Tweet
T’S the unwritten law that seems to be being broken more and more by NRL players to gain an advantage.
Plus, why is one Kangaroos forward uncertain about his selection in the national side?
Catch all the latest rugby league news in Media Watch!
THE RULE PLAYERS ARE EXPLOITING
St George Illawarra halfback Benji Marshall has made the extraordinary admission NRL coaches are telling their players to lay down in the hope of earning a penalty.
The Dragons have been accused of milking penalties in the wake of a heated Anzac Day match against Sydney Roosters on Monday in which four of Trent Robinson’s men were placed on report.
When questioned about the tactic Marshall initially pointed to the cases of teammates Mitch Rein and Taane Milne who were both forced from the field genuinely injured, and Roosters opponents reported in the aftermath.
But the Red V playmaker went on to concede players are being told to take advantage of the flaw in the system which allows the new bunker to watch slow-motion replays immediately during games.
“The rule is if you make contact with the head you are more than likely going to get a penalty,” Marshall told NRL 360.
“The coaches will say it, they say if you get hit in the head stay down because you know it’s going to go up (to the bunker).
“I don’t know if I’ve done it.
“It’s within the rules, and until they take it out it will be there forever. Every team is guilty of it.”
Cronulla veteran Michael Ennis denied Sharks coach Shane Flanagan had ever instructed his players to milk penalties.
“Shane Flanagan never coaches us to stay down. It’s a personal thing,” Ennis told the panel.
But Ennis says the players may be shooting themselves in the foot if they do lay down after a tackle.
“I’m seeing a lot now the referees telling the players to play the ball if they do stay down,” he said.
“You run the risk of losing that momentum if you are starting to gain some and you get a clip, thinking do I stay down and get a penalty here?
“If I stay down and don’t get one the defensive line freshens up then you lose the momentum you just gained.”
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-...1419dfc3a5d563
Plus, why is one Kangaroos forward uncertain about his selection in the national side?
Catch all the latest rugby league news in Media Watch!
THE RULE PLAYERS ARE EXPLOITING
St George Illawarra halfback Benji Marshall has made the extraordinary admission NRL coaches are telling their players to lay down in the hope of earning a penalty.
The Dragons have been accused of milking penalties in the wake of a heated Anzac Day match against Sydney Roosters on Monday in which four of Trent Robinson’s men were placed on report.
When questioned about the tactic Marshall initially pointed to the cases of teammates Mitch Rein and Taane Milne who were both forced from the field genuinely injured, and Roosters opponents reported in the aftermath.
But the Red V playmaker went on to concede players are being told to take advantage of the flaw in the system which allows the new bunker to watch slow-motion replays immediately during games.
“The rule is if you make contact with the head you are more than likely going to get a penalty,” Marshall told NRL 360.
“The coaches will say it, they say if you get hit in the head stay down because you know it’s going to go up (to the bunker).
“I don’t know if I’ve done it.
“It’s within the rules, and until they take it out it will be there forever. Every team is guilty of it.”
Cronulla veteran Michael Ennis denied Sharks coach Shane Flanagan had ever instructed his players to milk penalties.
“Shane Flanagan never coaches us to stay down. It’s a personal thing,” Ennis told the panel.
But Ennis says the players may be shooting themselves in the foot if they do lay down after a tackle.
“I’m seeing a lot now the referees telling the players to play the ball if they do stay down,” he said.
“You run the risk of losing that momentum if you are starting to gain some and you get a clip, thinking do I stay down and get a penalty here?
“If I stay down and don’t get one the defensive line freshens up then you lose the momentum you just gained.”
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-...1419dfc3a5d563
Comment