Dunbar

That's not how the challenge works. You can't just make a challenge and stop the game. There was no decision given and the game continued so there was no opportunity to challenge. And a player cannot make the ref aware after the try as the video ref can only go back to the execution of the last play the ball and so a knock on in the ruck would not have been pulled back (and the 10 second limit on a challenge was well over). That try would not have been effected by the existence of the captains challenge. Sometimes mistakes happen.

The latest Sport England adult sports participation survey was released today, and I have to say it does not make encouraging reading for Rugby League. The survey shows the best picture we have of participation rates for adults in various sports and is released every year (starting in 2024-16). It shows the participation rates for the previous 12 months and participation is defined as any person aged 16+ who took part in a sporting activity at least twice in any 28 day period. Background and context There is data for individual sports and other leisure activities but I think for Rugby League, the team sports is the relevant benchmark. For the 12 months to November 2023, participation in team sports overall increase by 6% with men increasing by 8% and women flat on prior year. Rugby League For the 12 months to November 2023, participation in Rugby League for men fell by 4% (40,600 from 42,100) while participation for women increased by just 1% (12,200 from 12,100). Overall this means a 3% fall and a participant number of 52,800 compared to 54,200 last year. Comparative sports Rugby Union is probably the most relevant comparison and men’s participation in Union increased strongly by 17% (from 157,200 to 183,700) but surprisingly fell for women by 6% (from 36,700 to 34,500). This meant an overall increase in participation of 13% - which is very strong although the drop in women participation will be worrying for them. Some other comparisons but less detail Football – overall +6% Hockey – overall +5% Netball – women -2% Cricket – overall -4% Thoughts I am very disappointed that we haven’t seen an increase in participation in Rugby League, particularly as the participation in team sports overall this year has reversed a long term downward trend. It seems pretty clear that the initial strong growth in women’s participation in (traditionally) men’s sports has slowed down dramatically and even reversed in Union (-6%), cricket (-6%) and Football (-5%). In that context, at least some slight growth in League is welcome. Link https://www.sportengland.org/research-and-data/data/active-lives/active-lives-data-tables

Pretty good bounce back from Dom Young today. After a poor 20 minutes and a send off last time out and a 2 match suspension, he ran for 206 metres today, 3 line breaks and the Roosters first try in a thumping win.

Do you mean two challenges each half or two available challenges each half as they are different things. Tofay, if a challenge is successful then they keep it and can challenge again. So in theory, 2 successful challenges per team each half becomes 8 challenges in a match. Obviously not very likely but I don't see the point of adding more stoppages and more VR intervention... 1 challenge each which you keep if you win works fine.

I absolutely hate the Union VR process. It is long winded and committee based with the ref, two touch judges and the VR looking at the same video and trying to come to a conclusion together. Very painful to watch.

That is how it works.

That's a pretty big fall from grace for the Skolars. Last year they had an A team in the London and South East division as well as their semi-pro firsts. So they have lost their firsts and also the group who maybe would have relished a crack at the Southern Conference who played London and South East last year. As you say, there is a vibrant amateur scene in and around Chiswick, Hammersmith and Acton with Chargers and Wests turning out a first team in the Conference and seconds in the London League and Hammersmith in the Conference. I know there is historically a lot of Aussies and Kiwis in West London which will help these teams but I hope Skolars can build up a competitive side soon.

Unlike the author of the article, I would like us to take a harder line on the voluntary tackle law. I would like the law to be amended to clarify that deliberately going to ground without being tackled is an offence and enforce that. I lose count of the number of times across games that a player is bringing the ball away from his own in-goal and this should be a critical tackle, can he escape, can the opposition trap him in goal – and he just throws himself to the ground. I think it is against the spirit of a game based on tackling and escaping tackles. Enforcing this would make the game more entertaining and competitive in my view.

I think this is fair. Pryce has been named at full back for the Knights NSW Cup side tgis week and so if he goes well then I expect he will start to push for that NRL spot.

Well, I don't want to get caught up arguing with myself. I agree that incidents can be accidental and I thought last week's was accidental. But others argue that it was reckless and poor technique and so a foul as it ended up putting dangerous pressure on a player and causing injury. Here, the panel have concluded that it is not worthy of a ban - however it was poor technique and did put dangerous pressure on the tackled player. Maybe the difference is whether a player is injured or not, that was stressed as being at the heart of last week's case. I don't particularly like that as I think the action should be the issue, not the outcome.

Yes, I agree it is a different incident. But I would argue that if last week's incident was reckless then executing a tackle that results in a player landing on his head / neck is also reckless.

I don't mean to get into a long circular argument again but last week a player was banned for putting pressure on another player and yet here a player (and his team mates) is not charged for when the opponent is being tackled in the upper body by two of player’s team mate and is twisted round and lands on his neck and shoulder. Why is this not applying pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player?

Those stats for Smithies were from the Raiders match against the Titians in Round 6, not the Broncos game.

Is 2 assists in 5 matches really fantastic for a number 6?

The NSW Cup side getting best 52-6 doesn't exactly shout for any of them to be called up... but injuries may demand it. I looked at the Knights forum and mot many are calling for Pryce's call up - have you seen much of him in the Cup, is he playing OK?