Big change in the England - Wales match when it was back to the quick PTB. No consistency at all and we could easily get a split tournament depending upon who referees. I assume Bentham reffed like that because he was following instructions!

Generally the speed of the play the ball depends on how good the defence is. If defenders dominate the collision the referee will normally shout dominant and allow them extra time at the play the ball. If the attacker hits the ground fast before another defender can tackle them round the body they have earnt the right for a quick play the ball and the ref will ref accordingly. If the defender doesn't release the legs, or another flops on the proone body on the floor, they get penalised.

In this position the markers aren't set and a scoot is normally the most damaging form of attack to the defence. Why should the ref reward poor defence and penalise good carries, just to try and pander to some crackpot theory that the game needs to be slower and halfbacks should have to sh*t miracles in 2 metres of space surrounded by defenders?

Problems arise from a lack of consistency. One week a ref will have it perfect. Reffing to reward good defence and good carries. Another week they'll penalise someone for farting at the play the ball. The next week defenders will be able to make a cup of tea and not be penalised.

It's a generally accepted theory among many that we haven't produced a halfback of real quality since the likes of gregory and edwards were knocking around, before the super league era.

I'd suggest this is more to do with a focus on power, fitness, size and strength, with the onset of super league era and professionalism, while a downgraded focus on guile, reading of the game and smarts.......than any theories about the speed of the play the ball.

It's worth a try.....but the underlying problem will be (as always) the inconsistency of the officials and their interpretations of the rules on any given day.

Does SL have enough quality creative halfbacks to make this a success ?

Like it or not the game has to attract punters as a spectacle. Scoots from dummy half from a quick PTB create the spectacle that the alternative dependence on quality half backs might not.

Going back to 5m would be a major step back for the game. I'm not sure that's a serious suggestion?

Try and imagine a game of 5m with todays fitness and professionalism. Think of the line speeds. Teams would make ground up the field so painfully slowly. Even with 10m some teams are restricted to just 25-30 metres in a set when theres good defence and line speed, so imagine the same with 5 metres?

It would be awful to watch. There would hardly be any passing, because the defence would be on the players so fast.

Do we have enough quality HB's? We have 'capable' HB's but rule changes will mean coaching changes, maybe the rules as they are, are the reason we don't appear to have the quality of the past? The game discreetly move on season by season and coaches look for the best ways to exploit the rules as they are and when there is a rule change, they again look for the best way to play them. Moving the line back 5 instead of 10 just means everyone's plan A is thrown in the bin and they have to draw up a new one

Regards injuries and lining people up
Check the video site
[iBen Westwood Big Hit Vs Hull KR[/i

Although he'd still hit Lovegrove, he wouldn't have the full speed and weight behind him that he does hit him with, and Rhys wouldn't be walking like he'd just rolled out of a club at 3am.

Spot on!