My only argument with that is for dangerous play – such a tip tackle or a punch etc. I think that should be a red card and off regardless of time or circumstance. But a second yellow card is too minor an offence to have such a major impact on the game.

I can see what you’re saying whydoncha, but with a higher likelihood of second yellow cards being given late in the second half, most would be an effective red card anyway. But I definitely get your point – and it should make players think about infringing twice… But then a red card should have the same effect and it didn’t seem to for Pili-Gaitau…

Funnily enough, both my companions at the Brisbane City v North Harbour game commented on the presentation of the players fairly regularly and suggested a straight yellow card for poor sock maintenance…

Very well said Well. Rugby lends itself to a very subjective interpretation of the rules and the game can hinge on how a referee interprets the breakdown or the ruck etc. I think one of the joys or rugby is that players have to adapt to how each different official runs the game, and that in a tournament (for example) the best teams have to change how they play dependant on the ref in each round.

I’m almost certain that England would have lost the 2003 RWC Final as they were getting pinged in the scrum every time, until the worlds most capped prop Jason Leonard was brought on and scrummaged how the referee wanted them to. England stopped giving away silly penalties and maintained possession.

The complexity in the laws allow for this and I think the best teams are those that can adapt best.

Ye I’m afraid I have to agree with Daffyd here Ken, the cynical fouls are the ones are the very definition of intentional. Deliberately slowing down play by standing in an offside position etc.

But at the same time, I do agree with you. Traditionally rugby got by fine with no sin bins or anything for cynical fouls, but the game has moved on now, and is faster than every and lends itself to players deliberately slowing plays down to benefit the defence that is struggling with the speed of the attacks.

I think the sin bin has helped remove the more blatant cynical fouls and is certainly not ruining the game. But that’s just my opinion, and I value what you’re saying Ken in that 15v15 is a purer and more even contest. I also get what you’re saying with the 22m penalty, I can see that working under normal scoring rules. It’s an easy 3 points and hurts teams where it should – on the scoreboard.

I also agree with what you say about the red card being reserved for dirty play only. Couldn’t agree more. However I do think this works well with the sin bin arrangements.

Ye I like that Brady -Arland. Cynical play is worthy of a sin bin – particularly when it slows the game down – but the finality of a send off should be limited to serious foul play where either player safety is under threat or it brings the game into disrepute.

Rt, I thought both of his yellows were pretty soft to be honest, but I didn’t get a clear look at the first one. And the ref was certainly unsure about it all wasn’t he. It took a while for him to actually confirm the red and I think he instinctively reached for the yellow without thinking about it being his second. Which incidentally, I agree with. The situation shouldn’t matter as long as he is consistent.

I do agree that the flourishing of yellows won’t happen at Super or International rugby level – at least for a while yet – but I don’t whole agree it doesn’t help the players prepare. They would still (in theory) get penalised at the upper levels, so learning not to infringe at the breakdown is no bad thing.

Also I heard that some of the new NRC rules will be implemented in another competition as a trial? I forget which one, but that might mean that they get pushed up even further in the future. In which case they are well prepared. Also the game is still the same – the rule changes are tweeks, not enough to totally change the dynamic of the sport.

Ye that seems like a great idea Daffyd,

And a friend of mine posted something on Facebook with similar concerning the next score – allowing the player/players to return as per ice hockey.

You’re right, the penalty decision would be made very difficult, even if it were worth 3 not 2 as in the NRC…

That would work perfectly AndyS – I was just going with the apparent trend of adding cards that is happening around the world of sport at the moment! Also I guess it would clearly communicate to the crowd that it was the players second yellow

(although in the NRC game I referenced I think half the crowd were aware of it being the players second yellow about 30 seconds before the referee was so perhaps that wouldn’t be necessary! A knowledgeable lot down at Ballymore…)

Potentially a little complex… some of the ideas further down are good, where there is a sliding scale of time off for second cards – which as a law of averages would happen towards the end of a game anyway…

I agree with you sheek. One of the biggest issue I have with the other code is that they don’t punish indiscretions nearly enough. Placing a player on report is for my money the most gutless thing a referee can do – i wrote an article on it about a year ago I seem to remember… anyway, it helps nobody and I think it probably is a contributing factor in the lack of respect being shown towards referees that has plagued the league season this year. I love that when you commit a foul, you and your team are immediately punished. I just think the punishment should fit the crime, and two yellows shouldn’t necessarily equal a red…

Haha, excellent story rugby7. Yes I was aware of the three cards in hockey – I seem to remember that they were different shapes too? I could be wrong about that.

Seems (from what I’ve heard) that some referees are fairly hesitant to issue a black card as well… I love the idea of it though. I get your point about using the bench Bakkies, and they do tend to have deep benches in the GAA.

Go raibh maith agat for your response Ivan (sorry, that’s all the Gaeilge I’ve got – although I am learning…).

I absolutely loved the sport when I was over there – I got really into it and as my girlfriend played camogie when she was in Dublin, she has been teaching me the basics. When we were over on a trip I dragged some of her family half way across the country to Limerick for the game we saw and I couldn’t believe how fast it was. Nothing I can say can describe the speed and the skill of the players. We even took home a couple of hurleys and a sliothar to play with!

The Tipperary centre forward Seamus Callanan was particularly impressive along with Patrick Maher – and the goal keeper Darren Gleeson was incredible. I just don’t know how he could react as fast as he did – it’s little wonder you couldn’t find a way past him in the Semi-Final. But when Joe Canning can hit ground balls like he did in that semi you don’t need to score goals!

As for the crowd, you’ve hit the nail on the head, the passion was extraordinary, even at the early stage of the Championship that I saw. The crowd was fantastic. A group of lads in front of us were getting well into the drink but were still respectful and courteous enough for it to be an enjoyable environment throughout.

Best of luck for the final today – I hope the result goes for you.

Very good points raised here Harry.

And I’m hesitant to wade in for similar reasons as to what grapeseed said earlier, but isn’t the NFL’s “Rooney Rule” similar to this? (Apologies for opening up this particular can of worms…)

The fact that the powerbrokers feel it is necessary to have (and that the EPL are considering something similar) is pretty daming in the first place, but it’s not at all dissimilar to racial quotas.

As far as society has come in a relatively short period of time, there will still always be those who look at skin colour or the name before that persons qualifications in every walk of life.

I’d love to live in a world where we don’t reference the colour or sex or sexuality of players, but barriers are still up unfortunately.

I forgot to mention Juve – thanks for the reminder Brian!

Sorry spruce but that makes no sense at all. The joy of the English Football system is that you can go up and down.

Plenty of huge teams have disappeared down into the lower leagues in recent years – look at Sheffield Wednesday and United, Nottingham Forrest, Leeds, Norwich…

Even Manchester United were relegated to Division 2 as recently as as 1974. They were a huge club then and it wouldn’t make any difference if the same thing were to happen now.

Yes you could argue that that was before the era of the Premiership – but look at what has happened in Scotland with Rangers… No club is too big for the league – any league. That’s been true of the Football League since 1888 and is still it’s greatest attribute.

If you are in the bottom three at the end of the season, you go down.

Of course the likelihood of one of “the big 4” now these clubs are cashed up to the eyeballs is virtually non-existent. But beware the thought process of “we’re too big to go down”. Just ask a Leeds or West Ham or Newcastle whether they thought that before they were relegated…

Call me a delusional sporting romantic if you must, but far too many comments on here extol the lack of commercial gain in having a team in PNG.

I think it’s such a shame that we are talking about commercial benefits when really we should be talking about sport being sport. I know there are these commercial constraints on everything, but not thinking of including a team because they “offer” nothing more than a feel good story is so so sad.

Sport, above all else, should be about feel good stories.

I absolutely agree with you about the interchange Karl. Fatigue in players adds something to the second half of games that you don’t see in the NRL – and changes the dynamic. Arguably teams have to be more rounded in the bush because they can’t keep up the same style of play that they open with – and it leads to more tries, more excitement and some real desperate efforts from the players of the field. Country footie is the stripped back version of the game that most people fell in love with in the first place. The finals will be something that’s for sure!

Absolutely Arnold – and pure rugby league is exactly right. None of the rubbish push and shove we see in the NRL – I didn’t see a single try decision “go upstairs” (surprisingly enough for a game where the nearest TV camera was about 600km away…)

It’s cheap, there’s hardly any que at the bar or the toilets, kids playing mini games on the touchline and being told off for getting too close to the pitch… It’s just everything that the NRL is not. And so much better for it.

I’m not sure actually – but it wouldn’t surprise me that there are NRL players from this region – the standard of footy has been excellent out here – so playing in the A-Grade comp would be a fantastic grounding for any young player. It would certainly toughen them up…

That sounds like a great show MF – and radio being such an essential part of life in the country it’s so fitting there is a show dedicated to celebrating regional sport like that – I’ll have to check it out.

Agreed Hardwick – costs would be the major limiting factor on any cup competition – and is the problem with any national competition at any level below the top tier in this country owing to the distance factor… keeping it local until the money can filter down from the top table in the later rounds would be one way to deal with that. You never know, it could unearth some genuine talent out in the bush.

Thanks Riley,

Ye a nationwide competition that ties in all levels would be fantastic entertainment. Even if the NRL teams and supporters in the cities don’t really get behind it, it would be amazing for the bush teams and the communities out here. Any State of Origin games between two country teams would be incredible occasions.

Bluff looked seriously good on Saturday night – a very powerful team and incredibly clinical in their execution. It seemed like every chance they had, they look against Middlemount. Whereas the Bears I thought were fortunate to win against the Panthers up here. Middlemount had the upper hand in the second half and looked certain to break the deadlock but the yellow card killed the momentum and the Bears never looked back.

Either way the finals will make for excellent viewing!

Too right danwain.

I was just about to say this game was quite good before all this pathetic pushing and shoving nonsense started. Send some of the culprits off and let those who want to play, play.

This just looks rubbish.