The modern game is being destroyed by penalties.

IMO, the biggest problem in league today is penalties. Every decision to award or not to award a penalty is heavily scrutinised and often blamed for a clubs demise on the day.The reason IMO for this is that penalties have become to much of an advantage, and because of the disproportionate reward a team receives coaches are coaching players to play for the penalty.It is important to remember when the penalty system was first created the game was a very different game then today.The old leather balls used in the day were a lot harder to kick, on average a kick for touch would only make a 20 meter advantage. Not the 40 meters the nylon ball gives a team.The five meter rule has been changed to ten, allowing teams to march up the field a lot easier.Last of all let's face it there was far less things you could be penalised for.I hope the league addresses this issue sooner rather then later. One option I heard Sterlo suggest is the captain must choose between a kick for touch or a new set of 6 not both.

"Yep Talking Parra had Tuilagi and Pezet at 9.5 and felt that was too high considering both had issues during the game, particularly the first 25 mins."

"With To'o and his comment of "Hard work beats talent" leans into what i suspect with my comments below as well. Discipline, ie hard work to get back in the line and move up when fatigued , the cover defending the fullback getting back in…"

"They are spot on. He did more wrong than right. The bounce of the ball goes the other way on Smith try and his own, and his performance would be crucified. They were very lucky bounces on somewhat selfish 3rd tackle plays. He was also at fault for a…"

Replies

The Badger July 12, 2014 at 4:16pm

Well thought out and considered blog.

Not sure what the answer is but I certainly agree with your summation. Perhaps just a tap only - no kicks for touch or goal?? Maybe only a set of 3 tackles rather than 6. The refs may not penalise so much on tackles 1, 2 or 3 then.
FishFood July 12, 2014 at 4:26pm

Yeah, agree totally. Too many penalties are grey and provide far too much advantage. I like the count-reset they had in the last Allstars game - no interuption to the flow of the game.
Frank The Tank July 12, 2014 at 5:33pm

Yep look at last night.
Tigers ripped off first try followed by piggy back penalty and bang 12 point turnaround.
After that 6 consecutive penalties to Manly. The bastard refs had to replace the whistle after they blew the pea out of it that first half. Absolutely disgraceful one sided refereeing at its best.
Earl Grey July 12, 2014 at 5:58pm

This blog is relevant considering the refs performance so far..
Brian smith July 12, 2014 at 6:00pm

I've been saying for a while that if a a penalty is awarded there should be no kick for touch anymore. With the new ball something has to change
brad July 12, 2014 at 6:34pm

I am not saying we are loosing because of the ref, but any system that allows for one team to have 80 percent of the ball after 30 minutes is wrong.win loose or draw I want to see a competition . Warriors had 5 to nil penalties in the first 30 minutes.
Trini Lopez calling Go Go Gomez July 12, 2014 at 6:52pm

I think I hate square-up penalties more than anything else in RL.