We have just watched a finals game with the Roosters facing the Rabbitohs.
It was a bruising and torrid match. These two teams have the biggest dislike for each other of all rivalries. It was always going to be a grudge match with the players and coaches.
So, everyone involved in the game would have known what could happen if the players were allowed to be let loose, if they were not restrained and knew what the consequences would be if they went too far.
This has happened throughout the season where certain players decided to take things into their own hands with elbow to heads, grappling tackles and being overzealous in tackles.
On occasion no action has been taken by the judiciary which has lead to certain players believing that they are bigger than the game itself.
So, who really needs to take responsibility more than others? Is it the refs, the players? Is it the coaches?
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
What about the judiciary, or is it the NRL themselves?
People will have their own perspective as who is to blame, whereas I want to provide an objective perspective.
With regards to the refs they have an already tough enough job like all the officials, trying to make the right calls so they are not influencing the game in a negative way.
They will get some calls wrong which will always happen as long as they are not influencing the outcome, so they need to be fully respected.
They are also influenced by the NRL and the judiciary as well at times by the much-dreaded bunker. They know that any mistake means that everyone is all over it, especially the bunker, which leads to less confidence for the man in the middle.
What about the players and coaches, then?
The coaches are the ones who make the decisions about the team tactics and how best to use certain players, this includes who is best for physicality on an opposition player.
The Roosters chose Jared Waerea-Hargreaves again and everyone could see his mentality was to go overboard. He was reckless and had no thought about player safety, in fact the opposite with his smiling and intimidation of a player who he had just injured.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Tom Burgess are two others who play on the borderline and are prepared to cross it.
The players themselves know the laws and how far they can go before actions and sanctions can take place, but certain ones are prepared for ramifications as long as they can intimidate the opposition.
Players and coaches might need re-education and also personally see first hand the damage that HIA injuries cause.
The NRL has been insipid and lacked transparency about HIAs, other injuries and what serious action they should be taking to fix this and other issues in the game. They need to show genuine leadership and work closely with clubs and supporters to understand the feelings that are going around.
What about the biggest impact that this can create?
Parents who have children who want to play the game, the potential players of the future, naturally put their children’s welfare first and foremost. Seeing this behaviour may encourage the parents to steer them to a different sport.
It would be great to hear from Roarers about your own views on the matters raised.
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Admiral Ackbar
Guest
It's no surprise that the best performed team in the NRL era (Melbourne Storm) is one of only two teams (soon to be three) that came in after Super League ended. Even the Broncos aren't what they used to be - I just discovered that their highest average regular season attendance was in 1993 for God's sake!!!
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Great post Cadfael, you are right as the refs do need to take some responsibility also. For me they are the escape goats when others set the standard for them, and each ref has a different interpretation of the laws. You are spot on as the bunker should only be used for tries including forward passes, everything else they should not be involved. There are plenty of areas that the NRL need to address, The talk a lot without the necessary actions to back it up. And thank you for your honest reply… :thumbup:
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Tim, it would be a combination of all of ther above. Coaches have their players go around the chest and shoulders to stop the quick play the ball and to gove the defence time to set. Unfortunately with one around the chest asecond around the shoulders, what's left: the neck and head. Here the referees are at fault the rules state a high tackle is the neck and/or head. Rarely policed unless a player stays down in the tackle. Referees are very loathe to send a player off preferring the easy way out of a report and maybe a sin bin. Do referees not send players off because of adverse media attention or are there instructions that the NRL wants 13 a side as this is "what the fans want". Referees need to go back and referee the game as per the rule book and they need the support of their touchies. Can't even call them the Bengal Lancers because they never come in anyway. The judiciary. Fining players for foul play was never a good idea. To use JWH, he's on about $700,00 a season so he cops a $1800 fine for foul play. Whoop de doo. What happened last week did come down to the judiciary. If players are hit high then give them a holiday. Both JWH and Burgess' tackles should have been penalised with a four week holiday. In days gone bye could you imagine their punishments under Jim Comans? The bunker. When this was first looked at with ice hockey, this was the version the NRL wanted. However they were told that in the NHL it was only used for goal scoring not general play and the MNRL should follow suit with this. They haven't and look at the mess we have. On the bunker, is there any reason why they can't rule on forward passes in try scoring situations? Union has had this for years and it works.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Great post Snowy, you are bang on with everything! :happy: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Adam
Roar Guru
Well said snowy. Absolutely with you
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Under 11’s, under good coaching teams, tackle how they should tackle, as in-stop the opposition without smashing the opposition. Good young referees, good support people (the NSWRL is doing a decent job around the grass roots of the great game) good parents and carers who don’t want to see their kids getting injured and don’t want to see other kids on other teams get injured…I see good tough footy being played in the parks. Of course there are injuries because it’s the physical contact sport of the world. First grade rugby league should be the BEST of the rest, not the most dangerous, nasty, spiteful, overly aggressive, poor sportsmanship spectacle in the world. The money spinners might have it right and that’s the kind of game the punters want to watch…the nrl obviously think so… the media moguls and advertisers and gambling conglomerates must think so, but I don’t think so. Stupid me for wanting to watch skilful, tough, strategic, well-coached Rugby League games played by men and women who respect the ideals of good sportsmanship, who are in peak physical condition, who are competitive and aggressive without purposely breaking the rules of the game and without looking for ways to get around the rules. Dirty deeds done on the paddock are cheap shots, called into being by coaches who are complicit in whatever dog acts are perpetrated by their charges.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:thumbup:
SPM
Roar Rookie
Just makes sense to do a percentage so a million dollar player feels it the same as a 200k a year player. Because they a both as capable as each other of a high shot deliberate or accidental
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Good point SPM, as the media are also certainly responsible. For example overstating the hate between clubs.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I agree with where you are coming from SPM, fines could go into grassroots for an example. But fines need to represent the level of the sanction, somebody like Hargreaves could have a fine of 40% of his wages for the game.
SPM
Roar Rookie
It was also coaches who introduced all the wrestling in tackles which IMV has lead to more players being held up by one or two defenders while a second and third come in to knock them into next week while they can’t protect them selves in most cases. The high tackles are usually poor technique and usually big fatigued guys which is what the NRL wanted (fatigue that is not the high shots) in reducing the interchange occasionally these high shots have intent/malice which are the ones that are the ones you can and should eradicate from the game with harsher penalties. Additionally the ref could call held faster, players to stop walking of the mark when held and defenders penalised for all the facials and rubbish in the ruck but let’s get rid of the high shots first then move on to that stuff.
SPM
Roar Rookie
Fines need to be a percentage of salary of the player and must be paid by the player not third parties and if a club does this the salary cap is lowered by twice the amount for that year and the next.
SPM
Roar Rookie
Tim :thumbup: :thumbup: It not one group or another it’s all.. The NRL, the refs, the bunker, the coaches and the player’s. The one group you should or could also include in the NRL media who are the one group who probably benefit out of the events of a game like last Sunday.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Hi there Dutski, very appreciated. I was thinking about what is happening now and what is needed going forward, that is where only positive change can happen if everyone is onboard. Unfortunately the NRL are not reading from the same page as the supporters, there needs to be big changes going into next season.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Nice one Tim
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Very appreciated Pomoz… I apologise as I did not read Barry with his article, so had no idea that he covered this already. It was purely from my own personal perspective on the current issues in the game :thumbup: You are totally correct as it starts with and ends with the NRL, as they are not progressing the game the way it should be. The bunker and reset of 6 rule is leading the game down the wrong path also, the game needs to be stripped back and made simpler.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Well said Pomoz… :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Thank you Snowy, and appreciate your thoughts. You are totally correct with your very honest and truthful response. Many are beyond frustrated now which is totally understandable, without the supporters there is no League. The supporters are continually being put on the back burner with no consideration of how we all feel, this starts at the very top down unfortunately.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Well said Tim, good article. It stands side by side with the Barry's also excellent article. We have to fix this. The answer to "who is responsible" is twofold. Firstly it is the NRL leadership team headed by the CEO and chairman. They have responsibility for the safety of the players and for the future of the game. They have the power to make the changes needed to improve the safety aspects of the game. Secondly, the players, coaches and referees also have a responsibility. They have to take HIA more seriously. Right now, some of them don't give a stuff. Some of them still hold onto the mantra that not playing on is "weak" and letting the team down. The thugs, you know who you are, still dish out head shots for fun knowing a fine means nothing. Ultimately, a fish rots from its head. Its up to the NRL leadership to take control and protect the players from their own toughness and in some cases their stupidity.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
G Money, there is no need to stop tackling, but we do need to stop bad tackling. The force of the head hit on Tedesco was the problem. If Tom hadn't swung his arm like a bouncer in "Jacksons on George" there wouldnt have been the problem. He could have made the tackle without making a blow that would have staggered Tyson. Same for Milne. Suaalii was going nowhere, the swinging arm was just a terrible tackle technique. Nothing to do with the ball, forward progress or anything game related. The game can do without this and will still be the toughest team sport on the planet.