And this is the problem, it's so inconsistent, so then when a ref does decide to apply the rules, everyone goes mad because it's a case of them pulling rules out of their backside as a one off. It's madness.

Ive been saying this for years

A month or two of tough refereeing performances and the knowledge that it would be like this forever and the game would be sped up and far less messing about and cheating. It’s just the culture of the sport and if you know you won’t get away with it coaches wouldn’t instruct players to cheat and make the game worse to watch just to make their win record better

Nail hit firmly on head.
Clamp down for a short while and lets make the game better to watch

Absolutely no chance that it's a coincidence that both sides were penalised once in the same game. Ticking a box.

1. Don't give penalties for a player going to ground when there's a hand on the player's back. They'll stop it.
2. Penalise every time there is a hand in the ruck after held. They'll stop it.
3. If the ref thinks a player has played to get a penalty, penalise them, even if the opposing player is technically at fault.

As have I - the issue seems to be that the RFL don't see the steady transformation of the game as a problem, in the way that many fans do; if they did, they'd have sorted it by now.

Jake Webster diving again.

Who does petulant Ashton Golding think he is waving his arms at Kendall like that?

Is something going to be done about the lack of respect for officials?

It's quite silly that we ask the rules of the game are implemented.

Lee Jewitt - dive

75% of all players are divers now... cheating Wendyball wannabes

Refs have it in their remit to penalise players for diving milking penalties but dont ever do it, it would onlt take a handful of penalties reversed for it to stop.

The one from Billy Slater this morning was an absolute disgrace!

On the plus side - Cameron Smith finally sin-binned!

It was great that, all the Cronulla fans on their feet!

The lack of respect for officials is a reflection of the society we live in. The current generation of players would of come through a schooling system which is far more liberal than the one I experienced in the 1950 -60s. I'm not however suggesting that we go back to those times as being in fear of people with power can have serious consequences.

You mean more likely to be out of control with little discipline at all?

ATEOTD how players behave on the pitch is a direct consequence of how they are officiated/policed. You allow small misdemeanours to creep in and go unpunished - forward passes, not playing the ball correctly, walking off the mark, not packing down properly, not being square, offside at scrums etc, and don't nip it in the bud with penalties then you have laid open the gates.

It's exactly the same in society with crime, but particularly driving, people speed/drive too fast for the conditions, run red lights, drive using their phones, distracted driving, devfective vehicles, no license/insurance, driving too close.
Despite all the technology, all the safety cells and aids for making driving easier and advancements in fixing people when hurt plus pushed pedestrians and cyclists off the roads motorists killing and maiming is on the increase.
Direct Line reckoned 14 million red light jumpers a month some years ago, that's not even including amber gamblers, 165,000 minor injuries every year on top of the 24,000 KSIs.
Why, because the police and government just like the RFL and officials are useless and didn't seek to address matters fully from the outset with a high enough penalty if any penalty at all.
Now it's a free for all with varying degrees of over officiating (comparatively to most other scenarios) to completely turning a blind eye as well as plain old incompetence.

i agree, def crept into the game and needs stamping out before it gets out of hand thats if it isnt already

hate to see the diving and trying to con the ref at the play of the ball

The players of "your generation" were also much more likely to be violent thugs than the current lot of players. So maybe that "liberal schooling system" has had a pleasant civilising effect in other ways.

I find players a lot more dislikeable these days as well. In the past you hated players because they’d likely try and knock your players’ heads off.

Nowadays I find the ones I hate are the petty petulant ones who’d throw the ball at your player instead, who always seems to be the refs shadow complaining about every play, arms in the air shouting “HEY!” every five seconds, always trying to milk penalties, not listening to the ref, arguing back with the ref, cheering/jumping/generally going over the top when the opposition knock it on or run an obstruction. As you read this I bet players are popping into your heads who this relates to and they aren’t your usual biff lads from yesteryear.

That I have got to agree with it’s all true

And one of the biggest culprits is ironically the reigning Man of Steel.

I think that's more to do with improvements in the quality of TV pictures and the ability to cite players after the event.

Would the SL refs be turning a blind eye to all the points raised in this topic in case the RFL banish them to the lower leagues for too much stop/starting?. Just another angle that my be part of the issue.