Jon Wilkin claims problematic Super League rule encourages “skullduggery”

A lot of discussion is focused on the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, league leaders Catalans Dragons and the Super League and World Champions St Helens in the race for Old Trafford.

But there is often one topic that always finds its way into discussions and that is the six again rule.

Almost every week one coach in Super League has something to say about the controversial rule and the vagueness that encompasses it.

It was even suggested earlier this year by Phil Clarke that the rule has been used by St Helens to “effectively cheat” and Hull FC boss Tony Smith meanwhile suggested himself that the rule encourages cheating.

It has caused a lot of division. Now former England skipper and Catalans Dragons star Sam Tomkins has suggested a solution to the grey area around the rule.

“I think there should be a players call on the six again. So if it’s called six again the captain should be able to put his hand up and say no we’ll take a penalty,” he said on the Bench.

“Because at times you might get it on tackle one, well we know you might as well push the limits. If you’ve got him in a corner near a sideline, you might as well push the limits you know holding them down and really pin them in.

“Worst case, they’ve got six again. They can have another tackle there. And sometimes you might be just over halfway and they’ve got a six again. It might be six all so you’d say, no, we’d have a crack at two points.

“So I think there should be able to be a captain’s call on that, no, we’d rather have a penalty than a six again.”

This came as Jon Wilkin suggests that the rule is problematic as it prompts “skullduggery.”

“Penalties were really important, weren’t they?” Wilkin said.

“You could kick the ball miles and you’d get a load of advantage from it. But when you make it so there’s a six again, it almost encourages more sort of wrestling and skullduggery like in the ruck because the consequences of getting it wrong aren’t that bad.”

This came as Tomkins explained: “It changes the mentality of a defender as well because early on in the tackle count and you’ve got them pinned, you’re alright, but then play three, play four, play five you think don’t give a six again.

“There’s nothing worse than if you give six again on play five, the evils you’ll get from 12 other blokes is pretty full on. So I think it changes the dynamic of defence.”