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RUGBY LEAGUE RULES
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Ever been left scratching your head at a decision? Ever wondered just why the whistle went, or why a try was wiped off?

Well, thanks to skysports.com and leading Super League official Stuart Cummings, you need live in the dark no longer!

This week Stuart puts paid to the myth that there is a play the ball loophole and how differing NRL and Super League rules affect international laws ahead of this year's World Cup ...

WORLD CUP RULES OK
Stuart, I wonder if you can clear up a question for us. My partner and I are watching the new season of NRL and have noticed a few differences in the rules this year compared to Super league.

a) The NRL do not appear to have to have both feet behind the 10m line at the play-the-ball, whereas we must.
b) The NRL defence can strip a ball with two men in the tackle whilst the attacker is in the process of scoring a try, we can't.
c) The NRL are playing 10 interchanges, we are playing 12.
d) In the event of a draw after 80 minutes the NRL are playing extra time with the "Golden Point" rule.

All this in mind, when Great Britain play in the World Cup later this year, which rules will we be playing and is it good for the game having different rules or is it just going to confuse and frustrate the players, officials & spectators from both hemispheres? I'll have a little wager with anyone that we end-up playing their rules and it all becomes a bit farcical! We would appreciate your comments, Thanks and regards, Mark Buckley & Christine Jones, Wigan.

STUART REPLIES: Mark and Christine, The interpretation on the 10 metres in the NRL is the same as in our competitions and I am unaware of any difference in the ball stripping law in the in goal area. They have introduced "local laws" on interchange where they only have 10 interchanges from four and they have a Golden Point rule if the game is drawn after 80 minutes. The World Cup will be played under international laws and any changes have to be voted upon by the Rugby League International Federation. We have been very keen to have our competition played under the laws that will be played in the World Cup, but I can understand how this can confuse people. However we cannot tell the NRL how to run their competition. We do however have a say in the international game.

PLAY THE BALL LOOPHOLE?
Dear Stuart, During the Hull FC v Wakefield game I was confused by the referee's response to one particular incident. Around three minutes into the second half, Wakefield had a "play the ball" a few metres from the Hull FC goal line after the tackle count was wiped clean following a kick to the corner. As the ball was played by Wakefield, Danny Tickle (Hull FC) was alongside the Wakefield player facing his own goal line. When the ball was played, Tickle tackled the attacking Wakefield player and prevented him from grounding the ball over the line and scoring a try. The referee was in an excellent position to see that the ball had not been grounded, and given that the player carrying the ball travelled less than three metres it's safe to assume that he was also in a good position at play the ball.

With my understanding of the offside / standing square rules, I was surprised that a penalty was not awarded to Wakefield. I support the current policy regarding the enforcement of the new offside laws and given the number of yellow cards awarded in recent weeks, I felt that a yellow card was justifiable in this incident, possibly even a penalty try. Is there a loophole in the laws of the game to allow a player to effect a tackle from this position? At the time of the incident the score was 8-8, and in such a close game the next score was always going to be relevant to the final outcome of the game. Kind Regards, Joseph Collins.

STUART REPLIES: Joseph, In the incident you refer to Danny Tickle is, as you describe, at the side of the play the ball when the ball is played. He had been caught out by a quick play the ball. He then retires to the goal line and I can tell from the footage whether or not he actually gets both feet on the line but he is very close. The referee obviously felt that he did although the referee's focus with it being so close to the goal line would have been on the ball carrier. There is no loophole, if players are offside and interfere with play they should be penalised. Stuart.