Match 2025 Trial 1: Sharks vs Warriors - 7:30pm Friday Feb-7 @ Sharks Stadium

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Whilst we're at it, can we get rid of that stupid drop out rule? I can't for the life of me work out any advantages to the spectical of giving the kicker a free hit.

If it goes out of the full, penalty. Like any other restart.

To me - it was brought in because Latrell kept doing short drop outs and kept stuffing them up.

There needs to be some sort of risk v reward in the game, and the kick off and drop out were it.

Terrible set of rules they brought in

 

[bort]

I don't particularly object to it but I wouldn't say I especially enjoyed it either so from a game play perspective I don't see the need to change.

As far as I am concerned it is just a CTE related change, to reduced number of big windup prop runs.
So if it is actually safer then fine.

Teams aren't kicking to kick it out, they are trying to create a contested possession, so those punishments for getting it wrong should become less common as teams get better at it.

 

[Gards]

Blind eye was turned to increase speed and decrease penalties because it makes for a better tv product.
It's gone too far now and they need to reel it back in.

Once it settles and it's back to 'most people mostly playing the ball right most of the time' they'll start to ease off again.
Probably won't take long as coaches will be seething at players who give away in possession penalties for it.

I agree with all that in terms of where we are at, why we are there and the NRL eventually easing off again but while it makes for a faster game, maybe better for tv I don't think it's better for the sport or the contest or even the players in 1 sense.

Defenders should have more reward for making a tackle and stopping the attacking team with their time to recover and positioning not getting unfairly exploited by tunnel ball. Reward might be the wrong word, let's just say not punished although they can do the very same thing when they have the ball the game should be about attack vs. defense not attack vs. attack

It also makes a good hard charging meter gaining wrangling run or any semblance of attacking creativity less valuable when it's more about falling to the ground and getting up as quick as possible to tunnel it through ya legs.

The NRL have made the game quicker, I don't think they have made it more entertaining or satisfying to watch (maybe so for the more casual fans)

The game as a product is better IMO when it is less about the overall pace and more about toughness, field position and creativity. The game has become too much about ruck speed and samey same block plays.

I don't particularly object to it but I wouldn't say I especially enjoyed it either so from a game play perspective I don't see the need to change.

As far as I am concerned it is just a CTE related change, to reduced number of big windup prop runs.
So if it is actually safer then fine.

Teams aren't kicking to kick it out, they are trying to create a contested possession, so those punishments for getting it wrong should become less common as teams get better at it.

It's a **** house rule, I agree with BWB. Did the NRL ever even explain what the rationale around it is? I'm thinking it's to keep ball in play more, go for try instead of repeat set or get tackled 5m out and it's a quick changeover to defending team.

Doesn't matter if teams get better at the short drop out, there needs to be a risk and a team should be disadvantaged for getting it wrong and plenty of teams still do.

Could argue though if it's a penalty and the attacking team decides a to take a quick tap is it that different from the changeover they currently do from the 10m line. Takes away the 2 point option though.

 

[bort]

It's a **** house rule, I agree with BWB. Did the NRL ever even explain what the rationale around it is? I'm thinking it's to keep ball in play more, go for try instead of repeat set or get tackled 5m out and it's a quick changeover to defending team.

Doesn't matter if teams get better at the short drop out, there needs to be a risk and a team should be disadvantaged for getting it wrong and plenty of teams still do.

Could argue though if it's a penalty and the attacking team decides a to take a quick tap is it that different from the changeover they currently do from the 10m line. Takes away the 2 point option though.

More exciting and unpredictable play.
It's more unpredictable, probably up to the individual if it is more exciting.
Actually I'd probably say it is, although doesn't mean I prefer it.

I think it is just a CTE thing though and the argument it is more exciting is sugar coating the change.

It does matter if teams get better at the short drop out IMO
If they get better it goes out less, and the punishment (ptb vs tap) becomes less relevant.

The other team getting possession through a ptb in good field position is still a good outcome for them for the kick going out, it's just a little less than it used to be.

At the end of the day whether it is a PTB or a tap if it's messed up has little impact on my viewing of the average game, the more important question is are shorter drop outs better (entertainment and/or safety) than long ones?
That is what I am supposed to be watching, only when they mess up does the tap/ptb argument come into play - my view is that part is pretty minimal.
The 2 point element of it is potentially impactful but a team winning off a pen for a kick going out isn't that exciting to watch anyway (except when it is your team), so I don't care too much about losing that. But also would have been fine with no change and keeping it...

 

[Capital_Shark]

Whilst we're at it, can we get rid of that stupid drop out rule? I can't for the life of me work out any advantages to the spectical of giving the kicker a free hit.

If it goes out of the full, penalty. Like any other restart.

To me - it was brought in because Latrell kept doing short drop outs and kept stuffing them up.

I’m with you. It is a ****ing terrible rule change.

 

[Capital_Shark]

Nowhere near as bad as that *******.

He should be banned for 3 years the next time he refuses to play the ball waiting for the ref to call a penalty. [edited]

This **** makes Sharia law look like being allowed ice cream but no sprinkles.

 

[MrDravid]

That crack down wont last. They try it every few years and it never lasts

They don't even pick them all up in a game when the crackdown is on... just pick a couple of random ones at random points.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Does anyone look for them in a game? Can't say I even notice them live.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Does anyone look for them in a game? Can't say I even notice them live.

I’m too blind or drunk to notice

 

[bort]

Does anyone look for them in a game? Can't say I even notice them live.

Actively no, but I do notice them from time to time. Refs did pick up a couple I didn't see, no doubt they missed a couple too. Unless we had the old ruck ref back I wouldn't expect to catch them all.

 

[Warriors wizard]

Someone seriously needs to put that ******* DWZ in his place. He's an absolute germ.

It's actually worth sacrificing one of our players to put him in the dirt / ashes permanently...

He’s out for 12 weeks with that wrist injury!

Fractured and dislocated.

You won’t need to worry about the super perm for a while now

 

[Warriors wizard]

Actively no, but I do notice them from time to time. Refs did pick up a couple I didn't see, no doubt they missed a couple too. Unless we had the old ruck ref back I wouldn't expect to catch them all.

Ripe for inconsistent rulings and fans saying they picked up more on one team than the other…

Once one team gets pinged you will watch the next set where a couple don’t get called because it’s a bit discretionary and it will just detract from the game and cause frustration before finally being quietly not called anymore like all the other crackdowns.

Linesmen seemed to be calling them as well not the ref?

 

[SF]

He’s out for 12 weeks with that wrist injury!

Fractured and dislocated.

You won’t need to worry about the super perm for a while now

Ouch. Aside from the game last year, I’ve got nothing against him. Great winger to watch

 

[bort]

I didn’t clock that Holdsworth took the head coaches clipboard for this

 

[MMsharks]

He’s out for 12 weeks with that wrist injury!

Fractured and dislocated.

You won’t need to worry about the super perm for a while now

no need to worry - he uses 'Soul Glo'
will be still in tact on return to the game

 

[Western Sharkie]

I didn’t clock that Holdsworth took the head coaches clipboard for this

We played our jnr players
only fair we rap up the snr coach before season proper to give a Jnr coach a run

 

[bort]

Jarvis and Brailey gave up on footy

Will go back to this post because AdShark was in the know, but someone else may know also

Does Taj still have a role with the club?
His LinkedIn says "Cronulla sharks Photographer, Videographer" (but for over two years now)