Our wingers under the high ball...(new rules)

[ElleryHanley]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Yes, people saying there is no change have missed that point. It is a massive change.

 

[Geo]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!


So this will just be a Penalty instead of a TRY...?

 

[JC99]

It’s a massive rule change. Pretty much means if someone catches the ball in the air over the tryline you won’t be able to stop them, they won’t land on their feet they’ll flop straight over the line. Tall wingers will have a great time with it.

 

[balmain boy]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

You actually think players are going to be catching the ball above their heads then trying to dive head first into the ground to try and ground the ball before their feet touch the ground?? This would be an incredibly dangerous and reckless move, risking serious injury everytime.

They're not diving over in the corner where they can fling themselves about a bit. They have to catch the ball above their heads first and a split second later they'll be touching the ground.

And no, players don't try and cuddle during a bomb. If both players go for the ball by the time one has it and the other realises they don't they've already touched the ground and the player is open game to be wrapped up, barged into touch.

Do you actually believe players try to push the opposition player over the sideline while both players are still in the air? In that one split second? Have you actually ever seen this happen? Ever?? No, they push the player out after they have touched the ground...!

 

[Tiger5150]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!


So this will just be a Penalty instead of a TRY...?

no because he landed and then dived for the line

 

[Snake]

I’ve always hated tries scored from bombs and it will be worse now.
There’s a simple solution ... if you score from a bomb it’s only worth 2 points.

What differentiates a bomb from a chip?

Any try scored by any type of kick should only be rewarded with two points simple .. the kick can be still utilised but the emphasis will be on scoring tries through the hands and the 4 points that comes with it ! Kicks are a percentage play that luck plays its part ..

 

[Sco77y]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

If we've ever saved a try by somebody jumping up as soon as an attacking player catches the ball, constricting him mid air in a bear hug and then landing while still holding on strongly I'd like to see a replay. While you may be able to do this under the previous rule, you still couldn't put the player in a compromising/unsafe position making options limited anyway. Imo the new rule is a minor technicality and I can't see it making any real difference at all.

Aerial tries, more specifically when targeted just short of the try line are nigh on impossible to stop regardless for many reasons, mostly because there is too much momentum from the attacking player. It would take an incredible tackle to stop that with either rule in place.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Have others here also considered the penalty try option that will have to be taken into account and the potential 7 point reward coming from it?

 

[Cairnstigers]

You could still play Momo at left centre and have him swap with Nofo for tackles 3-6. If we are defending our line then this easily done. Similar to when Benji’s defence was suspect and they hid him on the wing and moved him back in when we had the ball.

Yeah or maybe have Joey Leilua contesting for the footy if the kick is right on our tryline. He’s a big body and could hopefully just knock the other guy out of the way while ‘contesting’ for the footy

This is our new training drill to defend kicks to our corners

 

[Geo]

Have others here also considered the penalty try option that will have to be taken into account and the potential 7 point reward coming from it?

Do you mean Penalty TRY or 8 point TRY...penalty TRY is just normal where they deem a TRY would have been scored..8 point TRY is when the player incurs an act of foul play whist scoring...don't thick tackling in mid air would be seen as foul play..

 

[cktiger]

I’ve always hated tries scored from bombs and it will be worse now.
There’s a simple solution ... if you score from a bomb it’s only worth 2 points.

What differentiates a bomb from a chip?

Well... ones a bomb and ones a chip.
I know what you mean though... the NRL will have five officials deciding the difference.

 

[cktiger]

I’ve always hated tries scored from bombs and it will be worse now.
There’s a simple solution ... if you score from a bomb it’s only worth 2 points.

What differentiates a bomb from a chip?

Any try scored by any type of kick should only be rewarded with two points simple .. the kick can be still utilised but the emphasis will be on scoring tries through the hands and the 4 points that comes with it ! Kicks are a percentage play that luck plays its part ..

Agree in the most part but a well placed grubber is more skilful than a kick and hope bomb.

 

[balmain boy]

I’ve always hated tries scored from bombs and it will be worse now.
There’s a simple solution ... if you score from a bomb it’s only worth 2 points.

What differentiates a bomb from a chip?

Well... ones a bomb and ones a chip.
I know what you mean though... the NRL will have five officials deciding the difference.

How high does a chip need to be before it's a bomb? The bunker would take hours deliberating over such dilemmas!

 

[Tiger5150]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

If we've ever saved a try by somebody jumping up as soon as an attacking player catches the ball, constricting him mid air in a bear hug and then landing while still holding on strongly I'd like to see a replay. While you may be able to do this under the previous rule, you still couldn't put the player in a compromising/unsafe position making options limited anyway. Imo the new rule is a minor technicality and I can't see it making any real difference at all.

No I dont ever remember a try defended the way you mention because it would be nearly impossible to do and unlikely to be successful.

MUCH more common (like almost every game) is the situation whereby they kick for the winger who catches in the air, near the tryline and sideline the defenders try to push the winger out while in the air. That happens all the time and will be a penalty or penalty try everytime from now on.

Ridiculous rule and will have a big impact. Almost guarantee it will bite the Tigers on the arse this year.

 

[twentyforty]

You could still play Momo at left centre and have him swap with Nofo for tackles 3-6. If we are defending our line then this easily done. Similar to when Benji’s defence was suspect and they hid him on the wing and moved him back in when we had the ball.

Yeah or maybe have Joey Leilua contesting for the footy if the kick is right on our tryline. He’s a big body and could hopefully just knock the other guy out of the way while ‘contesting’ for the footy

This is our new training drill to defend kicks to our corners

That could work! That’s what you do when you have the 2 smallest wingers. Good thinking @Cairnstigers !

 

[Sco77y]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

If we've ever saved a try by somebody jumping up as soon as an attacking player catches the ball, constricting him mid air in a bear hug and then landing while still holding on strongly I'd like to see a replay. While you may be able to do this under the previous rule, you still couldn't put the player in a compromising/unsafe position making options limited anyway. Imo the new rule is a minor technicality and I can't see it making any real difference at all.


No I dont ever remember a try defended the way you mention because it would be nearly impossible to do and unlikely to be successful.

MUCH more common (like almost every game) is the situation whereby they kick for the winger who catches in the air, near the tryline and sideline the defenders try to push the winger out while in the air. That happens all the time and will be a penalty or penalty try everytime from now on.

Ridiculous rule and will have a big impact. Almost guarantee it will bite the Tigers on the arse this year.

I can't remember the last time we defended a try like that, because I'm sure I would've been amazed. We've always struggled in situations like that - defending a high ball in a try scoring situation. I wonder how many times we've saved a try in this manner (or anytime where touching a player in mid air has benefited our defence of a try), therefore benefiting from the rule as it was? I'm guessing not many, which is why I'm not very concerned about the rule change.

 

[rustycage]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

You actually think players are going to be catching the ball above their heads then trying to dive head first into the ground to try and ground the ball before their feet touch the ground?? This would be an incredibly dangerous and reckless move, risking serious injury everytime.

They're not diving over in the corner where they can fling themselves about a bit. They have to catch the ball above their heads first and a split second later they'll be touching the ground.

And no, players don't try and cuddle during a bomb. If both players go for the ball by the time one has it and the other realises they don't they've already touched the ground and the player is open game to be wrapped up, barged into touch.

Do you actually believe players try to push the opposition player over the sideline while both players are still in the air? In that one split second? Have you actually ever seen this happen? Ever?? No, they push the player out after they have touched the ground...!

Who said anything about diving head first into the ground? Catching and flopping was what I read.

 

[balmain boy]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

You actually think players are going to be catching the ball above their heads then trying to dive head first into the ground to try and ground the ball before their feet touch the ground?? This would be an incredibly dangerous and reckless move, risking serious injury everytime.

They're not diving over in the corner where they can fling themselves about a bit. They have to catch the ball above their heads first and a split second later they'll be touching the ground.

And no, players don't try and cuddle during a bomb. If both players go for the ball by the time one has it and the other realises they don't they've already touched the ground and the player is open game to be wrapped up, barged into touch.

Do you actually believe players try to push the opposition player over the sideline while both players are still in the air? In that one split second? Have you actually ever seen this happen? Ever?? No, they push the player out after they have touched the ground...!

Who said anything about diving head first into the ground? Catching and flopping was what I read.

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

You actually think players are going to be catching the ball above their heads then trying to dive head first into the ground to try and ground the ball before their feet touch the ground?? This would be an incredibly dangerous and reckless move, risking serious injury everytime.

They're not diving over in the corner where they can fling themselves about a bit. They have to catch the ball above their heads first and a split second later they'll be touching the ground.

And no, players don't try and cuddle during a bomb. If both players go for the ball by the time one has it and the other realises they don't they've already touched the ground and the player is open game to be wrapped up, barged into touch.

Do you actually believe players try to push the opposition player over the sideline while both players are still in the air? In that one split second? Have you actually ever seen this happen? Ever?? No, they push the player out after they have touched the ground...!

Who said anything about diving head first into the ground? Catching and flopping was what I read.

That's what everyone already does though.

Do you think players catch the ball over the try line and then intentionally take longer than necessary to put the ball down?

 

[rustycage]

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

You actually think players are going to be catching the ball above their heads then trying to dive head first into the ground to try and ground the ball before their feet touch the ground?? This would be an incredibly dangerous and reckless move, risking serious injury everytime.

They're not diving over in the corner where they can fling themselves about a bit. They have to catch the ball above their heads first and a split second later they'll be touching the ground.

And no, players don't try and cuddle during a bomb. If both players go for the ball by the time one has it and the other realises they don't they've already touched the ground and the player is open game to be wrapped up, barged into touch.

Do you actually believe players try to push the opposition player over the sideline while both players are still in the air? In that one split second? Have you actually ever seen this happen? Ever?? No, they push the player out after they have touched the ground...!

Who said anything about diving head first into the ground? Catching and flopping was what I read.

This is a new rule? Since when have you been able to tackle someone in mid air? Must be missing some sort of finer detail..

Yes it is a new rule, in the past you could tackle an attacking player in the air but not a defensive player. You now cannot tackle a player catching a bomb on the try line. Allowing him to catch the ball and ground it. This change will have a major impact on the game!

Thanks cochise. Could’ve sworn one of the standard tactics was allowing an attacking player to catch a bomb, then get into position ready to tackle him as soon as his feet touched the ground (instead of attacking the ball yourself if you couldn’t compete in the air). I can’t remember players ever being tackled in mid air in recent times and thought this was always penalised.

Exactly.

This is how we've largely defended bombs when we feel we can't catch it. Probably 75% of times we contest the ball in the air and either get it or not, or we wait until the winger's studs graze the grass and try to knock them out.

Massive non-event.

No it's not, many players when contesting the bomb will wrap their arms around the opposition player when the opposition catches the ball. The other method has been to catch the player and try and hold up the ball or get the player over the sideline. These will now be a penalty, wingers will also have been training to catch the ball and ground it at the same time as the contact with the ground. This rule will be exploited!

You actually think players are going to be catching the ball above their heads then trying to dive head first into the ground to try and ground the ball before their feet touch the ground?? This would be an incredibly dangerous and reckless move, risking serious injury everytime.

They're not diving over in the corner where they can fling themselves about a bit. They have to catch the ball above their heads first and a split second later they'll be touching the ground.

And no, players don't try and cuddle during a bomb. If both players go for the ball by the time one has it and the other realises they don't they've already touched the ground and the player is open game to be wrapped up, barged into touch.

Do you actually believe players try to push the opposition player over the sideline while both players are still in the air? In that one split second? Have you actually ever seen this happen? Ever?? No, they push the player out after they have touched the ground...!

Who said anything about diving head first into the ground? Catching and flopping was what I read.

That's what everyone already does though.

Do you think players catch the ball over the try line and then intentionally take longer than necessary to put the ball down?

That's not the point. The point is nowhere did he say players would intentionally dive head first to the ground.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Have others here also considered the penalty try option that will have to be taken into account and the potential 7 point reward coming from it?

Do you mean Penalty TRY or 8 point TRY...penalty TRY is just normal where they deem a TRY would have been scored..8 point TRY is when the player incurs an act of foul play whist scoring...don't thick tackling in mid air would be seen as foul play..

Yeah, meant 8 point try but must have hit the button next to it.

As for the normal penalty try, well it will pretty well have to be awarded every time an attacker gets a decent grab of the ball and is interfered with in any way, as unless a player falls flat on their back, which is the only outcome that would enable the defence a shot of preventing the grounding, or the player drops it,it is going to be a try.