The whole ruck area is a farce imo. Laying on, third/4th player flopping after the tackle is completed, turning players on their backs after the tackle is completed, defender pawing at the ball player as he tries to PTB, ball player diving in to defender, ball player staggering forward and pinching yards, ball player pushing defender away etc etc etc. All against the rules I believe and making the game messy and pot luck as regards reffing decisions.

Striking?????????????

How is a push striking?

All very true, and I can't see us ever going back to 'quick, clean' p-t-bs (if they ever existed). But there's one modest step in the right direction that could be taken. Most ruck infringement decisions go in the favour of the team in possession, and I don't think that's right. The ball-carriers walk forward off the mark for a pastime, knowing that if the markers stand their ground, it will usually be the markers who are penalised for 'crowding'. And/or, if the ref doesn't penalise the markers, then the ball-payer will often get away with pushing them. Sam Tomkins used to do this all the time. Refs should be a lot more willing to penalise moving off the mark.

There's a clear advantage to slowing the ruck down. Why Would a defending team allow a quick ptb?

Based on last night: because the opposition would cough the ball up quicker?

not just diving. O'Connor gave bentham a gobful and continued a tirade of abuse. wigan whenever a big decision go against them surround the ref screaming. the only people to stop all this are the refs. get a gobful then yellow card them. every time. it will soon stop

Whatever did happen to marching the players 10 yard/metres for verbals?

One of the best things RL had going for it.

RL is not Mo & Ron Ball's game.

A few years back I used to marvel at the s*** that NRL refs took from the likes of JT, Robbie Farah, Gallen, and would boast on Aussie forums that they wouldn't get away with it in SL, or they'd be carded. But now, we're just as bad.

Has this behaviour coincided with tendency for referees to act all pally with the players these days?!

LMS got a hand in the face last night, no cartwheels from him.

Burns got a cas player in the chops, no dramatics there.

Amor binned - no back chat, just walked.

Good show boys.

Wasn't it Wardle gobbing off at the bent one? Regardless, you're quite right: this one's in the hands of the refs.

Well in the NRL they made it explicit in the rules, didn't they, that only the captain can speak to the ref, and even then only at specified times in the game. Then the ref can say, I can't talk to you now. If you continue to pester me, I will sanction you. Seems to me this is a sensible small measure that we should take too.

I was always under the impression it was the rule here too, though obviously the last couple of seasons has shown that it isn't. Need it passed quick!

Ashton Simms seemed to go down very easily there...