The official interpretation of the rules regarding send offs and sin bins from “2017 NRL Laws and Interpretations” – Those interested should google: “2017 NRL Laws and Interpretations” and follow the link to “2016 NRL Laws and Interpretations” (which is the same thing).

In regards to Hodkinson’s remark…

Anyone who has played the game I am sure could not help but smile in sympathy and in solidarity with Hodkinson over his comment born out of frustration, “you just decided the game!”. We have ALL been there! But he backed the ref into the corner and gave him no choice. Perhaps this is yet another argument for the “captains/coaches challenge”. That controversial incidents can be examined using video evidence to determine if there is merit in a complaint. At the end of the day there is still the potential for a difference of interpretation.

Taking the fact that Souths benefited from the disputed interpretation (Souths winning the scrum against the feed for “allegedly” while having their legs across the tunnel before the the scrum was fed), wasn’t it a breath of fresh air and a throw back to bygone days to see a scrum one against the feed WITHOUT the scrum being driven off the mark!

“One rule for Smith, another for everyone else!!!!!!!!”

True! Also the same applies for Thurston.

Really dumb and very disappointing from George. No one wants to talk about the cheap shot uppercut (PUNCH) by Mitch Barnett in the tackle that started this but that is no excuse or defence for Burgess who stepped a LONG way over the line. George was having a bad day and was clearly being heckled by the Knights and snapped. Every time I have looked at the footage (wearing my biased South Sydney cardinal and myrtle glasses) I try to believe that George swung and missed. The “punches” he threw following that only seemed to confirm the fact that he CAN’T fight and probably (because of his size) has been challenged very few times in his life.

In truth though, the more I see the footage the more it appears to be intentional and IF that is the case then it IS “a gutless act” and deserving of a send off! The problem with going down this road is that it practically decides the result of the match from that point on. It also sets a precedent and puts pressure on referees and the NRL to be consistent. Tripping is also a send off offence yet Cameron Munster was not even sin binned for this against the Dogs on Friday night. There have been numerous examples of this over the years (most notably with Josh Reynolds) which have NEVER resulted in send offs.

It’s all well and good to cry “SEND HIM OFF” but there MUST be consistency. If Burgess had been sent off for this offence then referees would be under the microscope for the rest of the season to apply the same interpretation of the send off rule to other teams irrespective of the circumstances (like Dale Finucane intentionally handling the ball in the ruck right in front of the referee in the 2014 GF but was NOT sin binned because it was a Grand Final!)

(See interpretation of the rules below)

Agree with all of the above.

Dean, you, me and st47 seriously need to meet up and discuss our observations of “life on other planets (i.e. the ROAR) over a beer! It’s good to see soneonr here speaking the same language at last. Cheers ?

Cheers mate. I knew there would be others who understood. Look back to the 2010 federal election and the Labor Gillard government that illegitimately seized power (despite being 2 seats behind after forming a coalition with the Greens) and relied on 3 politically opportunistic independents to gain the balance of power. That is just one example of a minority hijacking the democratic process. When 3 men had the arrogance along with the ambition to think they spoke for the whole nation!

They think that because they can make the most noise and drown out a logical argument with their spoon fed rhetoric that they can gain emotional leverage to guilt others into agreeing with them.

Look at the YouTube videos of them being dragged off planes for taking it too far. Let’s all make sure the same doesn’t happen here.

“Solid just doesn’t work anymore. The last time it did was probably the Bunnies’ win in 2014”

Stuart, Souths had NO X-factor players in 2014? Seriously? Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess would qualify I am sure straight out of the gate. Alex Johnston was the top try scorer of 2014 with 21 tries (and surely you need some X-factor to finish at the top of that list) and Adam Reynolds was at the top of his game as one of the best halves of 2014 and had X-factor to burn (just Reynold’s effort alone throughout the finals and in the Grand Final should confirm this).

Does that mean I can count on a month of silence then? For the record though, I hope Slater does come good as he is one of the champions of the game and deserves the chance to go out with a BANG and not a whimper. Sadly not all players get that opportunity, just ask snake and Matai.

eels47, I’ve told you before, never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn! LOL

Good point though, I along with others here, took the bait and went off the headline. Let’s be honest, who in NSW is interested in another QLD loves QLD story!

Agreed. THAT is why I said Braidon Burns needs some time to acclimate himself to first grade. Once he shows that he is comfortable and is ready for the next challenge then he should be given an opportunity at that point but against a team that is not going to put him under the pressure that the Storm, Cowboys, Sharks etc would with their experienced halves.

AJ had a great game against Manly and should keep his spot for the time being but Souths need X-factor at FB and Burns has that in spades!

I disagree. There are better options to replace Sutton. Assuming Kyle Turner turns his career around both he and Angus Crichton will play in the back row for Souths. If Turner does not come good then Angus Crichton will be on one edge and either Tyrell Fuimaono 188cm (98Kg), Brett Greinke 190cm (105Kg) or Jack Gosiewski 190cm (95Kg) will be on the other. I don’t think Siosifa Talakai 178cm (100Kg) will come into consideration as he is too small but he will be a useful back up at centre until Mawene Hiroti 191cm (94Kg) and Tyrone Taukamo 187cm (112kg) are ready (both are only 18 years old).

Just like your mail on Braidon Burns?

3hats October 22, 2016 at 12:05 pm

NO Braidon Burns will NOT replace Gray. Burns will start for Norths, he has to be tested against MEN first. Madge doesn’t just hand out First Grade jumpers to Rookies who have just joined the Club!

He has to earn it. The kid can run the ball against Boys but can he tackle against seasoned professional men?

Didn’t I say he was a gun and would start in 2017? He had a fantastic game in the Charity Shield, was overlooked for the round 1 game against the Tigers (mistakenly), I argued all week that he needed to be in the side (along with Robert Jennings, Angus Crichton and George Burgess) but I didn’t see you comment on that. All 4 had blinders against Manly! This week will make 3 starts in 4 weeks for Burns. Any comments 3Hats (NOT-SSTID)?

Well said Nostradamus.

To all the bleeding heart liberals… You don’t need to be Nostradamus or own a crystal ball to figure that out surely? So what is wrong with the rest of you? Or should I say a small minority of you. But isn’t that always the way? We live in a democracy that is ruled by a small vocal minority who play the political correctness card until it is worn out. Just face it Hillary got Trumped! Now let it go and move on!

Logic is not part of this discussion. Clearly it is all about the hugs Simona failed to receive as a child. It is the fault of others who entrusted him with the money for children’s charities and who put him in temptations way. Poor Tim is just a victim in all of this. It is the fault of everyone else that allowed a grown man to make his own choices in life. Clearly the NRL has a case to answer!

Lawyers get paid to play “devil’s advocate” and defend the indefensible. From everything I have read or heard about this, Simona is not trying to make excuses for his behaviour and accepts full responsibility for his actions. It is only bleeding heart liberals who want to wrap the world in one big rainbow that are making excuses on his behalf.

I’m not sure what world you live in joe but $200K is BIG money to the rest of us.

As Joe Kelly is the former Chief Financial Officer for the Rabbitohs there is really no excuse for someone in the “inner sanctum” at Souths to slip up on that one (whether he spent the night out on the turps or not).

Next we’ll be hearing that the NRL has a duty of care to cover his bets!

” ‘going easy on Billy’ was tantamount to match fixing.”

You’re right. Why isn’t it match fixing for a team ahead of a game to admit that a they will not put pressure or attempt to exploit an advantage to win a game?

Only QLDers would come up with this. Just as long as the “take it easy” on Greg Inglis when he eventually returns to the game!

It won’t matter in any case, as much of a champion as he is, Slater’s shoulder is gone and it won’t be long before reality catches up with him and the rest of the Rugby League following public. Unless he is playing Oztag he won’t last more than a week or two I expect.

Think about Luke Lewis, Gavin Cooper, Chris Lawrence, Matt Prior, Ruben Wiki, Tony Williams… the list goes on and on. There comes a time when most old centres/wingers need to move into the back row. Goodwin’s time came when he kept getting left behind trying to keep up with Dylan Walker in 2014! He also was getting beaten in defence too easily from a lack of speed and side to side mobility from 2014. He has to make the transition to the back row it is as simple as that.

Only players like Justin Hodges, Josh Morris, Matt Cooper, Jamie Lyons, Mal Meninga (in his day) were good enough to hold their own at centre and resist the need to move them into the back row. Clearly Goodwin is not in that class and needs to find where he can make a better contribution to the team as other old outside backs have done before him.

“Its not all hopeless (yet).”

It’s round 2 Pedro, You can’t pick a Melbourne Cup winner in the first 50 yards. Even the Knights are looking impressive at this stage and could easily be undefeated after the first 2 rounds. Although they will not be an easy challenge, I am confident Souths will account for them this week but the Rabbitohs can’t afford to gift 3 tries in 12 mins with sloppy defence, poor ball control and gifting restarts from kick offs at the half way line.

There’s a LONG way to go yet mate. However, the Dragons spine still needs a lot of work IMO.

“Walker runs rings around him (Keary), always had and always will.”

I shouldn’t need to justify that statement. Anyone who knows the game should understand that already. Cody Walker is capable of winning the Dally M this year Keary never will. Walker can put his team before himself, Keary never will. Walker can turn a game by himself (even when his team is going backwards and their attacking efforts are stifled), Keary can only run if a team is going forward and cannot create under pressure like Walker can.

Walker has a clever short/mid range kicking game, Keary does not, there is no skill or consistency to his kicking game which consists of “hoiking” the ball into the air and hoping for the best. Walker can read a game and a tired defence and Keary cannot.

Most importantly, Walker can command the respect of his peers and fellow team mates and Keary cannot.

Keary has gotten off to a good start to the year but this will not last, and neither will the Roosters run. Pearce and Keary are playing well together at the moment and at present this is paying off for them, but teams will adjust to their tactic of running the ball to the line with a supporting hole runner and if teams shift their defensive style to match the Eels with their speed off the line in defence they will deprive the Roosters halves of the time and space they require to execute their plays.

Well the Raiders haven’t made the best start to their campaign but as I have said, it is still early days. I would think you would get good odds for a Roosters vs Raiders GF at this stage. Way too early to call and I really don’t see the Roosters going on with it. Keary and Pearce look good at the moment with their speed to the defensive line and runners keeping the defence in two minds. The Eels speed off the line in defence would bring this tactic undone as would a forward pack that would stop the Roosters forwards in their tracks. Not sure what Guerra’s problem is but he better sort it out fast if he wants to keep his spot.

IMO Gordon is not a FB (and hasn’t been a decent one since his days at the Pink Panthers. Gordon should be playing on the wing and Connor Watson could play FB until Keary hits “the wall mediocrity” once more and then Watson will get moved to 5/8 while Joseph Manu will fill in at FB unless JTS proves he can follow in his brothers footsteps.

I’m not sure what Joseph Manu has to do to crack a spot though. It is a strong backline for the Roosters but I would find a place for in at wing or centre (over SKD at least).

(not great but impressed)

Oops! Should be: (not great but improved)

Lichaa has NEVER impressed me and I am sure he never will.

I wasn’t planning on going into the woods with “The wicked witch of the west” in any case. The house landed on the wrong witch if you ask me! LOL