Just watching Cowboys v Roosters, Cowboys scored a try to make it 12 – 0.

However, there was blatant help from another attacking player in the act of going over the line. I’ve noticed Ryan Hudson at Cas tends to do it quite a lot in S.L.

My question, is it illegal? Only if not, it could descend into a maul type situation al la Union.

problem is it depends who the referee on the day is as to whether its allowed or not.

It is something that needs clarifying, but that said, the dragging into touch rule was clarified a couple of years ago to wrongly outlaw it IMO, but then that still depends upon how a ref is feeling on a given day.

For me id allow it (it adds to the excitement and physicallity of the game) but would perhaps restrict it to 3 players lending weight on either side at any one time to avoid the game degenerating into union rucks and mauls.

I'd call held as soon as another attacking player gets involved. I don't want to watch pushing contests.

I seem to remember a team (Hull KR?, 1980s?) using a 'wedge' formation from tap penalties a few times. It was bit like a scrum formation in reverse, with the ball carrier at the front. I think it was outlawed quite quickly, or perhaps they just decided it wasn't that effective after all.

Anyone else recall this?

From memory, the Laws state that a tackle should be called complete as soon as more than one player from the attacking side is involved. Doesn't seem to be applied consistently though.

Correct.

When Brendan Hill played for Keighley, he once ran behind his own player, picked him up and dived over the line with him

It was ruled no try, but V. funny.

I'm positive I didn't dream this, but I'm sure an international union side in the 70's or 80's once huddled together at a tap, they all shoved their arms up their jumpers, except that one had the ball, and did a starburst towards the line.

ryan hudson also pushes opposition players off the tackle quite often which is supposed to be a penalty, amazes me how many times he gets away with it!

No, you're not dreaming. It was a Cup tie live on BBC and I think it was against Swinton (Ryan Giggs' dad, Danny Wilson, who played for Swinton at the time, pulled a hammy in the same game when making a break as I recall). Hull KR actually used this 'move' from a tap close to the Swinton line with (I think) either Len Casey or David Watkinson crashing over with most of the rest of the pack pushing over behind him.

Thanks for the confirmation. I could remember seeing something on the telly and I was fairly sure it was HKR but that was all!

Bring back "the wall" move from tap penalties, thats what I say......

very rarely in fact