The Hull match on friday the commentary team said that Danny Houghton needed to be behind the back foot of the kicker.

I seem to remember about 3/4 years ago in the grand final Lee Smith who looked offside Eddie or Stevo said that Lee smiths feet was behind the ball as it was kicked.

Has this rule changed, did they get it wrong or am I miss remembering something?

it changed 2 seasons ago IIRC

The commentary team are wrong, feet have to be behind the ball

If so then the video ref got the Houghton decision on Friday wrong then.

When did the rule change about a kicker being able to play everybody onside? I notice now, if you're infront of the kicker you are offside, but in years gone by, the kicker could sprint forward and play everybody onside - I know this must have changed, but don't remember hearing anything about it.

You're confusing this with where the offside player is ALREADY within the 10 - the kicker cannot put him onside.

A player who was in front of the kicker, but was still more than 10 form the fielding player, can be put onside.

There is then, of course, the player who was offside at the PTB, e.g a'la Hanley, - he is "out of play" and can only be put onside by retraeting back to the last "onside" position (not that Hanley ever did!).

That is exactly my understanding of the rule, however I'm sure i have seen tries disallowed by the VR in these circumstances, although I can't think of an exact example, so my mind may be playing tricks with me.

I read all of your post up to when you said "Eddie and Stevo said", and then I stopped reading. Sorry.

The Houghton no try was right in front of me, he bounced the ball so wouldn't of counted anyways.

He wasn't behind the ball anyway.