Ho hum

Just found a link. news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sp ... 29nxc.html

Just found a link. news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sp ... 29nxc.html

Typical of them to make a decision and then talk tot he rest of the rugby league world. They are not the sole bearers of the rules. Besides that rant was this all about head injuries or just injuries in general?

Bit of a delicate position pro sports finds itself in now with regards to head injuries so I suppose the commission wants to reduce the threat of lawsuits etc and protect player health. Still, there goes half the highlight reel.

The NRL is a domestic authority.
They have no concerns about what others do.

Quote: Buggo "The NRL is a domestic authority. They have no concerns about what others do.'" No it's not. It's a league. This ban is not solely about the NRL, the NRL are only a competition in Australia. This is an ARLC directive and applies to ALL Rugby League competitions in Oz. The link I posted earlier has now changed to a longer, different story for some reason. This was the release earlier, on a different site. last para states that the ARLC has begin talks with the RFL about banning it in internationals. www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-20/s ... tion=sport

Quote: Buggo "The NRL is a domestic authority. They have no concerns about what others do.'" No it's not. It's a league. This ban is not solely about the NRL, the NRL are only a competition in Australia. This is an ARLC directive and applies to ALL Rugby League competitions in Oz. The link I posted earlier has now changed to a longer, different story for some reason. This was the release earlier, on a different site. last para states that the ARLC has begin talks with the RFL about banning it in internationals. www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-20/s ... tion=sport

Don't do it RFL, don't pander to them and soften the game. The gladitorial nature is what makes it special.

Going to be fun watching int's in years to come if the rest of the world refuse to pander to the NRL, Aussies and Kiwis won;t know what has hit them!

That could be fun or likely confuse things even further.

NRL ref: that's a shoulder charge, you're off.

Super league ref: that's a shoulder charge, good lad. Carry on.

Or alternatively it will all remain the same e.g. On report for everything.

Don't agree with this rule. There aren't that many injuries that occur because of a shoulder charge. I don't want to watch a grab and pass game. I don't mind ruling against should charges against the head, but ruling them out completely is wrong IMO. I also think its going to be difficult to police. Can imagine fans been frustrated when a player runs into a defender and gets sat on his backside, the referee blowing up for a penalty.

its amazing how many players and ex players are saying what a daft decission this is ,,,,,,its part of our game

It must be a health & safety thing. I mean, who wants to run the risk of a hefty lawsuit for allowing what is basically a violent block? It must be risky which is why they would never even contemplate such a thing in that most litigious of societies, the US. I mean you never see anything like that in the NFL do you? Oh, hang on . . .

Seriously, they want to start by sorting out their terminology. The ordinary meaning of a shoulder charge is shoulder to shoulder, and it's allowed when both players are going for the ball. As it is in that soccer game. I presume what they are referring to is the shoulder hit, or shoulder tackle, but what is basically only ever referred to as a "big hit", and is something completely different from a shoulder charge. The "shoulder charge" is specifically allowed and described in the Notes to Section 5 of the laws of the game, so it looks like the ARL are discussing banning one thing when they are talking about something completely different.

The true reason is of course that they are sick to death of Sam Burgess sitting their players on their fat arrses.

Sonny Bill must be scratching his head thinking WTF I'm glad I only signed the 1 year deal.

I think that the shoulder charge will continue, I think the way RL is played it will be impossible to legislate so it can be policed consistently without it making a huge impact on the way the game is played.

I think that the shoulder charge will continue, I think the way RL is played it will be impossible to legislate so it can be policed consistently without it making a huge impact on the way the game is played.

Sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Just remove the 'on report' cop-out and force officials to consistently penalise 'big hits' that end up making contact with the head, either through recklesness, intent or poor execution, and let them get on with it; coaches and players would soon get the message and use their own prudence to judge when a shot like this is appropriate or not - and they'd get better at it so as to avoid being penalised.

It seems a huge knee-jerk reaction to something that actually only happens in a tiny percentage of the total tackles made and has caused injury in only a tiny percentage of that tiny percentage.