What's the rule ???

[Huge]

Okay, I'm pleading my ignorance of the rules here but the other nights game between Cronulla and Melbourne got me thinking. When Melbourne scored their second last try and took a quick conversion they quickly sprinted back to their side of the field. Cronulla left the in goal as per normal for all teams and started making their way back to half way. They were not dawdling unnecessarily nor were they sprinting. They hadn't even reached their own thirty metre line before the ref blew time off !!!...so what's the rule and why was it totally different to any other time during that same match ????

 

[Browny]

I think it's discretion of the ref but it seems to only occur in those situations.

I'll let coxy consult housh about it ;)

 

[Coxy]

I think it's discretion of the ref but it seems to only occur in those situations.

I'll let coxy consult housh about it ;)

What Browny said. It's up to the referee's discretion, so they obviously decided given the context of the match that Cronulla were wasting time/taking too long.

I don't think anyone likes that rule, same with the stupid 'stick ya head up the bum and stay there to stop the clock'.

I think a much fairer way to deal with this would be to have time off whenever:

a) a try is scored or penalty goal elected to be kicked (ie as soon as referee points to the posts, time off), or field goal kicked until the ball is kicked off again
b) a scrum is ruled (ball goes out, error)
c) a line drop out is awarded

I wouldn't for a 20m restart or a penalty/tap because they're fairly quick processes anyway. But the time between a try being awarded and the conversion being taken can take an age. Referees can still hurry the teams up if they're going slow to get a breather, but in any case no playing time is lost.

And hey, it'll make the game take longer and provide more advertising opportunities so there's $$$ value in it :P

 

[Browny]

And the time the ball is in play will increase equalling highrr fatigue and more opportunities for the halves

 

[noisetheory]

i thought there was a set amount of time that refs used as a guideline - ie once the kick at goal is taken the team that was scored against has 30 or 40 seconds to front up and kick off - if not then the ref would then blow time off.

 

[Huge]

thanks...it was a joke because refs are supposed to ref games..not impose their bs on them..why have rules..just employ french refs..Cronulla were not wasting time.....and now we'll likely end up playing them...my mate and I were planning on seeing each others team in the final lol....grrrrr