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Reece Walsh, one of the best fullbacks in the game, kicked the ball dead on the full in a golden point clash against the Warriors.
Simple mistake, right? Everyone’s made one at some point.
But here’s where it starts to feel a bit off: the punishment just doesn’t seem to fit the crime.
A penalty for a kick that’s gone dead on the full? That’s over the top.
Now, don’t get me wrong, mistakes happen, especially in high-pressure situations. But Walsh’s error wasn’t some dirty play, it wasn’t a high shot or a dangerous tackle.
It was just a misjudgment, a small slip-up in the heat of the moment.
Yet, somehow, that small error handed the Warriors a massive advantage. Not just a free march up the field, but a penalty as well.
Think about it – a 50-metre walk and then a penalty for a kick going dead on the full? Seems a bit much, doesn’t it?
Why not just have the game flow and restart from the 20m with a simple tap? No harm done, no major disadvantage to either side.
A kick going dead on the full isn’t a foul, it’s just bad luck.
In a golden point scenario, bad luck shouldn’t be the thing that decides the game.
Here’s the thing: a penalty should be for something that genuinely disrupts the game.
A high tackle, a professional foul, something that impacts the flow of the game or the safety of the players.
Kicking the ball dead on the full? It’s not a crime, it’s a small misstep in an otherwise thrilling game. So why punish a simple mistake like that with such a heavy-handed call?
Instead of a long penalty, how about we keep the game flowing with a tap restart from the 20-metre mark?
This way, the game keeps its rhythm, the player isn’t punished too harshly, and we avoid turning a small mistake into a game-deciding disaster.
At the end of the day, it’s about fairness. The punishment should fit the crime, and a penalty for kicking dead on the full? Nah, it’s time for a bit of common sense.
Let’s make sure we keep the game moving, and the mistakes don’t decide the outcome.
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