Cup runs are nice but in the modern format means you've won about 3 games a season. League games are where the club makes its money and performances have been well below standard. We've finished above 6th twice since 2007 and even then we flopped in the playoffs when Old Trafford was in our sights.

Worth noting also that the video ref last night was Jack Smith. He was TJ last week against Saints and was on the side where Hopoate threw his forward pass.

Thought he was going to be a decent ref when he first appeared on the scene but he has become as bad as the rest?

Also doing chopping motions with his hands after the game conversing with James Clark and him nodding back to AP. Hodgson looked like someone who knew he was in for the chop, stood talking to Ellis, at the end of the game. Could have sworn his eyes were very moist, almost tears. Who knows.

The law is to stop players deliberately heading the ball forward and was introduced to stop players avoiding being tackled with the ball. In this instance the ball hit the head rather than the head hitting the ball and so was play on. The decision was correct.

not all bad news at least toulouse are down.

Slight positive

Big stats from Satae and Sao (who played 80 minutes).

Thought at the time Littem stood up well and backed up with his stats, I'd start him on the wing on Thursday.

Time to throw all the kids in and get them some vital minutes of experience. We don't need to see plodders like Johnstone again.

Think we will have to use everyone with the quick turn around.

Where does it state any of that? Nothing about deliberate or accidental in the law?

That’s like saying when an attacking player throws a pass and it hits the hand of the defender it should be play on if the defender falls on the ball. But we all know it is given as a knock on.

Same rules apply surely?

The difference is on the one hand the defender is actively facing the ball either making a tackle or trying to stop ball movement whilst in this case the player was accidentally and unknowingly hit on the head. A pass is a deliberate act. A header is interpreted as a deliberate act. A header is defined as a shot or pass made with the head. In no way could the incident be described as a pass.

That cover tackle from Litten was outstanding.

What?

You are just making up scenarios to suit your agenda?

None of this is included in the laws of the game. The law is quite clear. It is illegal to head the ball forward which is what he did?

No need to complicate it further with deliberate acts etc

99% of knock ons are accidental?

The law is to stop a player illegally heading the ball forward if for example you cant get a pass or kick away
As has been pointed out this was a player who was hit with a ball to the head accidentally.
The decision was correct

But if it hits your hand acidentally its a knock on - so whats the difference?

Seems the master baitors are out in force.
This could end up being a sticky thread

Not a Hull FC fan but wouldn't Pearson have been better suggesting such as Houghton and Taylor " get them off" rather than the young lad trying his best. What a knob of a chairman, no wonder the club is such a shambles

Where does it say in the law about it being deliberate or accidental?

It doesn’t!

Please Davey, give it up as you are incorrect as stated by previous posters.
I'm not wanting to appear rude but read the below.
Deliberate heading out of hands, no.
Ball accidentally hitting head yes.

As the ball landed in the hands of big prop John Harrison, he used every one of his neck muscles to head the ball out of his hands and into the in-goal area.

His perfectly waited looping header was chased and touched down by George Mann and the try was awarded to the bewilderment of Sheffield’s players.

There were no rules to prevent teams heading the ball forward at the time and Saints head coach, the late Mike McLennan, confirmed that they had planned it before the game.
Incredibly, prior to the move, the Saints players asked referee Gerry Kershaw if they were okay to attempt it, to which he replied: “Yes, no problem.”

Following the match, which Saints won 34-17, the incident caused much controversy and heading the ball forward was subsequently outlawed days later.

Had to post as this pointless debate was doing my head in but not as much as watching Hull however

You believe what you want. The ball hit the head not the head hit the ball. It was play on and a try resulted. Lucky for Wakey unlucky for FC.

By your interpretation that means you can get a penalty by throwing the ball at an opposition players head (so long as you throw it in a backwards direction). That clearly wouldn't be correct.

You also can't claim a knock on if you throw the ball at an opposition players arm unless he attempts to grab at the ball. The letter of the law states that it is a knock on though.

I must admit that my initial post was triggered by a memory of a try that you can see if you search 'Strange Rugby League Try' on YT. I didn't know they'd added this law after that try, and am certain that the intent of the law is to ban 'head-to-ball' NOT 'ball-to-head'

A 'knock on' can only happen off the hand or arm, so it's definitely not that. Seems a bit extreme to claim a penalty for a ball hitting a player's head.

You're barking up the wrong tree trying to blame this one on the refs - I accept that they make too many inconsistent decisions generally though.

Quote ="davey41"Where does it say in the law about it being deliberate or accidental? It doesn’t!'" Wow, this has escalated Heading the ball is by definition a deliberate act. The ball hitting the head is not and has never been a knock on, deliberate header or otherwise. Heading the ball forward was specifically outlawed following a famous try-scoring incident by St Helens v Sheffield in November 1990. https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/watch-st ... ard-37802/ It was a fluke try amongst a few in a scrappy game of fairly low quality. The decision to award the try was correct. As were the other VR decisions. Gaskell wasn't looking at the ball as he assumed the Hull player had it covered and was about to catch it. He was preparing to effect a tackle ASAP. Just happy to get the 2 points and likely SL survival.

Quote ="davey41"Where does it say in the law about it being deliberate or accidental? It doesn’t!'" Wow, this has escalated Heading the ball is by definition a deliberate act. The ball hitting the head is not and has never been a knock on, deliberate header or otherwise. Heading the ball forward was specifically outlawed following a famous try-scoring incident by St Helens v Sheffield in November 1990. https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/watch-st ... ard-37802/ It was a fluke try amongst a few in a scrappy game of fairly low quality. The decision to award the try was correct. As were the other VR decisions. Gaskell wasn't looking at the ball as he assumed the Hull player had it covered and was about to catch it. He was preparing to effect a tackle ASAP. Just happy to get the 2 points and likely SL survival.

FORWARD PASS
Deliberate 1. A player shall be penalised if he deliberately knocks on or passes forward.

Accidental 2. If, after knocking-on accidentally, the player knocking-on regains or kicks the ball before it touches the ground, a goal post, cross bar or an opponent, then play shall be allowed to proceed.
Otherwise play shall stop and a scrum shall be formed except after the fifth play-the-ball.

Charge-down 3. To charge-down a kick is permissible and is not a knock-on.

Heading the ball 4. It is illegal to head the ball in a forward direction.

Houghton, Gale, Taylor for starters 400k in wages between them

Houghton wage doesn't count on cap but he's still one of the biggest earners just to tackle

Hood was better than him and he's a ok hooker at best

Salford are spanking Catalans..... can we just end the season now

Away this weekend so didn't see the game but feels like a tipping point in fan sentiment. I really don't see a credible "jam tomorrow" campaign for season passes persuading waverers to renew.