The one that had me within a millimetre blowing a woofer valve was the high contact called against Prestia
Saints player picks up the ball and then deliberately leds with his head in to Prestia and Prestia gets pinged for head high contact
Seriously what the? The rule is very clear led with your head and you won't be getting a free and should be pinged for either HTB or it gets called for a stoppage under the now beyond stupid "prior opportunity" rule
I’m convinced this rule has caused so many issues it’s not funny. It’s the most negative rule in the game.
Players are instructed by coaches to cause stoppage so they can set up defensively and reset.
So we see players hold onto the ball longer or create the illusion that they are trying to make an attempt at disposal. Or players will handball to teammates under more pressure so it will cause a stoppage.
Even if we think about the sling tackle crack down that has been implemented and is high on the agenda now.
If there is no prior opportunity rule, then the whistle is blown immediately because the player with the ball hasn’t disposed of it. No need for the umpire to wait, no grey area and no reason to delay his response thus there is no reason for a player to prolong the tackle which ultimately results in a sling tackle.
