Agree with DHM and Andy Gilder. The game is tough and dangerous enough without the shoulder charge.

Yeah I enjoyed watching a shoulder charge. But seeing the impact it has on a player I'm not against it.

The game is producing bigger and bigger players all the time. With that the rules have to adapt to the changing nature of the game. So I'm perfectly content with the shoulder charge being banned.
If it does take an element of the spectacular out of the game as well then it's a shame but it's a price worth paying in my opinion.

We, as a sport, then need to adapt again and change the rules/interpretations to help the game be more open and encourage more passing and handling. If there were more teams playing like the 2015 Leeds team then the lack of a shoulder charge would be a distant memory along with 3 point tries and Eddie Waring.

Now I know you're trolling.

People won't watch League because punching someone in the head is frowned upon? Really? Give over.

They're down because it's a one-horse race and has been for some time!

State of Origin used to be a real spectacle - rugby league at it's most ferocious and for me rugby league at it's finest. Now it's a mirror to league the game over a pale, bland imitation of it's former self. SOO no longer lives up to the hype and not just because of the monotony of series results. In the past it was rare for a set of six not to draw an audible gasp from an expectant audience - now nothing, nada, zilch just another eighty minute game of pretty ordinary league.

But that's not because the shoulder charge has been banned or that you're not allowed to punch each other anymore.

It's a consequence of the big increases in player size and strength over the years. Large impacts don't look like big hits anymore. But they are still big hits.

Which is why we have to look at our rules and interpretations to increase the amount of offloads and opportunities to play attractive rugby. And to decrease the opportunities for big, hulking, behemoths to slow and stifle play.

I also think we have to look at enabling other areas of the game in which a team can compete. Right now there's basically only 1 area of competition. The play the ball. If you don't "win" that area of competition it's pretty certain you're going to lose. So I think opening up other areas would be very helpful and make the game both more competitive (especially at international level) and more interesting.

Shoulder charges (and defensive tackles where you use the shoulder to protect rather than attack but don't get the arm around) are fine as long as they don't hit the head. No different to an arm. If you hit the head you're off.

Punching is bad but not worth a bigger ban than an attack on the knees/ankles (excepting cheap shots) on a held up man.

Players don't want to and aren't used to a good scrap these days but every so often a little dust up where no one is hurt really makes the game interesting. Just look at NHL.

I don't want all fighting and shoulder charges but we're losing the "tough" battle with union and I don't see many big hits is SL and I'm slightly biased because I was pretty good at an amateur shoulder charge buy the game needs to be a tad more brutal. I'd rather see big honest hits than snidey twists and attacks at the legs (or head).

The last thing the amateur game needs is the return of the shoulder charge.

I'm sure the self-employed bloke who can't earn for six weeks because some wannabe SBW smashed him in the jaw with a misdirected shoulder loves them.

I can think of a plethora from Tommy Leuluai.

I don't know 1 amatuer player that agrees with the rule... And as someone who's had plenty of time off work from injuries playing rugby (including a full knee reconstruction from a cowards 'snapper' tackle when I was held up) I fully accept the risks (as does anyone stepping over the line) when I step on the field and have the option of insurances etc to mitigate the risk...

So why soften the game? The ones crying about the dangers and making these changes are people who are not impacted at all by the so called dangers.... It's absolute bobbins.

If we're looking at the amateur game rather than the pro game then there's absolutely a reason to both get rid of shoulder charges and to "soften" the game. To increase participation.

I was talking whole game, including amatuer....

And changing or 'softening' the sport to increase participation is a ridiculous idea - coz if that's the case, let's just play football instead - that'll increase numbers too.... There's already a touch/tag version of the game that provides an opportunity for those who don't want to risk injury.... Why change the sport into something different to what that the majority of players and fans fell in love with in the first place?

Not starting a argument but do people honestly think the tackle on green was a fair tackle. Because he went to see a specialist and it has just being announced he is out for the season?

and?

Does an injury automatically mean a tackle was illegal?

nothing wrong with it. its a tough game but injuries happen

100% agree - and people need to realise that he toughness is a massive part of the appeal to many involved in the game... Yes stamp out foul play, but don't go too far....

On injuries from big hits... I remember Konrad Hurrell jamming in and absolutely smashing the living daylights out of Cameron Ciraldo in the Tonga/Italy World Cup match at Halifax... Ciraldo suffered a ruptured spleen and retired.... He's now a VERY well thought of coach in the junior ranks at Penrith. By all accounts a couple of NRL clubs have been sniffing around him, but Penrith are adamant he's a fundemental part of the long term coaching set up of the club.