People wanted examples of when that rule has been enforced, that was an example, cheers.

I think it happens a lot when the full back makes a half break and then plays the ball quickly.

But

What I was really thinking of (and admittedly it's not a direct comparison) when the full back's colleagues move into a "supporting position" in anticipation of the full back overtaking them (and playing them on side), they often get in a good position without trying to get onside first are they...taking any part in the game or attempting in any way to influence the course of the game? (i.e. the falling foul of the same rule as Webb did)

I'd say they are...so how pedantic do we want our refs to be...?

By the way check out where rlChris Joynt stands at the final play the ball on this rather famous tryrl...did he ever retire 10 meters...?

To prevent any mis-understanding on my part would you like to give me a specific example of this practise that I may review and give an opinion on?



Is that the one where no St Helens players were stood in the Bradford defensive line when Sculthorpe got up to play the ball?

No, its the one when no bloody BRADFORD players were stood in the Bradford defensive line...

The rule specifically relates to a play the ball, a full back fielding a kick and returning it is completely different.

It's not the same rule.

No its the one where Joynt stands next to the play the ball, in an "out of play position". He then proceeds to make his way up the pitch ahead of play and stands on the bulls 20 in anticipation of a kick down field (which doesn't come)...

...he is only permitted to rejoin the play when "the advantage gained has not been lost"...

...he then scores the infamous winning try...

(PS I don't by any means think this should have been disallowed...I'm just using it as an example against the "its the rules end of" comments.)

Fair point - you're right. But it is still against the rules so my point about how pedantic the refs should be remains.

What do you mean by "out of play position" ? He's stood behind and to the side of the PTB, set to take a ball from the acting half.

What would he have done if the kick had come? Assuming he would have been in front of the kick he'd have had to give the receiver 10 metres grace before being able to involve himself in the play. Not sure there was any advantage in doing that but it's an acceptable tactic.

Apart from the dummy half, how far behind the play the ball are the attackers required to stand? The vast majority of the St Helens side probably encroached within that space. Was the tap re-start from the penalty award taken on the right spot anyway? If it was a tap re-start it appeared very close to the sideline. Who was the referee, Russell Smith?

It still doesn't provide an exact likeness to the Webb positioning last night as no St Helens players we're stood in or around the Bradford defensive line at the time of the play the ball.

Misleading title here Burrow never scored a try yesterday.

You wouldn't have seen Webbs last night though without the video replay and the ref asking to look at it.

I think you are wrong here Tvoc. I think it happens many times, ever per game on some occassions. Like the first poster pointed out, Hanley scored tons of tries in this manner, and I remember many oppossition fans moaning about it at the time. But the ruling has never been used since before then, hence thought it was out of the window.

So on the basis that others get away with it (no matter how often), the video ref should just ignore it?

Strange.

I think its more the point that the refs are inconsistent, and that they chose to pick up on this relatively minor offence yet, for example, consistently allow the play the ball to be conducted wrongly.