While you can understand the logic in the decision, and the need to protect players, you only had to read the tweets from the players actually involved in the game, when this was brought in to the NRL, to see how unpopular the ban will be.
A fair big hit with the shoulder can dislodge the ball, lift the defending team and change the momentum of the game. Bad move in my opinion.

Couldn't agree more, tougher sanctions on those that made contact with the head was the way to go with this one.

That'd put Rangi Chase in danger of being banned all the time, they wouldn't do that.

Much as it is a shame to lose the spectacle of it, one is a question of sanction, the other of being permissible.
And they're not mutually exclusive.
I guess the balance of risk vs not wanting to end up playing tag, wrapped in cotton wool is a difficult one.

Really don't like this. Game's in danger of becoming too sanatized. All of the injuries used as justification are from head shots that are already illegal. I couldn't give a stuff that it's banned in Union either, nobody runs with the ball anyway.

How many times do you see full backs (Billy Slater) crashing into wingers shoulder first to knock them out of play? Will that be a penalty try now?

And how often do props lead shoulder first carrying the ball into contact? Will it be okay if you have the ball?

We're already getting penalty fests, imagine the scope this will give to Childs / Ganson / Roby.

The logic isn't to protect the players it is to protect the RFL and IRFL from being taken to court further down the line. If they are not seen to be banning this kind of contact some money hungry retired player will look for a pay day in court. That is the only reason for this rule change and not one jot of consultation with the players has happened.

Now when you do a skydive you sign a waiver but that does not stop a claim for negligence in the future if something were to go wrong. The RFL can adopt something similar to this and keep the game as it should be... a contact sport.

I honestly feel like I want a refund on my season pass at this moment in time. If I can't go and watch a game of Rugby League as it is meant to be played then why waste £212 on a season pass?

If I wasn't disillusioned with the game before today, I sure am now.

and over reaction of the year award goes to....

Can you think of anyone who would like to represent these money hungry retired players on lets say a no win no fee basis?

Yeah, but signing the waiver couldn't be made compulsory for employees or contracts cancelled for those who refused. Down the road a player could just say he felt pressured
It's a shame, but not a surprise.
Out of interest is there an age below which it was illegal for junior teams?

The worry with a rule like this is that it will come down to a matter of interpretation and will end up being like the push / pull shambles that sees good defence being punished.

All tackliing leads with the shoulder so I'm assuming it will come down to whether sufficient attempt to use the arms is seen. How this will be enforced is going to be no doubt confusing and end up with even more venom being aimed at the ref who is yet again in a no win situation.

As a matter of opinion, how many of the 'big hits' that lifted our team at the weekend, the ones from Mika and Patterson mainly, would have now resulted in a penalty?

How long before a prop running the ball back in to the line at full speed, leading in with the shoulder is banned? The game is marketed as the hardest game on there is, maybe Mr Wiggins could do it now??

not sure it is too much but maybe for differant reasons, i thought long and hard before renewing as i felt the game was the least enjoyable i can remember, and too many games, for me personally, had been detrimentally affected by self important or inconsistent or simply baffling refereeing performances, this new ruling for me gives a whole new area for inconsistencies, incorrect descisions and as we have seen before new rules are zealously enforced for a few weeks. How many games in the next month or 2 will be spoilt when a team goes down to 12 or 11. Anyway hope im wrong but thats how i feel right now. Finally the rule against head contact was already there just dont see the point. Does this win me the award