Does anyone else think the refs need to start clamping down on the PTBs? Every week it seems to be getting worse, with no attempt by players to get their foot on the ball. I understand they're trying to get one up on the defence, but it's slowly turning into a joke. PTBs are already messy enough without players getting sloppy too... The sooner we get two refs on the pitch at the same time, the better...

Need the video ref to review each tackle for fairness, then have the play the ball and at the next stoppage check it. it has to be the way forward surely if only to obtain a facet of CONSISTENCY that people are clamouring for

Starts badly when the tackled player walks forward and plays the ball then the tacklers cant get back/square and a penalty results!

Some tacklers still on the ground when the PTB takes place - obstructing/ interfering!

Completely agree - the ruck's a mess. Moving off the mark is quite and easy one for the ref to sort out, but they don't seem that bothered...

Dont even get me started on the markers being square!

I know I'm just a grumpy old man but we used to get murdered for not playing the ball properly, bring back markers being able to strike and tackled players will soon make sure it's played with the foot, and backwards!

Jamie Peacock has never played the ball correctly.

It seems to be getting worse, ref seems to policing the 10 metre line looks up and see the markers not square because he has missed the 2 metre forward play the ball.

I am glad it is not just me who thinks the ruck area is a complete mess. I am not a big fan of trying to keep increasing the speed of the game, but if that is the wish of the many then can I suggest a few different interpretations of the rules or enforce the ones that are in the book.
Make every player play the ball backwards with the foot, penalise rolling it back no exceptions. Penalise moving off the mark every time it happens along with pushing at the marker after playing the ball. The ref's are only to willing to penalise the defender for hand in or laying on just make it even both ways as the attacking player has it all their own way at the moment. If a team gets a roll on through good play & breaking the line that is good but cutting corners by not playing the ball correctly is tantamount to cheating. I am also wanting the refs to stop calling held so quickly. I have seen numerous penalties over the weekend here & down under when a tacklers has been pushing a player backwards the ball carrying arm is not down yet the ref has called held.
There is no real competition for the ball now & we are in a more structured game now so each side should be responsible for possession & we should make the skill level higher a quick tap should be as in the past the ball on the floor played forward through the mark with the foot & picked up not waved at the area of the foot on the run. There has to be more risk to a quick play to match the reward on offer.

just want consistency.

It annoys me when the attacking player atands up and moves forward, effectively taking the markers out.

It's pretty simple and if done right: effective. Liam Farrell at Wigan is a master at it.

Define consistency regarding a game with so many variables.

To give examples of how hard it would be, if a players scores 4 tries in a game then for consistency the player has to score 4 every game and for even more consistency each one would have to be scored the same way.
Taking it to the next logical step, the weather would have to be the same, the opposition the same, the crowd moaning about the same thing at the same time etc etc.

It would be nice if consistency was achievable but only automatons, computers really are consistent in what they do with repetition, and even then it's not quite 100%.

The beauty of sport is it's inconsistency and variability which is why it is exciting and emotional.

Just playing to the rules a they are written in the laws of the game would be step in the right direction.

But do we really want that?
Do we really want every play the ball pulled up for not being 100% perfect?
Or everytime a defender hangs on a fraction of a second too long?
How would things like holding down be defined sufficiently in the rules for us to play 100% of the time to those rules?

I think we do play to the rules it's just there is always going to be some interpretation of those rules in rugby league, the same as there is in most team sports that I know of.

Whilst I'm more than happy with interpretations of the rules, I would like some internal consistency within the rulings.

Take two incidents from Friday night, the lomax "played at" dropout and the walker "knock on off the leg" - the argument that lomax played at the ball to take it over the deadball line, because he put his body in the position it was in, is as applicable as walker put his body in the position it was in to ensure any handling error was backwards - but that was deemed irrelevant in the second example. Either lomax AND walker had their positioning taken into consideration, or neither. Unfortunately that isn't what transpired. (For me, neither should of been deemed to have played at the ball, and it should of been a 20m tap and a no try - though I wouldn't of complained at dropout and penalty try!)