Quote Alan="Alan"I have to admit that I am not a fan of the kind of tackle that Jamie is being charged with. There is undoubtedly the potential for injury. Of course, you could argue that there is potential for injury in every single tackle in every single game - it's a very hard game.
What is a defending player supposed to do, when his team mates are attempting to tackle a player who won't go down? They are coached to bring that player down, just as the attacking player is coached to stay up! It's an extremely fine line, between the tackle being 'legal' (withing the RFL definition of the word) and 'illegal' (within that same definition) At the speed the game is being played, the tackler just hasn't got time to think of the best 'legal' way to effect that tackle. Also, a player who is on the pitch for say 60 minutes, is twice as likely to make an 'illegal' tackle, than one who is there for say 30 minutes. If Acton is told by his coaches, not to play as physically, his effectiveness is removed. He's a big, fit, mobile lad - those are his strengths and they have to be fully utilised.
Previously, Acton has infuriated me. Whilst recognising his abilities, he has ruined it all by the silly wind-up tactics he has used - like patting opponents on the head, and all too readily getting involved, where he shouldn't. This season, he is being done for incorrect technique - when, as I maintain, technique is a very fine line in a hard game, played at speed.
It's difficult to shy away from the opinion that he is being 'watched' in the disciplinary process. (FOUR matches for pushing an opponent last season!?) Three players have been cited for 'dangerous contact' in last week's SL games. That means that the other 201 players who participated, didn't effect any 'dangerous contact' at all. Frankly, within the RFL definitions of 'dangerous contact' I find that impossible to believe. Just how closely are members of the review panel watching every minute of each single game?
By all means, let's caution players about their technique - but let's do it to all of them, not just single out a handful of them.'"
We again see irregularity in certain areas of the game. I’ve seen Referees (more senior ones) this season call “held” as soon as momentum is stopped stood up with many fans and pundits calling it not tackled.
It is a thin line but we are not in a sport where we can throw the towel in to make the Referees decision for him/her. It’s down to the referee’s judgement.
Some in my eyes are basically calling it too late and the reason these citing’s come about. The more senior referees tend to call it early (rightly or wrongly) which eradicates situations as above and keeps the game flowing.
Most of these fast-tracked Referees need to go back to the classroom and learn the basic fundamentals of the game again. That way we cut out inconsistency in all departments.
