I wonder if maybe the solution to the penalties is for coaches to teach their youth teams to tackle by the rules.

It's not the concept, it's the implementation.

At speed and from distance, pretty hard for any ref to define below the armpit, or whether it's purely accidental, or due to the player falling into the tackle. It's another one of those rules that are far too subjective, and I think it will kill the spectacle for a while until someone finally realises it can't be done.

It is/ was the gladiatorial nature of the sport which attracted me to play and watch… if these rules had applied when I was a kid would it have made a difference to me getting involved as a player? Who knows? As a paying spectator… yes it would absolutely have affected my decision… I don’t pay to watch touch footy… I don’t really like Union.. but the new rules have made it totally unwatchable for me…

I understand why the adaptation… with some technical reservations… and…
I’m sure new generations will adapt and enjoy… AND… I will always love and watch trinity whatever version of whatever sport they play.

But, in my old age, I think I will probably just end up watching 70s 80s and 90s games on YouTube … for that’s the sport I fell in love with!

Why don't they wear head protection like Bish used to wear. That was used purely for protection after a serious head injury.

But equally, how much better would it have been to watch Toppo, Millwall, Woods in the 70s if the players not as good as them couldn't just hit them in the head.

It's really not that hard to adjust to tackle below arm pits.

BJB was protecting a previously fractured skull I believe. Head Guards don't protect against concussion.

Its not that simple PT how many penalties for head i do you see where contact starts below the head but the force moves the arm up well there will be more of that now add to this the ball carrier just simply dips just before contact to win the penalty.you get a stop start games we where looking at 70 to 80 penalties a game thats why it will suffer i attended games last season with the rules and there not enjoyable add to this players were still getting headknocks but from tackeling and getting knees in the head

Yet the powers that be allow professional boxing, where the whole aim of "the game" is to do as much damage to the head as possible....crazy!!!!!

I honestly don’t know… (desperately not wishing to ref to Millwall)

Assumedly it is also incumbent upon the ball carrier to consider their own safety also… so ducking into the tackle or diving through a tackle to attempt to score a try should also be banned!?!

This is the crux of it. Most head injuries with players having to leave the pitch in SL I have seen have happened from hip level tackles where the head was in wrong position (Batchelor at magic) or two players going low and clashing heads.

I am actually struggling to recall many hard head shots in SL this season. Direct hits to the head are much rarer these past 2 seasons.

The simple fact is the player with the ball will have less risk but the defending players will have exponentially increased risk. Why??? They will be having to lower their own heads potentially to the height of a ball carriers forearm/elbow or hips (a reason why some I suspect avoid putting their heads there so they don’t cop a head knock).

I actually predict head knocks will rise… what then?

The issue is the RFL and insurers are reacting to players old head injuries from years ago when there were punch ups, stiff arms to the face and shoulder challenges. The game these days is much more controlled to the point where I expect far fewer of current SL players would suffer long term effects.

As I say the risk is from before the game evolved into what it is now. Which I think is sufficient as a fan. Players presently are much more protected than they were even 5 years ago.

If the premium is 1.4 million. I’m afraid I would pay it and just take 80k off each SL club or ask each SL. Club to sacrifice short term and do a comprehensive study over 2/3 seasons to evidence how head injuries are a much rarer occurrence and dealt with much more professionally than they were years ago with a view to bringing down that premium.

Feels like a very knee jerk reaction in some respects.

Alot of players are moaning

Can’t say I’d be happy if as a defender I’d have to put my head in body in a more vulnerable position either. At least with head up you can judge better and keep away from brutal head collision with own players and incidents like that at Magic (Jane’s Batchelor).

Also if two players went low on me I’d literally just offload the ball which I’m sure would be easier with less attention up high.

It's an absolute farce but it doesn't surprise me that there are some I could have predicted defending it.

It's not a matter of defending it. It's just the way it is.
Once the ex players started a law suit the game, as well as other sports would be bankrupt unless they followed the advice.