Polls Ban the shoulder charge, yay or nay?

[S J]

Say what you will about Sandow, but I did like the way he played the game with a smile on his face. Sure, he never reached his potential and was very erratic as a player, but he did enjoy himself on the field and didn't take himself too seriously, which seems to be a rare thing nowadays.

True - they hated Sowie in some quarters too - but he cared and did get a GF.

 

[eels47]

The rules need to be changed to take the wrestle out of the game and make the game more open in the process.

Yes! This is paramount to the future of the game IMO. The slowing of the ruck is doing so much damage to the game as a spectacle for fans. It takes away from the effectiveness of the quick, skillful little guys, while rewarding the big boppers with smaller motors. As an Eels fan I would love to see us be able to get a roll on with quick play the balls and see someone like Bevan French be able to take advantage with his quickness through the ruck area. But while we allow 4 man tackles and constant wrestling the opportunities are very rare.

 

[SSTID]

Say what you will about Sandow, but I did like the way he played the game with a smile on his face. Sure, he never reached his potential and was very erratic as a player, but he did enjoy himself on the field and didn't take himself too seriously, which seems to be a rare thing nowadays.

Yes eels47, Sandow was unique and a loveable larrikin and much loved at Souths. However, there was also another side of the story. Sandow was a brilliant individual player but NEVER a TEAM player. He was selfish and played for himself and he was a poor communicator on the field. Most of the time he played to his own play book and the rest of the team were never on the same page. He was a highroller that would risk the teams fate in the final minute with one roll of the dice on low percentage plays. That said, he also won a few games on the death because of his individual brilliance. I remember one game in particular against the Cowboys and another with a last second field goal from half way against the Broncos or the Roosters I think.

From personal experience I can say he also used to dodge the fans. My son, when he was smaller, used to idolise Sandow and stood in line near the change room exit for over an hour after a game at Central Coast stadium. ALL the other players were happy to indulge the fans but when Sandow came out and saw the waiting line of fans he grabbed Eddy Pettibourne by the arm and gestured to a route that would bypass the fans. They both ducked under the guide rail and made straight for the waiting coach brushing off the waiting fans and Sandow was laughing all the while. My son was crushed!

Pettibourne never made that mistake again and always had time for the fans, he was just swayed momentarily by Sandow on the day. I have never forgotten and neither have a lot of other young Rabbitohs fans I would wager.

I also remember in our run to the finals in 2012 I believe Souths just needed to beat the Broncos to qualify for the finals in our last game of the season. Sandow went AWOL, literally. No one knew where he was, he didn't talk to anybody and later it turned out he had visited his family in QLD rather than train with the side in Brisbane. Like I said, it was ALL about Sandow and the team and fans came second. So not a fan, no.

 

[The_Fanatical_Rooster]

I have voted on this too SJ.

I think the shoulder charge should be banned, no if's and but's about it.

If we cannot have a game without such dirty tactics, then so be it. It can still be a contact sport, which is the most exciting to watch in the world, without having to include such cheap and underhanded play. At a time when league is under more pressure and competition from other codes than ever before, we need to ensure it remains an attractive proposition for our juniors. We do not want little Jimmy's mum coming out and saying that 'my boy (or girl these days) will not be playing this sport when I witness some of the foul play at the NRL level on television'.

Anyway, that is my two cents.

 

[Southy]

This is a topic for doyen.
.

 

[The_Fanatical_Rooster]

Thanks for the tip. No mate, I'm SSTID off ZT and the ROAR (although I have not posted on the later for about a year now).

I am migrating from ZT which has become a "nanny state" basket case controlled by leftist liberals and the "politically correct police" who have no sense of humour or understanding of who contributes most to their site (their major stakeholders). Currently, the site has been undermined by trolls with no knowledge of the game and only a talent to create trouble. They have no insight, wit or talent for banter and just want to create chaos. About 10 of us, potentially up to 20 of us, may be migrating across soon (depending on whether or not I spread the word).

This site does not appear to be story driven though like ZT, can "junior members" submit stories or is that left for the "seniors" here. like the ROAR where only those of "Guru" status or above are entitled to have an opinion and then only if it is not in conflict with the authors and editors of the site.

SSTID,
I noted your comments before about the ROAR and ZT. While I read articles from both sources, and I knew that people post opinions / stories / articles on the former, it is not immediately obvious that you could this on the latter. Don't both websites tend to focus more on rugby league in general rather than club-related material? One thing I like about here, LU and the Chookpen is that I can focus on Roosters content and then switch to RL occasionally. With the others, I don't think you have that luxury. Is that correct?

I want to do the same as you, but with my fellow Roosters supporters, eventually.

 

[S J]

I must admit - I don't like it.