David EdwardsThe Grapple Tackle, What shall we do?
July 25th 2008 03:38
The issue of the grapple tackle has re-emerged in the NRL this week, with St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown unleashing a "tirade" against the Melbourne club. The Storm are renowned for their expertise in controlling the ruck area through the use of wrestling tactics, leading Brown to tout the next clash between the two sides as a "free for all". Billy Slater's successful attempt to downgrade his striking charge was based on the evidence that Jason Nightingale headbutted the Storm fullback, therefore provoking a violent response from Slater.
The grapple tackle is a phenomenon that has emerged in recent times, due to the ever-accelerating nature of the game. Teams are getting faster, fitter, and in order to negate this run of play, teams such as Melbourne are attempting to slow down the play the ball through measures such as the grapple. The grapple, the "Chicken wing", and other such wrestling manoeveures are considered dangerous, however attempts to eradicate these actions frmo the game are failing due to a range of factors; inconsistent refereeing, a grey area in the rule-book, and the 10 metre rule, which is forcing players to get back the required metres in quick time, hence the need to slow down the team with possession.
The grapple tackle is here to stay, unless drastic rule changes are put into place. Just like watching "Friends" repeats on Channel Ten - get used to it, because the grapple isn't going anywhere fast. Footballing codes are always going to have inconsistencies - the AFL has the "in the back law", which is constantly being amended fro year to year. The "Holding the ball" rule is incredibly subjective, and could probably have a thesis written on the topic. The AFL cracked down successfully on the ruck area, where ruckmen were constantly suffering serious knee injuries frmo the collision and impact at the centre bounce. Rugby Union has introduced the new experimental laws, which have increased the flow of the game incredibly, however while this may be opening up the game, at grassroots level (grade rugby) these laws are in fact taking a tremendous toll on the players, with injury rates soaring since the introduction of the laws (according to my physio).
The game of Rugby League is not perfect, however masures need to be taken to stop such tackles being made out of necessity. Clearly the 5 metre rule can't be introduced, although it would mean that old-school style players could come back into the competition - players who were deemed unfit to get back the ten could now become pivotal members of sides. But to bring back this rule is a return to the 70's, and massive million dollar pay cheques could not be justified - anyone can get back 5 metres.
The grapple is a dangerous tackle, and needs to be eradicated from the game through some swift decision making by the appropriate boards. To instruct the referees to crack down on the issue will not work in the long term - as the issue will simply re-emerge early next year.
On a lighter note, it was great to hear last night that the Footy Chow has had its contract extended at least until the end of next year. The Footy Show is an institution - a Thursday night staple, and nothing is better than settling down on a Thursday night to this frivolous joke-fest, safe in the knowledge that the week is winding down and the weekend is nigh. Next time you watch the Footy Show however, write down a tally of the number of binge drinking references in the episode, it really is quite astounding. Then divide that tally by the amount of sexual innuendos and see if you get a result of 1. You should, last night there was about 20 of each. But loving Fatty's form, outstanding!
-SportingMind
The grapple tackle is a phenomenon that has emerged in recent times, due to the ever-accelerating nature of the game. Teams are getting faster, fitter, and in order to negate this run of play, teams such as Melbourne are attempting to slow down the play the ball through measures such as the grapple. The grapple, the "Chicken wing", and other such wrestling manoeveures are considered dangerous, however attempts to eradicate these actions frmo the game are failing due to a range of factors; inconsistent refereeing, a grey area in the rule-book, and the 10 metre rule, which is forcing players to get back the required metres in quick time, hence the need to slow down the team with possession.
The grapple tackle is here to stay, unless drastic rule changes are put into place. Just like watching "Friends" repeats on Channel Ten - get used to it, because the grapple isn't going anywhere fast. Footballing codes are always going to have inconsistencies - the AFL has the "in the back law", which is constantly being amended fro year to year. The "Holding the ball" rule is incredibly subjective, and could probably have a thesis written on the topic. The AFL cracked down successfully on the ruck area, where ruckmen were constantly suffering serious knee injuries frmo the collision and impact at the centre bounce. Rugby Union has introduced the new experimental laws, which have increased the flow of the game incredibly, however while this may be opening up the game, at grassroots level (grade rugby) these laws are in fact taking a tremendous toll on the players, with injury rates soaring since the introduction of the laws (according to my physio).
The game of Rugby League is not perfect, however masures need to be taken to stop such tackles being made out of necessity. Clearly the 5 metre rule can't be introduced, although it would mean that old-school style players could come back into the competition - players who were deemed unfit to get back the ten could now become pivotal members of sides. But to bring back this rule is a return to the 70's, and massive million dollar pay cheques could not be justified - anyone can get back 5 metres.
The grapple is a dangerous tackle, and needs to be eradicated from the game through some swift decision making by the appropriate boards. To instruct the referees to crack down on the issue will not work in the long term - as the issue will simply re-emerge early next year.
On a lighter note, it was great to hear last night that the Footy Chow has had its contract extended at least until the end of next year. The Footy Show is an institution - a Thursday night staple, and nothing is better than settling down on a Thursday night to this frivolous joke-fest, safe in the knowledge that the week is winding down and the weekend is nigh. Next time you watch the Footy Show however, write down a tally of the number of binge drinking references in the episode, it really is quite astounding. Then divide that tally by the amount of sexual innuendos and see if you get a result of 1. You should, last night there was about 20 of each. But loving Fatty's form, outstanding!
-SportingMind
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Comment by TimmyH
Tech News
Can you HACK it?
Genyration
Rugby's been doing it for years and we have and we don't have any grapple tackle problems. Also probably because it's so easy in Rugby to injure another player that the players themselves have a certain unwritten code that says we just dont do it.
I hope Rugby Leagure gets onto this before someone gets really badly hurt. And it won't necessarily be in the NRL, It will happen to some poor 16 yr old kid because a guy on the other team is getting trained to tackle that way at representative level.
Comment by David Edwards
Sporting Mind
I think that the "unwritten rule" you allude to in rugby is hardly enforced in the northern hemisphere - and whilst we try to play it clean in Australia, so much dirty stuff happens in the ruck. Rugby Union however has gone over the top with policing the ruck - so far as to the point where i have no idea what is going on in there anymore.
NRl faces massive problems, not only financially but also in its on-field policing of the rules. It needs a huge overhaul from the grassroots right through to the top. Only then will the kids come back to the game and the parents will not usher their kids in the direction of more palatable codes - such as AFL.
Comment by Mick D