This is not happening to our games at saints this season. In our close games so far the opposition has been allowed to slow the game down by a "skinny ten", holding down, wrestling etc. Saints reknowned for quick play the balls for momentum have not been as effective this season because of the referees inabilty to create or shape an open game.

That's the idea. If you can't rely on a series quick play the balls to catch to defence out you have to come up with other ways of breaking down the defence.

We have



1 Saints 8 7 0 1 197 100 97 14
2 Leeds Rhinos 8 6 0 2 185 94 91 12
3 Huddersfield Giants 8 6 0 2 196 115 81 12
4 Hull Kingston Rovers 8 5 1 2 200 137 63 11
5 WT Wildcats 8 5 0 3 194 145 49 10
6 Hull FC 8 5 0 3 178 145 33 10
7 Castleford Tigers 8 5 0 3 189 177 12 10
8 Harlequins 7 4 0 3 190 144 46 8
9 Wigan Warriors 9 3 0 6 174 173 1 6
10 Bradford Bulls 7 2 1 4 125 167 -42 5
11 Catalans Dragons 8 2 0 6 158 228 -70 4
12 Warrington Wolves 8 2 0 6 145 246 -101 4
13 Salford Reds 8 2 0 6 126 285 -159 4
14 Celtic Crusaders 7 0 0 7 92 193 -101 0

why should we change the rules because some teams arent good enough to defend properly?

If you can't defend on a series quick play the balls to catch you have to come up with other ways of defending your line!

exactly,

it has made decisions, especially at the ptb a lottery

I concur. Webb clearly makes no attempt to retire behind the play-the-ball and becomes involved in that play which he is not entitled to. Had Burrow been tackled the next play-the-ball would have enabled Webb to become involved assuming he was behind that play-the-ball.

so it's ok for them to miss forward passes,knock on's,offsides etc...?

Probably technically correct, but when the player is responding to the refs instructions in those situations its asking too much to expect him to hear the revised call and instantantly stop and play the ball. Some latitude was necessary.

I thought Thaler had a good game overall, just think that in those situations players are placed into an impossible position.

The french ref is utter garbage

I'd have to say that the video ref had a big impact last night.

The Bradford v Leeds game should have finished a 6-6 draw as there is clearly foul play in the build up to the try. The referee had a suspicion of this as it was one of the things the VR was asked to look at but it was a poor decision by Mr Alibert to ignore this and allow the try to stand.

is that in the rules anywhere?

Are you saying that he wasn't offside? If he was he needs to remain inactive whilst attempting to get back onside.