Every year in Gaelic games, it seems that the referees focus in on one rule during the league campaign. It happens in both hurling and football, although such moves rarely bring about any actual long-term changes.
This year, it seems hurling referees have zeroed in on the hand pass. That particular aspect of the sport has been one that has annoyed many supporters for quite some time now, with players regularly getting away with blatant throws disguised as hand passes.
There has been a major effort to cut down on such incidents, with players now regularly called for throw balls.
While many would see this as a welcome development, whether is makes an impact later in the year remains to be seen. Donal Óg Cusack isn't convinced that it will.
Donal Óg Cusack worried about 'rugbyisation' of hurling
Speaking on Allianz League Sunday, the former Cork goalkeeper said that while this was a welcome change, he did not see it lasting too long. He also wondered if referees would be better off focusing on other rules, most notably ones that he feels are contributing to hurling becoming increasingly similar to rugby.
Hand pass or throw?
Have referees started coming down harder on hand passes in this year's League? #RTEGAA #AllianzLeagueSunday pic.twitter.com/8MXLOCG6cr— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 27, 2022
I think unless you're sure, that the referee has to leave it go. It's very hard to judge whether it actually is or isn't (a throw)...
I would say though, at the start of every year we always see scenarios like this where referees tend to go heavy on certain scenarios.
I just wonder if that is going to be the one this year and will we see it carried out...
We've never seen it in our games with these early season things that referees are heavy on. We've never seen it carry on all the way to championship.
What I would say as well, I heard a debate around the 'basketballisation' of our game. I would be much more worried about the 'rugbyisation' of the game.
I think that there are bigger issues in the game, be it no calling up on the steps or be it the lack of definition and implementation of the tackle.
I think if we dealt with those issues, a lot of those hand passes and throws wouldn't come into play.
This is a subject Donal Óg Cusack has discussed before.
Last year, he said that he was concerned that hurling was becoming very similar to rugby as the lack of implementation of the four-step rule resulted in defenders becoming increasingly likely to drag out of attackers.
Dónal Óg Cusack is concerned hurling is becoming
"a rugby type" game and suggests stricter enforcement of the four-step rule would make defenders less motivated to hold opponents | Watch Limerick v Cork live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer #GAA pic.twitter.com/BMiIto6NEJ— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 5, 2021
That pulling, dragging, and wrestling is not part of our game. It has been allowed right through the 00s, it's been building and building right up to where it is now.
There is almost a rugby type feel coming into our games. One of the ways to address it is implementing not using the spare hand, stop the wrestling, but also the four steps.
Hurling has certainly become an increasingly physical game in recent years, with the types of collisions mentioned above now part and parcel of the sport.
For now, that trend looks unlikely to be reversed in the near future.
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