Eels Blogs

Knock on Rule

Posted by Michael Ericson on November 16, 2009 at 3:28pm

Did anybody see the try that was scored in the international on Satruday night when Slater knocked the ball back from past the dead ball line.To the letter of the law I don't think that was a try because in his second last touch Slater deliberately knocked it forward away from the hand of the England fullback and then he knocked it back.In reality it was no different to the try that was disallowed by Hayne earlier in the year. The only difference being that Hayne knocked the ball over the fullback so it looked more blatant - the action was the same though.I was debating it with a mate at the time and I was saying that we shoud just do away with the deliberate knock forward rule altogethor and instead say that unless the ball touches the ground it isn't a knock on.But he made a good point that it would unfairly help attacking players on bombs where they already have an advantage anyway.What does everyone think?

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Beau November 16, 2009 at 4:18pm

i.e what dally messenger used to do?
Michael Ericson November 16, 2009 at 4:38pm

I think the rule was brought in to combat what Dally messenger used to do - and I agree it would be a farce if players could continue to do that (although can't a player still tackle the guy after he throws it because he is aguably still in possession - like in touch footy?).

However the rule doesn't now mention anything about knocking the ball over a player - simply knocking the ball deliberately forward.

I agree that the referee probably ruled that Slater was contesting the ball but I disagree, in my opinion he only ever intended to knock the ball forward he was never trying to catch it.
JEELman November 16, 2009 at 5:25pm

Any quick thinking player can make it look unintentional. I think Jamie (show me the money) Lyons did it a week or two after Hayne's disallowed try.
The problem with Hayne's no try was that the ball was below or near face level meaning he had to knock it up and forward, so it was always going to look sus.