Friday, March 05, 2004
Rule change may blunt big Parra pack?
Just as Parramatta introduces a pack of monster forwards who should be able to well and truly match up against the forward size and power of packs like the Roosters and Pathers, the NRL goes and changes the rules to try and limit the effectiveness of gang tackles.
The NRL will tell referee's this year to penalise players when one tackler deliberately holds up the attacking player, waiting for team mates to then come in and knock the player over, thereby slowing down the play.
Referee's boss Robert Finch told reporters that this practice which he called a "dancing tackle" was just a standing version of the "flop" tackle that is used to try and slow down the play when an attacker is pulled to the ground.
Parramatta's forwards have impressed observers this year, with their ability to get numbers into tackles and dominate the ruck area.
Ricky Stuart, coach of The Roosters - the team that led the way with the introduction of the gang tackle - told the Daily Telegraph that the change was unnecessary.
"I think the NRL is going overboard regarding the holding-up rule.
"This move is a direct result of the Roosters' success in defence over the past couple of years.
In other rule changes:
* The grapple tackle employed so successfully last year by The Melbourne Storm is illegal
* Sterner penalities will be given against spear tackles
* Stripping a ball fram an attacking player in goal will result in a penalty 10m out from the line, rather than a penalty try
* An attacking player held up in goal now wins their team a tap start 10m out, rather than the head and feed in a scrum
Just as Parramatta introduces a pack of monster forwards who should be able to well and truly match up against the forward size and power of packs like the Roosters and Pathers, the NRL goes and changes the rules to try and limit the effectiveness of gang tackles.
The NRL will tell referee's this year to penalise players when one tackler deliberately holds up the attacking player, waiting for team mates to then come in and knock the player over, thereby slowing down the play.
Referee's boss Robert Finch told reporters that this practice which he called a "dancing tackle" was just a standing version of the "flop" tackle that is used to try and slow down the play when an attacker is pulled to the ground.
Parramatta's forwards have impressed observers this year, with their ability to get numbers into tackles and dominate the ruck area.
Ricky Stuart, coach of The Roosters - the team that led the way with the introduction of the gang tackle - told the Daily Telegraph that the change was unnecessary.
"I think the NRL is going overboard regarding the holding-up rule.
"This move is a direct result of the Roosters' success in defence over the past couple of years.
In other rule changes:
* The grapple tackle employed so successfully last year by The Melbourne Storm is illegal
* Sterner penalities will be given against spear tackles
* Stripping a ball fram an attacking player in goal will result in a penalty 10m out from the line, rather than a penalty try
* An attacking player held up in goal now wins their team a tap start 10m out, rather than the head and feed in a scrum
