JWH is in for a rough year

[ism22]

touching the ball with your foot pretty much ensures the player is on both feet while playing the ball, there are some shocking play the balls these days, which in turn, catches markers offside and get penalised, when they weren’t given a fair chance to get in position. The more you allow simple rules to be let go, the more we will see other rules slip.

Fair point. Was gonna say I hate crackdowns because they put too much emphasis on a random rule that is the flavour of the month (often because there as anecdotes about it being evil).

I hear you though... if its the rule then its the rule. It gets annoying when rules become redundant/inconsistent because they are widely ignored. Example... when there have been a zillion questionable play the balls all game. THEN, with 45 seconds to go we are behind by 4 and have got 6 tackles from within their 10. First play the ball (a slow, ordinary one) the refs blows up and is like nup... penalty... you didnt touch the ball with your foot. If they call it every time then that kinda thing isn’t as contentious IMO.

[John Corey]

The only ppl that are at fault for the current problem with the play the ball are the refs. They smash the area for a month and then slacken off, so players slacken off. If the refs kept a certain standard of play the ball by blowing the penalties when they should, then the players will adapt.
Even Jared

[One Eyed Willy]

The only ppl that are at fault for the current problem with the play the ball are the refs. They smash the area for a month and then slacken off, so players slacken off. If the refs kept a certain standard of play the ball by blowing the penalties when they should, then the players will adapt.
Even Jared

Your right
that is also why scrums are a sham
having both feet behind the tryline
getting a penalty and running over the mark by a good 5m to kick for touch
refs coaching players to follow the rules, if you have to tell a first grader that he can’t tske a tap until all his team mates are on side then he shouldn’t be playing first grade

[Bondicigar]

Its time for the roosters to move JWH on . Hes a liability these days

[kakaruk]

To quicken the play,players will play the ball sometimes while nearly still getting to their feet.Some of the big boppers like jarod instead of trying this quick play business should get to their feet,shove the marker back if hes crowding him and play the ball,its as simple as that imo

[The Lip]

I agree, can’t see why they don’t just let minor forward passes go either, and get rid of the scrum too as it serves no purpose. If we want a game with no rules and abysmal handling, we could all just go and support AFL.

The scrum is meant to take defenders out of the equation to some degree. Give the side that made the error or the defensive play of kicking out a harder task of defending that error or boring play.

However woth the farce scums have become ie with them not even really packing in properly they break form it so quick it doesn't achieve it anymore. Should be up to the ref to call break from the scrum to keep them packed until after the ball has been picked up - then it would go back to achieving this and make the game more entertaining giving the backs more room to show their skills.

[The Axe]

The scrum is meant to take defenders out of the equation to some degree. Give the side that made the error or the defensive play of kicking out a harder task of defending that error or boring play.

However woth the farce scums have become ie with them not even really packing in properly they break form it so quick it doesn't achieve it anymore. Should be up to the ref to call break from the scrum to keep them packed until after the ball has been picked up - then it would go back to achieving this and make the game more entertaining giving the backs more room to show their skills.

Agree Lip.
also Melbourne was the only team that feigned passes from back of scrum when ball had not cleared to win penalty from offside. Why?

also why do defensive teams not push like we did to beat tigers all those years ago?

scrums boring. Coaches should be more creative imho

[The Lip]

I don't get the anti jwh sentiment. I think he is one of the few that can dominate a game - yes he doesn't do it week in week out and we need to find a way to get that out of him more consistently. That's up to the coaching staff. In that enforcer role if that causes penalties we have to cop that.

I think Jwh will have a great season this year running off better placed balls from Cronk. A little bit of space to let him wind up is what he needs and I think he gets it this year - just a little bit is all that's needed to let him get to top pace before contact and I think Cronk might just provide that.

[The Skeez]

I think Jwh will have a great season this year running off better placed balls from Cronk. A little bit of space to let him wind up is what he needs and I think he gets it this year - just a little bit is all that's needed to let him get to top pace before contact and I think Cronk might just provide that.

and that's why we've bought Cronk in.
Everyone will know their place with him calling the play.

Can't wait !

[ChookMaster]

I don't get the anti jwh sentiment. I think he is one of the few that can dominate a game - yes he doesn't do it week in week out and we need to find a way to get that out of him more consistently. That's up to the coaching staff. In that enforcer role if that causes penalties we have to cop that.

I think Jwh will have a great season this year running off better placed balls from Cronk. A little bit of space to let him wind up is what he needs and I think he gets it this year - just a little bit is all that's needed to let him get to top pace before contact and I think Cronk might just provide that.

i would like to see SST have abit more space and more of a wind up before carrying the ball. Too many times last season we offloaded him the ball when he was flat footed. Has huge potential to make 10plus meters per carry - as seen in 2015.

[The Sack]

Whilst there at it, maybe penalise the marker when he has a hand on the player playing the ball, You make the tackle, step back and let the player play the ball. You cannot touch him or place a hand on his shoulder. The referees are just plain soft these days. Penalise often and early and they will get the picture.

In saying that, If any player keeps giving penalties away for playing the ball incorrectly game after game, they will not be in first grade too much longer.

[ism22]

Whilst there at it, maybe penalise the marker when he has a hand on the player playing the ball, You make the tackle, step back and let the player play the ball. You cannot touch him or place a hand on his shoulder. The referees are just plain soft these days. Penalise often and early and they will get the picture.

In saying that, If any player keeps giving penalties away for playing the ball incorrectly game after game, they will not be in first grade too much longer.

Bingo. I hate the awkwardness when refs don’t police something all game and then try to throw a stiff call on one team. I’m always like... that would be fine... if you’d penalised the other team for it early on rather than now when your call will significantly impact the outcome!!!

[Hawkeye]

Also throw in not facing square when playing the ball. Burgo G, last year in one game played the ball facing the sideline ....ref didn't even blink !

[mightyrooster]

I would like to see them penalise players (and teams) who deliberately walk off the mark to play the ball. And then earn penalties for it because the ref deems the oppostion to be offside or not square.

[Johnny Tobin]

I would like to see them penalise players (and teams) who deliberately walk off the mark to play the ball. And then earn penalties for it because the ref deems the oppostion to be offside or not square.

That’s called doing a Souffs 2014. So is dropping the ball and getting a penalty for a strip. Also, getting constant penalties in your 20 with the ball.