Maybe because a 40/20 kick only has reference to a single player ie the kicker so there has to be a point of reference and the only one available is the field markings

The OFFSIDE interpretation obviously involves two players so therefore the reference is the relative positions between the receiver and the ball.

HTH

I can see your point but you would imagine that the same reference point would be used for both rulings - one against the line markings - the other against a fixed point on the runner.
I dont know the answer but I would love somebody to explain it - there must be refs out there who can guide me in this.

Coming from a Wigan fan Lee Smith seemed to be offside IMO.

He was that far offside one foot was in yorkshire.

He was that offside he was sat in the stretford end reading the programme and eating a packet of over priced crisps when McGuire kicked it through so he folded his crisp bag into a triangle, legged it down the steps, asked for permission from the jobsworth steward who after minutes of umming and arring let him over the barrier and then Lee Smith plonked the ball over the line.

Game, set and match Leeds!

There's another version i could put but its unsuitable for a family RL board.

Ah well. Yorkshire os.

Fair do's pal.

It was offside, simple as that. The players knew as they lined up for the inevitable penalty, the fans knew as only cheers came from the saints end when it showed the incident on screen.

All the commentators, both on sky and the bbc, said it was offside. Even teletext said it was offside.

If the correct decision is made then saints have a penalty with 7 minutes left with a reasonable chance of winning the game. The only person that thinks it was onside is Phil Bentham, who I do not believe is that incompetent.

History was not made, it was manufactured. And that's why RL will always be classed as a mickey mouse sport in this country no better than wrestling in terms of integrity.

Spoken like a true 3 times loser Have some dignity like your players. Take it on the chin and come back stronger next season

offside simple as shocking decision

Come back when you qualify

So my guess is that nobody actually knows the answer to my question and once again a thread starts to drop into chaos.

My faith in the players knowing the actual rule is slightly higher than the TV commentators but I wouldnt be risking any money on either of their answers. The ref should have been able to make the right decision - I am quite happy if that is the case - but the fact that I cannot find any reference to it in the rule book - and it seems nobody else can either - makes me wonder if it is simply an interpretation - I would have thought that something as obvious as which 2 reference points to judge an offside decision against would not be left to interpretation.

Anyway thanks for the help the ones of you who gave it but it seems clear to me that none of us actually know the answer. I have sent an e-mail to Stuart Cummins to see if he can help - If I get a reply I will let you know.