www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ja ... -wrestling Another dig at Wigan... Just let it go Gary!

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ja ... -wrestling Another dig at Wigan... Just let it go Gary!

It appears to be only journalists and paranoid Wigan fans who think this some kind of attack on Wigan. From what I've seen Hetherington hasn't mentioned Wigan or any club at all and has indeed referenced Leeds as having success with the tactic.
From some of the comments from fans of all clubs over the last few years I would have thought this kind of comment would be welcomed.

rubbish. If the one ref did his job properly thats all it would take. If teams were getting hammered each week in the penalry count they would stop messing around. Thete needs to be a proper balance though, the 5 scoots and a kick were just as boring as all the wrestling.

Silverwood and Alibert on the pitch at the same time? Gets my vote as the best way to improve the spectacle

Without knowing exactly what GH said at the press conference it is difficult to pass comment but it does appear that maybe a large chunk of journalistic licence has been used here! The quotes from Gary used don't mention Wigan at all he Andy Wilson, uses the words "what will undoubtedly be seen in Wigan as a thinly veiled attack on the way in which the Warriors displaced Leeds as the Super League champions in October." I read this as him justifying making a story out of nothing!

Still, it has worked, we are talking about it and visiting the website - job done!

Your right he doesnt mention Wigan and does comment on Leeds but if he felt this passionate about the tatics in the last few years why did it take till Leeds won nothing to let them known?? For years its been known that Leeds and Saints dominated the tackle the best and hence won far more than they lost!

You win nothing and all of a sudden its a something we need rid form the game!
Bring it on for me I would be confident that we have the attacking players to take advantage of quicker play the balls, in fact would benefit us giving Deacon more time on the ball!

I really like the two referee system. Anyone who has refereed the game will probably attest that the hardest thing is to police the ruck AND the defensive line at the same time.

People will say that we don't have enough quality officials for it to work properly, but we do. Also the introduction of a second referee removes half the burden and makes games a lot easier to officiate.

From what I saw of the NRL last year, it sped the game up immensely. It's worth remembering that a few years ago that competition experienced it's own defence-oriented shift.

As usual though, we are 5-10 years behind our Antipodean friends.

I'm sure you're right. I don't really have a problem if it gains more exposure for the game.

I do think we need to seriously look at speeding the ruck up as soon as possible. If more so for the fans as its so bloody boring watching the play the ball getting slowed down. Leeds are guilty for as are most teams. We pride ourselves in having a fast game so why do we allow these slowing techniques

it was allowed last year because the power's that be wanted a new name on the trophy

Why when Wigan were winning nothing were their fans complaining about Leeds & Saints domination and a slow PTB yet now they've won something they are defending it and attacking Hetherington? It works both ways. Also it's been a steady progression. 4/5 years ago it wasn't as bad as it is now and it appears as though the referee interpretations at the PTB have steadily changed over the last few years as well.

You can't complain about something then when your opposition agrees with you attack them for that as well.

He didnt, it has been said before, just last time the Worryers didnt get so touchy about it.

Completely agree, on what ref's can see. They can't see both the PTB and the defensive line at the same time. If it's a shortage of officials, we should try having that second ref replace the two touch judges.

Biggest made up fact of the year?

True,
My complaints have always been, and still are, incorrect play the ball, which then allows the scooter hooker to go from dummy half, and in 80% of cases get tackled and then the it happens again.

Make the players play the ball correctly, bring in a rule that says if the dummy half is tackled in possession, then it's a hand over.

You would then see far more creativity from 6, 7 and 9, something sadly missing in todays game.

True,
My complaints have always been, and still are, incorrect play the ball, which then allows the scooter hooker to go from dummy half, and in 80% of cases get tackled and then it happens again.

Make the players play the ball correctly, bring in a rule that says if the dummy half is tackled in possession, then it's a hand over.

You would then see far more creativity from 6, 7 and 9, something sadly missing in todays game.

On the two refs business, where are they going to come from, we're struggling to get decent ones at the top level now.

Any link to this?? I also dont remember any member of the Wigan board or coaching staff moaning in the last 4 years about the play the ball! Just Mr H!

He will be moaning about us playing a team of aussies next!

Why do they need to be top level?

If you have two refs then it reduces the burden on each. They are looking for specifics for their role, and that makes the job much easier, rathern than one person having to watch everything.

Two refs is an absolute non argument, it is a no brainer that the game would be far better for having this in place.

Isn't the NRL supposed to be the best? There refs indiviually are no better than ours? how have they made such a success of the two refs?

The NRL has two referees and a video referee at every fixture and mistakes are still made on a weekly basis.

One good referee is all that is needed and once you remove the club bias from your average supporter's view that is what we have reasonable got, although there is and will always be room for improvement.



Agree with the first part, disagree with the second. Dummy half runs are an integral part of the game and it's up to a well organised defence to discourage their overuse.

Take all the club bias away and i still don't agree tvoc.
They are far too inconsistent and that's within the same match let alone week to week imo.
I accept they'll make mistakes and that they don't "knock on ,miss tackles or are 100% anti a particular team but we need much more consistency from all of them.
By that i mean if they are gonna penalise someone for back chat (rightly so imo) they do it to everyone that does it ,the same for the ptb infringements and grapple tackles don't do it a couple of times then leave it and do it for BOTH teams.

Two referees is not the answer. One good one will do.

The game is completely different to what it used to be tvoc. One good one will not do. The game is too fast, and at the same time players trained to push the rules (as Hetherington is saying), for one official to be able to perform adequately week in week out.

It doesn't follow that this would lead to greater creativity, all it means is that it would ensure more frequent passing by the dummy half. If modern 6s, 7s and 9s were capable of greater creativity I rather think they'd be exhibiting it.

Having watched the NRL all most of last season, thr real noticable diffierance is the speed of the play of the ball in general, It would appear to be related to the introduction of two ref's, the wrestling thing is something the NRL appear to be forcing out of the game and I suspect would have happened if they had stayed with one ref. I can understand any coach practising skills that will prove successful and do not blame the players or teams. However I do have sympathy for GH, after watching the NRL our games quite often leave a lot to be desired in skill level, And I believe the skill level is partly dependant on the speed of the Play of the ball

Quote ="Ian Roberts Closet"Any link to this?? I also dont remember any member of the Wigan board or coaching staff moaning in the last 4 years about the play the ball! Just Mr H! He will be moaning about us playing a team of aussies next! '" there you go www.skysports.com/tv_show/story/ ... 38,00.html

Quote ="Ian Roberts Closet"Any link to this?? I also dont remember any member of the Wigan board or coaching staff moaning in the last 4 years about the play the ball! Just Mr H! He will be moaning about us playing a team of aussies next! '" there you go www.skysports.com/tv_show/story/ ... 38,00.html