I know this is tongue in cheek, but if you look at accidental head contact that can often lead to more damage to the tackler than the tackled then what is actually the difference between accidental contact with your own player and opponents?
The real thing here should be the term accidental, often responsibility at speed is taken away by impact from other tackling players, a slip or movement by ball carrier that can all lead to perfect technique and body position being left looking poor within a split second and illegal. How do you realistically differ accidental contact between anyone who's involved in tackles? All shows how you can't take this completely away from the game and sooner we get players input on this the better, mainly because it's a pretty impossible position to play or officiate on.

Now that Smith and Ellis have been cleared it just leaves us poor souls with only who replaces Thompson (and possibly Leeming) to argue about

Looks like IMG have got their wish when it comes to increasing Social Media content, never known anything like it on Facebook & Twitter tonight. Surprised we are not trending to be honest.

Always have always will.

the bit i bolded is the critical bit, and something i think will come into our game. i've already seen 2 instances in RU just on my facebook feed where players have been sent off for accidental head clashes in the tackle, and the ref saying its careless/ reckless etc and sent them off. When i watched both, i was looking to see what the play was about, and then all of a sudden red card pulled and player off

It does leave me questioning why they set a date of 2025 for the reduction of the tackle height to below the armpits. If this is any indication of how the season is going to pan out, then we are in for a stinker and i can genuinely see it causing substantial harm to the viewing figures and interest which risks to completely undo all the positive changes that the sport and clubs have made.

We would have likely seen a tough year this season regardless, as i imagine there will be a period of adjustment to the reduced tackle height where we will see plenty of penalties dished out as well as suspensions. But with the path we have gone down, we are now facing 2 years in a row like the weekend just gone.

If they intended to be so aggressive against head contact (i am sure their hands are tied on this, with the ex player stuff ongoing), i just fail to see the logic in delaying the change that so needs to be made. At the game on Saturday i was saying to the group i go with, if this first round is a sign of how the season will go, then it is looking bad enough that the reduced tackle height could well be the saviour of the sport and a welcomed change, especially if the clubs and players buy into it. I do think it comes with other issues, such as potentially making offloads easier being one of them but i am sure the game would adjust to any effects such a big ruling will bring.

Putting on my conspiracy hat for a second, maybe that is part of the grand plan. Make this season so unbearable that even the controversial armpit ruling seems a desirable change!

#

Let's call it what it is: what should be the dawn of a new age of mass-interest in RL is turning into the dawn of audience annihilation.

According to Alex Walmsley, none of this is happening in Australia, Life goes on in the NRL as usual. So the international part of the game will die first.

Only the RFL could have supervised a sh##show like this.

Think it was more unfortunate considering the laying on and slowing the game down most of the time.
He just happened to be the straw that broke the refs back after one can only assume the team as a whole were warned if it happened again someone would get a yellow.
Looking at other sin binnings and sending offs yes it was as minor as it gets.

Sorry to hijack but what would be the best pub to watch the saints game before the WCC. With my old man so preferably somewhere not too busy with a low d*c*head ratio?

Cue gag about sintelliners in attendance ramping up aforementioned ratio.

So the game is being played under the old interpretations of the rules regarding head contact/illegal tackles after which we go back to the new interpretations for Huddersfield. There is no captains challenge but you can strip the ball when a defender leaves a multi-man tackle as per NRL rules.

Anyone get the impression they're making it up as they go?

Sure. Why would the RFL change the habit of a lifetime?

Red Robin is next to the ground but isnt great. Theres plenty of places in town but again, not that great with the b3ll3nd ratio. The fan village will be open but will be very busy but is friendly

Somewhere like the Anvil would probably fit the bill in town (if it has Sky?) or the Swan and Railway. You don’t get too many idiots in those two from my experience. Only issue will be how busy they’ll be. I think everywhere will be pretty rammed around that time.

Maybe worth watching it somewhere on the outskirts of town like Orrell, Billinge, Standish etc and then head to the DW from there but parking/time may be an issue.

Yeah got to agree with NK on town centre pubs. I go into both on a regular basis and generally a decent set of people frequent them both.
Out of town but quite close to the ground on Victoria street is The Jawbone. A relatively new landlady but historically pretty accommodating to rugby supporters. Wouldn’t go there though normally on a Saturday night for the karaoke! A few “characters” go in but stranger’s won’t get any hassle.

It's usually OK for rugby events easy stroll to the ground from pub

Harvie Hill will play Peet has confirmed. What an opportunity for the lad!

Chuffed for him. He looked very good in pre season and won’t let us down.

Leeming available as well

I'm happy with Hill, great prospect in the Academy and Reserves with exceptional footwork and rugby nouse, he has added go-forward and strength to his game over the off-season and pre-season. Did wonder if they would bring Chan in for cover across all the pack.

Another close to there for an option could be Newtown Working mens club who should also be showing the game. Good, cheap pint in there too.

Park up in one of the streets nearby either of these and you should be good, both walking distance to the stadium.

I agree that Newtown is a good place to park up. There's also the Queens Arms near Aldi, always has the rugby on the TV's as you walk past.

Thanks to everyone for responding on the pre-game pubs - MattyB, NickyKiss, BoredWiganer, [Gareth, Itchy Arsenal, stpatricks, thanks to you all and apols if I missed anyone.

No problem.
If you are into your beer The Anvil and Swan& Railway are a good bet.
If you like a good pint of Guinness then Jawbone is spot on.

A Wigan ref. A bent mrp. Penrith treating it as a jolly. Home field advantage.

If Wigan don’t win this it will be embarrassing