The rule is:

Grounding the Ball a) Placing the ball on the ground with hand or hands, or b) Exerting downward pressure on the ball with hand or arm, the ball itself being on the ground, or c) Dropping on the ball and covering it with part of the body above the waist and below the neck, the ball itself being on the ground.

The NRL interpretation:

Grounding the Ball includes:

a. Placing the ball on the ground with hand or hands, wrist or forearm

b. Exerting a downward pressure on the ball in contact with the ground

c. Dropping on the ball and covering it with the front part of the body above the waist and below the neck.

Singleton for me is the cornerstone of the pack.

I don’t get the grief he gets as a player.

Week in week out he does the stuff others don’t as a front rower.

He puts his head where others don’t and won’t and in reality until recently has only been supported in doing this kind of thing effectively by Smithies who is still a very junior player.

We now have Cooper who is a real “dark arts” style prop so he’s not doing it on his own and I think he will only get better with that type of support.

His off loading is on another planet, almost like having a basketball player in the team, pretty sure that Warrington had 4 players on him at one stage and he still managed an accurate pass.

For me, he gets in the England side…I can’t think of another player who can do what he can do and the option to cover at Centre too.

Not in the side for me, too green as a secondrow and lacks a bit of athleticism at centre definitely worth a wild card place in the squad though and in years to come he is going to be a nailed on starter.

Got his game together over the last couple of weeks since he was called into the office by Peet.

Do we reckon silva will get a run out soon?

Yep, I agree and he certainly didn’t look out of place at Centre, his defence is solid and he obviously has the hands for it.

Although I’d be sad to see him leave Wigan I’d be intrigued to see how he would go in the NRL but think he would develop into an even better player.

I think he will get an England bench spot.

I don’t to be honest.

When Havard is back I don’t see how Silva would get in.

Morgan Smithies is rapidly becoming one of our best players. Immense again on Friday. Seems to win every tackle he’s involved in.

Good position to be on it next year we’ll potentially have 3 young props wanting game time nsemba, hill and Silva. Silva I thought would have featured but he didn’t even feature in the reserves. We reckon he’s on his way out?

Nsemba is a wide running second row, Hill and Max Wood are the up and coming props along with Toby Brannan. I was surprised that Silva didn't get a run out in the reserves yesterday.

It seems to be a tougher year for the academy this season. Are there any standouts in there?

I think Silva is on his way out though he has missed a lot of game time due to injury. he also has a decent off load in him. Nsemba is more of a second row than prop. I have been impressed with Hill's performances and also Max Wood. Nsemba and Hill tend to break the line whereas Wood make a lot of yards in contact as he keeps his legs pumping bringing in 3 or 4 defenders to stop him.

The three I mentioned plus Zach Eckersley who plays at centre or fullback, tall athletic and fast!! Regan Sumner looks very quick but a bit on the small side.

I was really impressed with the kick chase on this game. We've only recently started doing this with 100% conviction and actually competing for the ball. French flying on really puts the defender under pressure and is one of the things Saints do so well.

Watching Cooper's leg drive and gain 5m. After contact in many tackles - I find it staggering Powell wanted him out in a season where they so obviously need someone like him. I think he brings the missing part to our game when we're faced with a really well organised defence.