Dunbar

That's a pretty big fall from grace for the Skolars. Last year they had an A team in the London and South East division as well as their semi-pro firsts. So they have lost their firsts and also the group who maybe would have relished a crack at the Southern Conference who played London and South East last year. As you say, there is a vibrant amateur scene in and around Chiswick, Hammersmith and Acton with Chargers and Wests turning out a first team in the Conference and seconds in the London League and Hammersmith in the Conference. I know there is historically a lot of Aussies and Kiwis in West London which will help these teams but I hope Skolars can build up a competitive side soon.

Unlike the author of the article, I would like us to take a harder line on the voluntary tackle law. I would like the law to be amended to clarify that deliberately going to ground without being tackled is an offence and enforce that. I lose count of the number of times across games that a player is bringing the ball away from his own in-goal and this should be a critical tackle, can he escape, can the opposition trap him in goal – and he just throws himself to the ground. I think it is against the spirit of a game based on tackling and escaping tackles. Enforcing this would make the game more entertaining and competitive in my view.

I think this is fair. Pryce has been named at full back for the Knights NSW Cup side tgis week and so if he goes well then I expect he will start to push for that NRL spot.

Well, I don't want to get caught up arguing with myself. I agree that incidents can be accidental and I thought last week's was accidental. But others argue that it was reckless and poor technique and so a foul as it ended up putting dangerous pressure on a player and causing injury. Here, the panel have concluded that it is not worthy of a ban - however it was poor technique and did put dangerous pressure on the tackled player. Maybe the difference is whether a player is injured or not, that was stressed as being at the heart of last week's case. I don't particularly like that as I think the action should be the issue, not the outcome.

Yes, I agree it is a different incident. But I would argue that if last week's incident was reckless then executing a tackle that results in a player landing on his head / neck is also reckless.

I don't mean to get into a long circular argument again but last week a player was banned for putting pressure on another player and yet here a player (and his team mates) is not charged for when the opponent is being tackled in the upper body by two of player’s team mate and is twisted round and lands on his neck and shoulder. Why is this not applying pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player?

Those stats for Smithies were from the Raiders match against the Titians in Round 6, not the Broncos game.

Is 2 assists in 5 matches really fantastic for a number 6?

The NSW Cup side getting best 52-6 doesn't exactly shout for any of them to be called up... but injuries may demand it. I looked at the Knights forum and mot many are calling for Pryce's call up - have you seen much of him in the Cup, is he playing OK?

What do you think the competition is for Pryce as back up #1? It was Lachlan Miller last year so we haven't seen many other Knights play full back and none of the first team seem a natural fit there. In NSW Cup Pryce has been playing 6 and David Armstrong 1, is there a chance the latter will get a nod for the NRL side over Pryce?

Like Sean Connery as Bond in Never Say Never Again, I just couldn't resist one more go around.

Which would certainly result in a 5 match ban due to an unnatural body position and unnecessary forceful contact.

Skolars are in the Southern Conference this year. I notice that Skolars lost to Eastern Rhinos 20-48 at home last week and today lost 68-8 away at Brentwood Eels. I'm not really posting this for any reason other than lamenting the current woes of a really forward thinking club. I hope they can get on an upward trend soon.

This is in the same category as if a tree falls with no-one to hear it... is a flounce a flounce if it has to be announced?

Thanks. The highlights started with the play the ball.