The tackling team cannot slow the ptb down deliberately. The tackling team can, in the act of tacking, position the ball carrier (turtled / pointing in the wrong direction) to the ptb is naturally slowed.

If the ball carrier wins the collision (ends up in a position where he is point in the right direction and can take to his feet quickly) then the ball is naturally played quickly.

HTH.

Showing a clear lack of understanding of the game here Martin.

The speed of the PTB is determined (as Rogues pointed out) by the players involved right from the initial collision. If a player manages to get past the gain line, to the floor quickly and on his front, it should allow for a quick PTB (as we saw from our lads on Sunday). If the defence manages to dominate the tackle & 'wrestle', putting the attacking player on their back and getting numbers into the tackle, it'll be a slow PTB, the defensive line is set, and everything is a lot harder for the attacking side.

Wigan are experts defensively at slowing the PTB down. Getting numbers into the tackle & winning the wrestle. It's not good to watch, in fact I don't really enjoy watching Wigan, but it's effective and within the rules.

You seem to be getting the play the ball speed mixed up with defenders laying on too long/not moving away from the tackle, which is controlled by the referee and should be ruled same for both sides.

Sounds sensible, the idea that it's actually in the rule book that a team can deliberately slow the ptb had me baffled!

You're baffled because you failed to understand what Rogues was saying & differentiate between; what happens between the initial collision & the tackle being complete; and what happens once the tackle is complete.

You're absolutely right. However the decision as to who has "won the collision/tackle" is a matter of judgement. Sometimes it's easy to see - other times it isn't. That can be where fans perceive a problem - sometimes rightly and sometimes wrongly.

Agree, but that's not what Wigan do, 3 men in the tackle, make it as scruffy as possible, no matter who's won the collision. Refs let you get away with it, even awarding penalties for your players trapping arms and legs in. Wigan are the worst team to watch and the dirtiest imo

I watched the game. The game earlier in the season you has thaler in your back pocket regarding the slowing down. 3 men in, 2 move away while the 3rd acts like he is trapped in the tackle

Hopefully Gareth ellis will gave a word to the official if the ptb is too slow for our liking

SQUAD:

Bowden, Ellis, Fonua, Green, Hadley, Houghton, Manu, Michaels, Minichiello, Naughton, Pryce, Shaul, Sneyd, Talanoa, Taylor, Thompson, Washbrook, Watts, Yeaman.

Manu and Michaels replace Tuimavave and Turgut from last week.

Id be tempted to go with the team from last week unless someone is carrying a knock.

At a push I might swap Manu for Washbrook.

That said it maybe worth Manu getting over his Jet lag so he and Frank are ready to tear a new one for rovers the following week?

Wigan:

John Bateman, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Dom Crosby, Oliver Gildart, Anthony Gelling, Willie Isa, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams.