I did say it was the 5th tackle. Ridiculous decision.

Either way, should have been tap 20.

Yeah you can kick it and play on.

I had a question about rules, so might as well post in here while you're all helpful

At what point after the tackle can the defenders start to advance? This year I've seen referees calling it differently, but if the defence are back 10 with the ref can they only start to advance once the player playing the ball has touched it with their foot or is it as soon as they are on their feet and start to attempt the play the ball?

Some referees I've watched seem to want to wait until the ball has been played at with the foot and is in the acting half's hands and call offside for moving early, others generally only blow for players that didn't bother getting back 10 at all and seem to let play continue if defenders start to run as the player bends to play the ball.

The rule book on the RFL site states only when the ball is clear of the ruck, but I haven't seen any team this season waiting for the ball to be passed or for the dummy half to start running to advance forward.

Restarting play at 20m – with an optional kick (i.e. any type of kick) 2. The game is restarted with an optional kick from the  centre of the 20m line if:
(a) an attacking player last touches the ball before it goes out of play over the dead ball line or into touch in-goal except from a penalty kick (see Law 3), or from a kick off from the centre of the halfway line. (see 4(g) and 6(b) below).

An attacking player has kicked the ball over the dead ball line. It doesn't have to bounce in field. Tap 20.

I suspect he has gotten confused with kicking it over the touch line on the full, which would be a scrum from where the ball was kicked.

The ball is deamed to have cleared the ruck once the ball has been played not when it has been passed by the acting half

Once the tackled player touches the ball with the foot, the ball is in play.

It's actually in play when the ball clears the heel of the standing foot...don't hold your breath expecting this to be enforced anytime soon - the "touching the ball with the foot" interpretation is what you will see.

Oh, except from Hock, Mossop and several others (of certain top clubs), for whom the rule requires they simply step over it and walk forward into the markers.

Penalty to Wigan

I thought that as soon as the ball hits the ground then the defenders can start to move forward and not before.

how then, can a player knock on when he is about to play the ball if he has not played at it with his foot to put the ball back in play?

Losing possession – intentionally – accidentally 8. A tackled player shall not intentionally part with the ball other than by bringing it into play in the prescribed manner. If, after being tackled, he accidentally loses possession, a scrum shall be formed except after the fifth play-the-ball.

From section 11 on RFL website - tackle and play the ball.

so by that statement, The ball is back in play as soon as he takes his hand off the ball when it is placed on the ground, In the act of playing it to restart the game. So at that point the defending side can move forward.