Cats v Saints

fancy cats to win by 13 plus, saints are the best travellers, and cats are often ace at home.

Think catalans will win but then trying to judge them pre match is always impossible

Anyone know weather report? Swear every time sky go there for live game there's always a storm in the air to disrupt coverage etc

has been in the mid 20's all day, chance of a shower this evening

Overs for me

Greenshields late withdrawal for the french

Personally think Catalans look massive and that Greenshields is zero loss.

Greenshields is zero loss

If it allows Bosc to play that is, or they move Pryce there, he is.

Bosc not even named in the 19 chief, Pryce will remain in the halves, Stacul to FB. Greenshields is a massive loss

St H 13+ 5/1 looks a fair bet given the nature of these live games

Sorry there is 6/1 available in one place

Oh and on a completely reverse tack - 30+ the draw?  Bizarre how often it can be bigger in games which are so close on paper. That's another play for me given it will need about 18-0 to Cats to be above 40

Agree with you now Suit. I thought they may call up Bosc, but the Catalans backline looks weak.

Vis - draw is edging back up to being 30+ at the start of games again in general. :)

Perry on a one man penalty crusade

when do saints get a go?

Horrible decision to go for two.

Saints deserved a penalty, but that was horrible.

Stuck at work chaps...anyone got a link please?

Ben Thaler aint gotta be getting a standing ovation off the locals at this rate

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league-18859207

big wind advantage for saints 2nd stanza?

Looks like it but they will need after that shocker of a last 3 mins there. Should have gone in two clear

Saw that DG coming. Wish I had laid the draw :(

Still, 55 is too large. It's a close game and I wouldn't rule out another DG.

there's no way saints will go for a drop goal to level it up imo

Only on the 5th tackle of the final set.  Draw is dead in this game.

There's the draw price.

1.2 then was insane.

draw price is huge,big player

Draw is only huge if you think Catalans will score next, and if you think that, better laying Saints.

scotty dureau being very quiet so far?

could be knock on in tackle

definitely gone forward

I thought you can't use video ref to rule on forward passes?

you cant but you can rule on knock ons

well it wasn't a knock on cos it went straight off his arm forward in the air

the video ref ruled it went forward

What a great game this has been.

that looks harsh

saints will be more than happy with a draw now if going behind

WTF?

lol unbelievable

Again, another TMO who wants to be the star of the show.....

Good decision imo

Can't work that one out!

blatant push

Maybe it's Saints bias, but I don't think that's as bad as some we've seen.

are you sure?

I wanted it to be disallowed but didn't really expect it to be.

I wanted it given as was a live draw position whatever happened to conv

1.1 jaysus

hells bells 1.02 even there

How stupid was a DG there!

What a game that was! And how good was the crowd as well. Great to see such passion.

have to make a comment on the sending off.  Everyone keeps saying how they have to be consistent with the Moa decision earlier in the year.  The Moa decision was wrong!!!!!!!  The players are going in with their shoulder aiming at the guys chest/shoulder, all legal.  The force from hitting with the shoulder in that area throws the players head forward which then connects with the person making the hit...........that is the art of the hit with the shoulder, you smash the living day lights out of them, all part of League and legal as you are not targeting the head!

Refs better stop this nonsense as it will turn League like Union where big hits on the chest are not allowed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfuQ-n8jR-4

Do you make it up as you go along Der Der? Read the rules.

Khyber Kim, the shoulder in league has been around for years, it is a skill.  No head shot, no attempt to hit the head, fair shot.  Can you tell me the rules please?????

It is not a legal tackle to simply shoulder charge the opponent. You have to make some attempt to tackle him with your arms as well as hitting him hard.

TCat, where did you get that from?  In league a big hit is allowed, you can hit them with your shoulder.....so i think you are talking about the other code.  He was sent off for contact with the head which i didnt see.

So can all the guessers please make sure you are aware of the difference between league and union when it comes to tackling.

Both Moa and Puletua hit a players head with their shoulder. You can make a big hit, but you are not allowed to attack the head. It's therefore very simple, if you smash someone on the chin you may well be in trouble and in both cases a lot of damage was done illegally.

Lot of issues with ex-sportsmen suffering from head injuries picked up years previous. Madness to suggest that these tackles shouldn't be penalised heavily.

http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/home/zone/RUBGY_LEAGUE_RULES.pdf

search for 'shoulder charge' to find the following :

Defenders are not allowed to shoulder charge the ball carrier in order to effect a tackle.
A defender who runs at a ball carrier and makes no attempt to tackle, grab or hold the ball carrier, but merely makes an attempt to effect the tackle by the use of the shoulder shall be deemed to have committed an infringement.

Is it worth pointing out that in union there is nothing in the laws to prevent a big hit on the chest either? I'm not sure much research is being done here.

The above rule seems pretty clear. Unfortunately, in the last few years the term 'big hit' has been redefined by the RL television commentators most of whom are retired players themselves and should know better.

We all love to see big hits and it's great to see players being smashed back. Knocking someone out by shouldering them in the face is a bit like running up behind someone and hitting them in the back of the head though.

Those rules are certainly clear enough. Smashing someone with the shoulder is illegal, full stop.

Exactly. We all enjoy a good, hard game.

ah forgot to reply to this........

1. Did the ref penalise TP for a shoulder barge?  No, he gave the scrum.  All the years watching league i have never seen anyone penalised for a shoulder barge.  Morley, Sam Burgess wouldnt have a career if they did.

2. He sent TP off for contact with the head, the ref clearly stated this after watching it on video.  So again, no penalty for the shoulder barge.

You can use the shoulder in league and i would like someone to show me where a player has been penalised for it.

3. With regards to the pdf you sent me, they obviously have never or do not enforce this rule.

I thank you.

4. Union i have seen many penalties for people being tackled the chest area.

5. I will post examples of these chest area tackles that I have seen penalised in Rugby union...

well they wont make it on you tube because they are not exciting enough.  Have you never seen penalties for big hits on the chest in union ?