It was Sharp that doesn't know the rules (it's the last one below)...



4. The game is restarted with a drop-out by a defending player from the centre if his goal line if:

(a) A defending player last touches the ball before it goes over the dead ball line or into touch in-goal.

(b) A defending player accidentally infringes in the in-goal area.

(c) A defending player touches down in the in-goal area.

(d) A defending player in possession is tackled in the ingoal area.

(e) A defending player kicks the ball into touch on the full from his own in-goal.

(f) A defending player kicks or passes the ball in his own in-goal and the ball accidentally strikes an opponent and goes into touch in-goal or over the dead ball line.

(g) The ball or a defending player carrying the ball touches the Referee, a Touch Judge or an encroaching spectator in the in-goal area and play is thereby irregularly affected.

(h) The ball goes over the dead ball line or into touch in-goal other than on the full from a kick off from the centre of the halfway line or a goal line dropout.

(i) Where a kick is made dead by a defending player straddling the dead ball line or touch in-goal line.

When did that change ?

This changed back in 2012 I think, at the same time that the corner flag was deemed to be not in play iirc, so not something that's just happened. It was to stop players dragging an almost stationary ball, that wouldn't have gone dead, over the line.



Addition – Notes to Section 9 4. Ball dead and in touch



[iWhere the ball which has bounced or has been passed in the field of play or the in goal area comes into contact with a player in touch, touch in goal or over the dead ball line, the ball is deemed to have been made dead or taken into touch by that player. Where the ball is played at from a kick that has not bounced in the field of play by a player who has at least one foot on the touch-line or in touch then the ball is deemed to have been made dead or taken into touch by the kicking team.[/i

So you can only do what Sharp did when the balls on the full ? could have sworn i'd seen super league games this season where they've done what Sharp did and got away with it.

I think that above is the old rules. A drop out was given yesterday because the ball had stopped moving, Sharp's argument was that it had not. If it hadn't then it would have been given as a 20 metre restart.

Finally got to log in being a few thousand miles away on hols. End of the season rot has set in. Before the 8's we've seen it happen many times it's just that this year it's affecting more games. I could never understand any player going out and seemingly just go through the motions. I have played in teams that have won league titles and for teams that have been relegated, it made no difference to me personally, I wanted to win or at least be able to look myself in the mirror knowing the white flag never went up. Maybe it's the uncertainty for some of the players who are being released of not knowing if they will have a club next year but it won't help their cause not to to give it their best shot.

That's a bloody good spot by you if that was the case.It would tie in with the interpretations i've seen.

That's what I thought as well. I am sure Jonno did the same thing the other week, put is foot over the dead ball line before he collected the ball after it had bounced and we got the 20m re-start - but it was still moving. I guessed if it was because the ball had stopped so effectively Sharp just grounded it in play?

Hmmm, it's in the current RFL rules...



[urlhttp://www.rugby-league.com/the_rfl/rules/laws_of_the_game/kick_off__drop_out[/url



If the rule really did change again (since 2012) then it's not surprising that no-one knows the correct interpretation!

Think i'm going to cut Will a bit of slack on this one now

If in doubt, pick the ball up and run! Lesson for Salty - if you have 2 defenders waiting for you 2 yards from the line, you need to bend your back and drive downwards into the tackle - no way of getting pushed back over the line then!