Rugby league is trying to gain growth away from the north of England, with much better marketing and promotion of the sport. However, the Rugby Football League (RFL) disciplinary panel has caused a nightmare start to the 2024 season for clubs, players and fans by showing a lack of consistency.
Since the global sports and events company IMG entered a 12-year deal to oversee and guide marketing of the Betfred Super League, promotion for rugby league has really ramped up. There was a hugely successful media launch day, followed by promotion of the men’s, women’s and wheelchair game, with great adverts for the sport around the country. The parallel launch of SuperLeague+ is also a huge boost, offering streaming of all matches directly to fans.
Much-improved coverage
The coverage of the games over round one of the Super League was greatly improved and, on the whole, it seems the vast majority of fans are impressed, with Sky getting new commentary teams, improved graphics and overall content provided. The BBC coverage on Saturday was their first time broadcasting the Super League, and the fans enjoyed their coverage too. The game they broadcast was Castleford Tigers vs Wigan Warriors, which is what leads me to the current anger amongst the rugby league community.
But discipline was too inconsistent
Yellow and red cards were handed out left, right and centre across each game. But, after the match on Saturday and after the match review panel had handed out their fines and bans to players, everyone, including players, was frustrated with the lack of consistency in the decisions that were made.
For instance, midway through the first half, Castleford forward Liam Watts was shown a red card for an elbow on Wigan’s Tyler Dupree. The RFL did say they were clamping down on tackling and the rules surrounding player safety, to general agreement. However, these decisions and also the rules themselves are inconsistent.
Liam Watts was attempting to tackle a player that was already falling, which is a mitigating factor in the penalty, supposed to be taken into consideration. While there was direct contact to the head, which is a red card according to the law, as the player was already falling, what was Watts supposed to do in that split second? A yellow card seems more sufficient.
The dissatisfaction intensifies
In the same game, Wigan halfback Harry Smith lifted Castleford fullback Luke Hooley off the ground and the latter landed on his head. This tackle was far worse than Watts’, because this kind of tackle can be career-ending and life-altering. Harry Smith received a yellow card and did not receive a suspension, making him free to play in this week’s World Club Challenge for Wigan against the NRL champions, Penrith Panthers. Liam Watts, however, was given a four-match ban and a £750 fine.
It’s not the rules, it’s their application
There is no consistency in how the rules are applied. This is beyond club rivalries, because it’s about the enjoyment of the game. Fans online are threatening to walk away from the game because of the constant issues surrounding how the game is played and run. To make matters worse, the World Club Challenge will have relaxed rules after Penrith had a meeting with the RFL to clarify which rules would be used in the game.
Huddersfield Giants forward, Luke Yates has hit out online, commenting that there needs to be consistency with application of the rules, after he was given a three match ban in a pre-season friendly, following the new rules surrounding brain health and tackling. He doesn’t have an issue with his ban, but feels hard done by due to the inconsistency in what players are penalised for.
More consistency, please!
Alex Walmsley, from St Helens, has also spoken out about the new rules, the lack of a players’ union within the sport and why players would benefit from forming a union. He makes excellent points regarding the fact that in Australia, the NRL will not be following the rule changes made in the English game.
The point I am making here really is about consistency. There is none!
Players are unsure about whether they will play a game and not get a card handed to them. Things will only get worse, because, from next season, all players, from all levels of the game, must tackle below armpit level. I am certain that every game will be at least two hours long, due to penalties and stoppages.
To end on a personal note
As an amateur rugby league player, I am concerned about playing this year and how many cards will be handed out across the board. I know what I signed up for when I began playing at the age of five and in the later years, with more contact and collisions, it’s a part of the sport. I know all this is really coming down to ex-professional players suing the RFL due to health issues allegedly caused by the sport. I just do not understand why on earth they need to sue the RFL.
Information, treatments and protocols have got a lot better than when these players played the sport, but that’s down to improved research and funding. I know I’m at a higher risk of developing dementia or motor neurone disease for example. However, if I do, I wouldn’t blame the sport I’ve grown up loving to watch and play. I have no regrets about playing, even after having some pretty bad injuries in my time and I will more than likely get more. I have had my fair share of head knocks and concussions but that’s a part of the game.
Everyone in the rugby league community just wants clarification on the rules and consistency to bans, fines, gradings, cards given.
