ball, assuming they are in a position to be onside within a reasonable amount of time (I’d say 3-4 seconds depending on situation could be a reasonable time).
Instead of the defence being on the backfoot after a low tackle, they are ready for the next play.
This isn’t the same as a dominant tackle call, although it could work as an extension of it, which doesn’t even seem to get used anyway.
It isn’t just about winning the tackle immediately on impact as the dominant tackle rule is defined; it’s about rewarding any defender who is willing to make a solo tackle, be it bringing a player down from around the ankles or driving in with the shoulder at waist-height.
This ‘set’ call won’t stop the wrestle, but it encourages players to back themselves to make a one-on-one low tackle, as they know it will be just as good if not better than a well-executed four-man grapple.
Due to this, it also encourages more attacking play from the team with the ball in hand – more one-on-one situations create more opportunities to break tackles and more opportunities to offload the ball.
So that’s one of my ideas to start to try and weaken the dominance of the wrestle, what’s yours? Share it in the comments below if you think you’ve got some solutions that can top mine.
Sean
Guest
I reckon that if you are involved in a tackle, you become a marker. So if you have 4 blokes slowing a player down, all 4 must become markers. This would encourage spreading the ball wide, leading to more excitement.
Knight Vision
Guest
I read it, and i agree with some of what your saying, i think another solution may be to lower the interchange, as the big men tire the wrestle will decrease, opening up the game for the little men to weave some magic from unstructured off the cuff play, the type of footy i enjoy to watch.I mean seriously how are guys like Sam Thiaday and George Rose considered athletes ffs. These guys couldnt hack the war of attrition that takes place with a more limited interchange.
Knight Vision
Guest
How do you stop it ? you penalize it. Every time Cameron Smith grabs an opponents foot as he gets up from a tackle to slow the play the ball penalize him. I seriously cannot stand watch the guy play and the Storm for mine are the most boring team to watch.
angry bird
Guest
Thanks mate, I appreciate your support.
angry bird
Guest
I will assume nobody will read this because I myself lost interest after the 1St six or seven comments. Easy fix modelled on the UK superleague. 1. The attacking player has his fwd momentum halted 2. The ref calls "Held!" 3. The tackled player is entitled to "play the ball" 4. If a defending player restricts the attacking players ability to play the ball (after the ref calls held) he is PENALISED 5. If a defending player who is not marker is not behind the 10metres defined by the ref and contributes in any way in the next play he is penalised. 6. Any contact with the head or neck after the ref calls held he is penalised. I for 1 watch Friday night footy to see players poking through gaps to score 70 metre trys, to see big collisions between big dudes pumped up full of testosterone and enthusiasm, slinky, silky side steps, slight of hand and explosive turns of speed to leave defending players gripping at thin air... Not the grapple, please anything but the grapple Quick before I start playing Boggle instead. PLEEEEZe... Just saying...
angry bird
Guest
I will assume nobody will read this because I myself lost interest after the 1St six or seven comments. Easy fix modelled on the UK superleague. 1. The attacking player has his fwd momentum halted 2. The ref calls "Held!" 3. The tackled player is entitled to "play the ball" 4. If a defending player restricts the attacking players ability to play the ball he is PENALISED 5. If a defending player who is not marker is not behind the 10metres defined by the ref and contributes in any way in the next play he is penalised. 6. Any
al
Guest
I agree with Boz (bring back the 5m rule). And also bring back the shoulder charge and less interchanges.
des' right hand
Guest
Were is your solution buddy? All you've done is knock some one who was knocking someone else you one confussed boy. And as a qlder I hope you enjoy watching the finals series this year minus ANY qld teams. Manly 2013! Solution bring back the biff
Andy
Guest
Nothing like beating a bunch of cheats in the grandfinal 40-0.
des' right hand
Guest
Oh you got me there buddy except for starters it wasn't a grand final secondly manly made so many errors any team would of won that game thirdly we didn't cheat the salary cap by 1.3 million dollars and lastly no one will remember the semi finals matey only the grandfinal matters 40-0 against a cheating team in a grand final that's history book status mate biggest winning margin in a grandfinal EVER! So... Next!
Roarsome
Guest
rightly so too. In fact, this should expand to the NRL. Clubs outside of Sydney always have to pay overs to attract players compared to clubs in Sydney. They should be allowed to do so too. Players moving interstate or a substantial distance within a state have to relocate themselves and families and need to be compensated. There are many other industries that pay employees an allowance for such a move. Melbourne, Gold Coast, the Cowboys, Canberra and the Broncos should have this factored in their cap and have access to a larger cap than clubs within the boundaries of Sydney.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Yes a great team , the news corp obey has allowed them to offer juniors more than any other club
peeeko
Roar Guru
I think you may be right Boz
Shrek
Guest
That's a fair point - hadn't actually thought of the cannonball. I agree its dangerous type of tackle but in my view is that's easier to police than a grapple. To be honest, though, I don't actually think the grapple is the real issue. The grapple is really just a symptom of the fact that there's no real reason a defensive team would try to take a player to ground quickly. I'd still love to at least see the above given a trial - you may be right that there's a perverse reaction (something which neither of us have though of) but I think the key to fixing the grapple is to ensure that defenders are properly incentivised to take a player to ground as quickly as possible and / or strongly disincentivised from trying to hold an attacking player upright - which I think this does.
Boz
Guest
With regards to them being different issues...Not really. It is very hard to change one rule in the game without a flow on effect to other aspects. The 10 metre rule has probably caused the biggest change to the way the game has been played since limited tackles were introduced.
Roarsome
Guest
Bring back Super League and let the rabble in Sydney have their own league. Some of you need to realise that the media, fans (meaning $$$) love Melbourne, and all non-Sydney teams because they provide somewhat of a national code and the money to pay the players what they're on across the league. The quality of the Storm provide the best footy the game has seen in years, not because of wrestling, not buying players from other clubs (Souths, Roosters, Dogs) but because of good development programs and structures at the club. I wish my club was more like the Storm.
James d
Guest
Mate if you wanna watch 'non wrestling' rugby league watch super league
maximillian
Guest
Yea fair points about the contests but again I ask, what is the reaction to the contests? If the defenders want to get a tackler to ground that is desperate to stay on his feet the best way to do this IMO is by employing the cannonball tackle. The 1st tacklers try to get the attacker to ground but if it doesn't happen the 2nd or 3rd comes in & attacks the legs to put him down. This is incredibly dangerous & can cause serious injury but would be the best way for the defence to get the outcome they need at the tackle area. We would have potentially fixed the wrestle, but created a new problem with the cannonball.
mushi
Guest
But aren't they different issues? even on the 5 metre rule you are still incentivised to have the line set
Adrian
Guest
Pat I think we would all like to see an end of the wrestle mania. but I cant agree that you allow a team to set its line for a low tackle. In many cases these occur as a desperate tackle on a player who has made a break. You would be penalising an attacking movement by that team losing its momentum. Limit the the number of tacklers t start with with the exception of within the defensive 10 meters.