Video ref take a bow. Roby clearly didn't get the ball down, there was always a gap between the ball and the grass. Gaskell was clearly infront of Lomax on the kick. None negotiable. I'm sure even the most loyal saints fan will admit it. They were always going to get the luck in the first game at their new home.

Credit to Salford for playing some outstanding rugby. Saints have played some boring stuff, barging over the line as usual.

Gaskell was offside but Roby clearly got the ball down on the second camera angle they showed.

Held called, ball passed, try scored?

The scoreline flatters stains.....

Salfords fault

I never pointed a finger, I was simply saying that the scoreline doesn't do justice to the effort of the Reds and how for 50 mins they had stains worried.

The new rule is stupid. Surely we want a faster game, end to end game? What's the advantage of waiting till the ball hits the floor?

I was going to say the same thing. Whoever thought of it, not sure what they was aiming to get out of it

Player penalised for trying to speed up the game and provide entertainment

No.

Exactly.

Another thing fixed that wasn't broken.

If you say so. Try was given though.

I fail to see a situation where this rule would actually affect anything?

If a player jumped over line and knocked it back to player for a try would be only benefit for the rule. It gives commentators something to rave about! Stupid rule tho

They probably want to see spectacular flying attackers, Ben Barba style, which in some grounds would have players landing in the advertising or terraces!

Like I say I don't understand what the RFL are aiming to get out of the game by introducing something that seems rather petty. A rule change that effects the players safety or attempts to speed the game up, I can understand and adapt to live with it but the sport has no gain from this rule. If anything it works quite the opposite by slowing things down and causing pointless disputes.

That has always been allowed to happen, hasn't it? What shouldn't happen is for a crap kick like Gaskell be rewarded with another set because Williams wanted a quick restart.

But thats without him touching the ground. Williams' feet were clearly out of the field of play touching the ground when he collected the ball. You're asking guys to go against something they have known all their lives when there was nothing even wrong with the rule in the first place. It's a stupid one if you ask me.

I disagree. If the ball hadn't touched the ground in attack, someone was stood behind the line in the field of play and knocked it back and it was grounded it would be a try. Equally, if they jumped from the field of play and knocked it back whilst in the air it would be a try. The ball is still live. Why should it not be the same in defence? If he wanted a quick PTB he could have waited a whole 1 second later when it hit the ground. He ran over the line, caught it whilst it was still live, therefore it's a drop-out.

Seems logical to me.

It's not a case of not understanding the rule, more a case of why has it been introduced? What gain is there to be by bringing it in?

For years, if the ball crossed the line like it did in this situation, the defender has always quickly thrown it the 20 metre for a quick PTB and I've never seen an attacking team complain about it yet!

I suppose to ensure the ball is properly dead before it is played.

i guess it stops the practice of a player placing one foot over the line when fielding a ball (ie from a kick off) to ensure it is deemed out on the full. Seems a reasonable rule change to me

But that only happens when the ball is going to bounce within the field of play and as far as I'm aware this can still be done, so therefore doesn't apply on this occasion.