I was listening to an episode of a Phil Gould podcast, they were talking about some penalties for play the ball offences and Gould spoke about how teams were training to exploit defences by moving sideways at the PTB to give the impression that the defenders were not square and then there was a discussion around the teams training to exploit the rules.

Hearing rumours Matty Lees has retired

These rules will probably affect us more than any other team. I've not seen any stats but we must be the most penalised team at giving away six agains in the opposition 40m. We don't tighten up on that and we'll be constantly giving away terrority and marched downfield.

We also have Walmsley who doesn't play the ball properly most of the time so we could be pinged for that a lot initially too.

On the plus side if the speed of the ruck increases, Clark is as good a 9 as any with a running threat. For all Roby was unbelievable, his running game was practically non-existent these past few years. Having a mobile pack with the likes of Lees, Delaney, Batchelor and Matautia should also suit the new rules so its not all doom and gloom.

This change, if policed properly, will suit the faster teams. The cleaner the ruck, the sooner the ball gets to the speedy backs against less set defences. It will suit us just fine, despite the wishful thinking from certain quarters.

I wonder if the Leeming signing was on the back of knowing that these changes were coming. No one is quicker out of dummy half than him and, when you compare to Powell, it certainly seems a deliberate change of approach.

The change to the 18th man is potentially significant. Previously they could only come on after 3 failed HIAs, now they can be used after 2 HIA failures, or injuries caused by foul play, resulting in a Yellow/Red card, where the player will not return to the game.

Will be fun watching Walmsley navigating the PTB when he has stepped of the mark by 2 metres and told to go back to start again as he never plays it properly anyway and now he has the added pressure to PTB correctly.

We have poss the fastest backline and if the ruck is speeded up it will be of a massive benefit to Wigan.

Whilst I agree that it is better, for me a team should be allowed to use the 18th man after the first failed HIA.

I'm fine with the changes .... I thought most was in the rules anyway just not policed fully. The 6 again is right the stepping off the mark to side and forward has been exploited already and was getting worse. The 18th man should come into effect on any HIA or player lost to foul play, penalty for the incident or put on report should qualify as at least then the team infringed against get some reward, I can live with the odd time it's wrong call especially with all matches being on TV which should help.

Exactly how I read it. Most of these aren't actually changes, maybe just less leniency on the ruck.

Tackles only permitted below armpit from next season https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/67658523

Tackles only permitted below armpit from next season https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/67658523

So, looking at the above photo, this is a foul.

Quote --[ WW --="--[ WW --"Tackles only permitted below armpit from next season https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/67658523'" I really don't understand why we are still taking orders from the RFL. What happened to the SL breakaway? If it didn't really happen before, it's surely time for it now?

Quote --[ WW --="--[ WW --"Tackles only permitted below armpit from next season https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/67658523'" I really don't understand why we are still taking orders from the RFL. What happened to the SL breakaway? If it didn't really happen before, it's surely time for it now?