Downtown Penalty

[JAF]

There was quite a few earlier in the season but they died off pretty quickly as it was an easy adjustment for teams. Seems to be one pulled up at random each round now.

And that's where the issue lies - random and at the game-manager's discretion when he/she would like to influence the momentum of the game

[Carlos Parra]

It's just another example of cheating, corrupt referees.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Contrary to the Petula Clark song, things won't be great when you're "downtown."

Jaydub might have been after the Penske file...

[Kelby]

I think this discussion belongs in the NRL fraud / bunker bias folder!

Game manipulation at its finest.

[OMR]

Same as the Walker tackle around the legs. Why was he penalised for wrapping his arms around the legs of a players? Didn’t use his body to force him down or apply any pressure. Haven’t seen the replay , but watching live and the immediate replay at the time it seemed like a picky penalty by an incompetent nincompoop.

[Schooner]

JWH was well behind when ball was played by Whyte but passed him slightly as Walker kicked. This is the toughest downtown ruling I've seen. The ref called out JWH for the penalty, but Keary was a half meter in front of JWH. It looks like JWH is being targeted.

[ism22]

Can someone explain to me why JWH was penalised for being downtown?

I know the rule, but JWH wasn’t in front of the play the ball when it was played, in fact, he was well behind it.

[NBA Jam announcer voice]

'From doooooown toooown... BOOOM SHAKALAKKA!!!!!' [as Jizzy pulls off a mad dunk from the 1/2 way line using Muggsy Bogues and V'landys chucks a nerd rage, slamming his fist on the controller while calling out some lame your mumma insult]

IMO V'landys just made up the rule because he played too much NBA Jam down at Wollongong's Timezone as a kid.

[ism22]

FWIW I think there's a new interpretation of 'downtown' (which is classic Anusley... change guidance on an existing rule to bend it out of shape rather than introducing new rules).

See Brad Arthur's rants from their game against the Riff. Apparently Yeo, Edwards and Cleary got away with it at some point (see https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...3c4ba8fde38f03).

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The play that Arthur is referencing was Penrith’s first try of the night when Dylan Edwards chased down a Nathan Cleary grubber in the 10th minute.

When Cleary put the kick in, Panthers back rower Isaah Yeo was moving forward towards the line about 2-3 metres in front of the star halfback and in front of where the previous play the ball took place.

A new interpretation on the ‘downtown’ rule was put in place by the NRL this season, which if policed correctly in this instance, should have meant a disallowed try and a penalty to Parramatta.

The rule reads: ‘In general play, if a player is in front of the kicker and intentionally advances beyond the point of the previous play the ball before the ball has gone past the chasers, a penalty will be awarded at the mark of the play the ball’.