I have now seen 6 penalties this round on TV and today at BV for dummy half passes being thrown at the defender on the ground on purpose. I know its a penalty in the rules, but it is now getting that even when it is blatently obvious that the pass was thrown directly at te man the refs are still giving penalties. The oficials do have a power of discresion that if a incident of un sprting behaviour takes place a penalty can be awarded. I hate this tactic, most do, its pathetic, it won Hull the game today, we even got one from it, but its poor, and if allowed to continue, coaches will actually coach players to do it and get penalties.

Coaches are already coaching this tactic and other penalty tactic, how do you think Hull ended up with so many penalties under our sticks in that first 20 min? It was never their intention to play for tries today, they only ever wanted to play for penalties once they got within 20m of the sticks

It's a terrible rule which needs addressing as it's bringing a football type cheating into the game which we don't need.

Indeed, I see no difference between a rugby player throwing a ball at a prone defender to intentionally gain a penalty, and a footballer diving inside the penalty box to gain a penalty

Totally agree.

I've said plenty on this already this week!

I'm in total agreement with the OP, it's a poor reflection on how far the games fallen that we have Coaches and players resorting to cheap behaviours like this.

The referees have the power of discretion and if they sat down this week to decide on a plan if action followed by a directive to the clubs that unsporting conduct will result in a penalty against rather than for, then they'd kill this within a fortnight.

give over, if a player gets away from that position its no penalty, he cant just lay there and stop the play the ball, bet your coach has it drilled into them for your next match.

I agree 100% regarding this been unsporting.

On top of that it does nothing for the game entertainment value, and we are losing some fans of the game to union due to entertainment standards dropping.

Cut it out of the game, RFL

Defender lays on the floor, keeping still so not to affect the play the ball, penalty. Defender trys to get up and out of the way, ball deliberately thrown at him, penalty.

It is the RL equivalent of a footballer diving to win a penalty and as such the same amount of scorn should be directed to the culprit. Houghton looked a little sheepish when he was returning to his position under the sticks after the second. I suppose had the weather been better neither of those incidents would've occurred.

I refer to the play the ball incidents that seem to be on the up.
Does the attacking player have the right to milk a penalty by throwing the ball at the defender.
All to often the defending player involved in the tackle can place himself in a position to slow attacking options down.
So should the attacking player milk it or risk throwing a looping pass or go the opposite way to attack.

It's a grubby and cheap way to get an advantage - and it's a shame that the officials don't penalise it; as Avenger says, a one hour conversation between them, followed by a directive to clubs, would kill it within a week. Easy.

Agree with what you are saying, it happened twice yesterday, once for both teams, so not sure how it won Hull the game though?

Problem is, what if the defending player is injured and unable to move. As it stands you could just throw the ball at him and get a penalty. The rule stinks and want eradicating from the game ASAP

Houghton did it at least twice to get a penalty, yes the Wakey player was near the ball but he made a right meal of it and threw it at the man on the floor. It's disappointing because I pay my money to watch players like Houghton take the line on or put people in gaps, not get tedious penalties that are nigh on unavoidable.

I don't agree that they didn't intend plating for tries. That would be ridiculous.
They took advantage same as a hooker does when running at off side players.
I don't like it, and one was so obvious it was silly but Hull didn't do anything wrong. Refs fault.