Attackers need to just learn when to stay up and move or offload, and when to get on the ground.
Banning more than the 2nd tackler is just silly.

There should be no limit on the number of tacklers allowed to participate in any tackle.

The issue is controlling the tackling technique of those involved. Jeff Lima is the prime example of how not to do it, clean that up and there's no problem.

Although there are no stats to hand I would say given the nature of the collisions that occur like this, plenty.



This is the situation that has been threatening to boil over in Super League for a year or so now with Maguire and is breaking out with Bellamy in the NRL at the moment. Mick Potter has publicly criticised Maguire for deliberately coaching tactics designed purely to damage the ball carrier. When he came to this country Wigan's defensive tactics changed totally and whilst most of that is good hard work, there was a massive rise in the use of limbs and pressure points. Things like chicken wings, ninja tackles and hitting the knees of players held up in the tackle. Potter mentioned it's a question of morality, some coaches won't do it and some will. No matter how you educate, there are always certain coaches whose competitive nature and desperation for personal glory and career gain will lead them astray.

But how do you ever clean it up, if there are no rules against it in the first place?

There are rules against it. The last but one edition of a monthly RL mag contained a list of directives sent out from Red Hall on such issues before the start of the season. That's why the likes of Lima have been banned and there are a reducing number of chicken wing and pressure point type tackling efforts.

If you want to legislate specifically against defenders joining the tackle late, why not make it so the third or subsequent man in must use their arms to wrap and tackle (similar to the rule that exists in Union) and cannot attack the knees or below of the ball carrier?

I saw Richie's tweet, sent a reply to him saying I thought below the knee third man tackles were already banned, but he didn't seem to want to discuss it. I thought that's what Lima and Shenton got yellows for earlier in the season. while i do agree with where he is coming from, 3rd man in tackles are necessary. as long as they are legitimate. How else do you get a man down who is dragging two people along with him? go for the legs. Again, legitimately. Joints shouldn't be attacked at all, but 3rd man in on the legs should be fine. I very much doubt a twitter trend is going to affect Red Hall, but power to the people there Mr Mathers

It was a yellow card earlier in the season but magically players stopped been binned for it when Wigan complained about it

I agree....but that number will decrease drastically if the punishment is put on the coach and not the player. The player admittedly should face sanctions for dangerous play....but a coach that brings these techniques to the game (whether they are moral or not) will stop them if they themselves are punished. If we use Wigan as an example (and I'm not picking on them because of a hatred etc)...Maguire has brought the 3 man tackle in to slow the game down and that often involves questionable technique as you've mentioned. If Jeff Lima (who was suspended numerous times from memory at the start of the season) keeps on tackling dangerously which results in Maguire being punished...I assure you that Lima wouldn't make the 17 man squad on match day.

That is the message we need to get out there.

Well done Sadact, reeled in perfectly by the two biggest pussies in SL, the two pussies that read this forum, the two pussies that couldn't tackle a hot dinner.

If it was left to half the people on here we'd be playing tag rugby, the games gone soft enough as it is.

Just out of interest, what's tough in driving your shoulder into the standing leg or ribs of a player unable to do anything about it?

I wouldn't call that tough, I'd call them a pussy.

It is amusing to see a Warriors fan defending it and saying the game has gone soft yet a little bit of a rough time for ickle Sammy from the fans and it's the worst thing the sport has ever witnessed!!!!!

I wonder if Sam actually stopped tackling himself before even getting touched the Wigan fans would be so happy about a third big tough prop forward smashing his knee to smitheriens and having him retire at such an early age...Now I do not wish this on anyone least of all one of the brightest young talents in the game but as the Wigan faithful and staff are so keen for this tactic to go on within the game justice can only be around the corner can it not?