So tonights academy game between bulls and rhinos is the first game with the new rules were you cant tackle above the armpit,well theres been 59 penalties with over 50 for high shots not 1 set of 6 completed without a penalty,if rfl bring this in it will kill the game,quite ironically a leeds try was scored with a bulls player knocked out and ref refusing to stop play even though lino flagged him.our lads first taste of it is sunday and guess it will be another pen fest

If this comes in it will kill the sport off. I may even stop watching.

How can you determine where the armpits are if hit across chest? Who draws the line? There will be so many inconsistencies from decisions. There will be absolute uproar is a few try’s are allowed in sets that are shown to have contact on upper chest. Refs will be cannon fodder.

Wouldn’t a player just hold the ball with two arms up in air over head and get a couple of players running behind close to try line and just release the ball behind right as they get tackled. The player receiving try time. It will be tactically exploited in some way.

Some players will be coached to drop into contact so their upper chest is engaged too. You can’t tell me that won’t be coached for multiple penalties.

Ridiculous ,

In full agreement and fans and players alike will stop playing/watching the game

Just to add to this I honestly think someone needs a serious talking to at the
RFL.

The six again - speeds game up, encourages not a 6 tackle set but 10,13,16 + sometimes!, players are expending more energy with less breaks, retreating players can make lazy tackles. Everything about six again is absolutely negative including the inconsistent way it’s applied and teams like saints exploiting it at key times.

The answer is simple! Scrap six again. Bring back penalties for offences.

Teams/coaches will absolutely clamp down on foul play because the penalty sacrifices field position and territory. It’s a massive deterrent. Who wants to be the one to concede a penalty on the pitch?

If we are trying to promote less injury then surely penalty would stop back to back sets. It would probably improve the reckless tackle rate.

We could actually stop seeing one dimensional attacking structures like saints employ and actually see some expansive rugby back on the tackle with actual creative players who have to put on plays to actually break the defensive line.

Honestly someone needs to get a grip at the RFL or the sports done.

Totally agree about six again. Get rid .

My mates lad played his first ever game for the Bulls tonight. Neither the players or the spectators had a clue what was going on.

Defensive players going into tackles fatigued getting injured more with this ridiculous rule.

Seems to me that if it is illegal for a defending player to make contact with a ball carrier above the armpit… then it should be illegal for the ball carrier to contact the defender above the armpit… the risks are the same!!! Also if the ball carrier lifts the ball above armpit height… such as to avoid ball steal or score a try, that should be illegal…

But I agree that if the game changes Ike this… then I’m out! (Not that that will affect any decision by the sport)…

Bring back elbows to the head!

It does sound nonsense, and they'll soon scrap it.

In reality, it will increase head injuries. It seems that most concussions come from players either getting a low tackle wrong and catching a hip, or from friendly fire. The lower the player has to dip his head, the greater chance there is that he'll cop an elbow or a hip or get mowed to the ground.

And if they don't learn how to tackle as it is in the men's game, what happens when they get to 18 and have blokes running at them.

It sounds idiotic, but I suspect it's just an experiment. As a game, we're good at adapting. If it doesn't work, it won't last.

Unfortunately, the main attraction of the game is its brutality and physicality Take it away, it's netball.

Jowitts got a hell of a problem then

Going on todays academy games (still currently playing)if the new rules come into force rugby really is dead over over 40 pens in first half 2 major injuries due to new rules too plus another hia passed which occured for new rules,

Looking like a easy win for the lads though big lead last i knew (my lad got bad injury so kind of switched off on score)