do any of you guys think the standard of video ref decision's have gone down the pan ,not just the rovers one on sat, but from game one? i cant remember who it was who scored but the leeds one first game of the season when he plonked the ball on the defenders leg and it was still given as a try?? i think there has been at least one call per game(which have been on sky) which have been wrong decisions IMO

But making an attempt to play the ball and missing it is against the rules, the fact is if we are to accept what you and Cummins say then why not change the rules. Cummins commented on what he thought refs should accept a few years ago but thats not the rules and whilst this ridiculous,Referee's interpretation' situation prevails they will do as they like when they like at a play the ball. They have to change the rules or stick by them as they are written, at present they use the rule when it suits them! When Murrell scored the play the ball blatently broke the rules of the game but because the refs have painted themselves into a corner it was allowed to stand despite controvening the very regulations of the game!

just imagine what a new comer to the game who had learned the rules to understand what is going on is going to make of that decision!

Too much power and descretion on too few people I am affraid! Its an almost incestuous alliance of the full time few, with no apparent career structure and an apparent closed shop!

None of them were from knock ons over the line though

I agree, maybe they should say aslong as the ball goes between the legs or something of the like. If a player attempts to tap a penalty and run he would be penalised if he never 'tapped' it properly, making an attempt at 'tapping' wouldn't be deemed adequate in that situation. Playing the ball is the same only to another player therefore he must make contact with foot to ball. The fact it never happens seems to be overlooked.

I've not looked back at every try from this week but going on both the FC game and the KR game nearly every try would be disallowed if the VR went back to the point of PTB.

There are a few points here:

1. the video ref must follow the rules to the letter
2. the video ref checks what he asked to check. I'm not sure he was asked to check the ptb - I think it was Phil Clarke who mentioned it during the replay. Was he not just asked to check the obstruction at the ptb and the grounding? As you say, checking ptbs would result in most tries being disallowed (particularly when most are played a yard or so in front of the mark)
3. he used benefit of the doubt for a try for Rovers but not for Cas. In neither try was it absolutely clear that the ball had or had not been grounded. There is a balance here that he seemed to ignore.

Could be wrong but a video ref can only go back 2 moves and what the ref ask him to look at