NRL 2021 rule changes: Fans and coaches disagree over new rules
Fans love the NRL’s new rules changes. But coaches remain wary, with one warning that he has “massive” concerns it is just creating more “confusion” for the poor referees.
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Fans love the NRL’s new rules changes. But coaches remain wary, with one warning that he has “massive” concerns it is just creating more “confusion” for the poor referees.
“And I reckon it just shows a lack of confidence in our product,” the coach said.
“Like, we have a really good product.
“We made a couple big changes last season with one referee and six to go.
“By the end of the year I thought we were heading in the right direction.
“But I think if you just keep changing it just shows a lack of confidence in the product.
“And change leads to confusion.
“I would just like to see them let it settle for a year or two and let everyone enjoy it.
“I think they are just giving referees too many tools.”
But the fans immediately jumped on board in The Daily Telegraph’s online poll, with the majority voting that they agreed with all of the changes put forward.
We listed a series of seven questions to see which rule in particular the fans liked most.
“All of them” was by far the most popular response with 42 per cent of overall votes.
The same coach laughed when told of the poll results: “As Wayne (Bennett) said once, you keep doing what the fans want you end up sitting with them.
“You watch, the fans will be blowing up after five rounds and screaming at the refs because they will be giving away more six to goes.”
NRL head of football Graham Annesley understands “everyone will have an opinion”.
“But who would have thought this time last year that we would be back to one referee and having six again for ruck infringements,” Annesley said.
“The rules are changed with the very best of intentions to try and make the game more exciting for fans to watch and more continuity.
“I am confident will see that.”
Annesley also backed his whistle blowers to claim back even more power with the threat of the sin bin to stop teams abusing the 10m off-side rule.
The 10m infringement penalties will now be replaced with a six again call to reduce stoppages.
There is a legitimate concern this will only encourage coaches to run the gauntlet by getting teams to stand off-side or jump the gun with their line speed so they can dominate early tackles.
This would especially be a factor after a clearing kick where teams are trying to pin their opponents into their danger end.
The theory is a set restart is not nearly as costly as a penalty that gives the attacking team a piggy back out of trouble through a kick for touch.
But as Annesley explained: “That was discussed in the meeting and that is why it was important the referees retain the ability to penalise for what they consider to be a professional foul or repeated infringements, so they can put the player in the bin.
“What teams would risk in that situation is not only will they concede a penalty but if they do concede a penalty they know that someone is going to go to the bin.
“So they are going to risk playing without someone for 10 minutes.
“Like all rule changes it remains to be seen how coaches try and deal with it.
“Then of course it is a matter for the referees to try and react to that in a way that does not allow teams to rort rules.”
FULL LIST OF NRL RULES AND EXPLANATIONS
TWO POINTS FOR FIELD GOALS OUTSIDE 40M LINE
To encourage more unstructured play and increase the chances of a result changing in the final moments of a game, a 2-point field goal will be awarded for teams who kick a field goal from outside the 40m line. The new rule will provide an incentive to seek an additional point scoring opportunity at critical times of a match, particularly with limited time remaining on the clock in each half.
SIX AGAIN FOR 10-METRE INFRINGEMENTS
To reduce stoppages in the game, 10 metre infringement penalties will be replaced with a “Six Again” ruling. Referees maintain the ability to blow a penalty and sin bin a player if a side has made repeated 10m infringements or in the case of professional fouls. The “Six Again” rule provided a sufficient deterrent for teams who purposely sought a penalty to slow the game down during previous years. This rule was trialled in two games during round 20 of last season. This will result in a fast game, less stoppages and more free-flowing action for fans.
SCRUMS
The Commission determined scrums are part of the game’s DNA. To increase the integrity of scrums, the referee will call “BREAK” when he or she is satisfied the ball is out of a scrum. Players will not be permitted to break from a scrum until the referee makes the call. Where players break before the call of “BREAK”, the referee will award a full penalty. The team receiving the penalty will also have the option of re-packing the scrum. If the scrum is re-packed and players again break early a further penalty will be awarded and one of the offending players will be sent to the sin bin.
PLAY THE BALL RESTART AFTER BALL OR PLAYER FINDS TOUCH
When the ball is kicked or carried into touch play will resume with a play the ball rather than a scrum. This rule was trialled in two games during the final round of last season.
HANDOVER FOR INCORRECT PLAY THE BALL
A handover will be ordered where players do not make a genuine attempt to play the ball with their foot. This will ensure greater compliance to the rule and integrity around the play the ball, without increasing penalty stoppages.
CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE
In cases where a Captain’s Challenge review is inconclusive, the on-field decision will stand but the team will retain their challenge. Fans have expressed frustration with teams losing a challenge where replays prove inconclusive, this will ensure a greater opportunity for teams to have a challenges available later in matches.
BUNKER REVIEWS
Where the on-field referee believes a try is scored the referee will award a try and the bunker will review the decision in the background. A conversion attempt will not be permitted until the bunker is satisfied a try has been scored. This will ensure even less stoppage time and ensure momentum in the game continues. This rule was trialled in two games during the final round of last season.
TRAINERS
In 2021, where a trainer asks a match official to stop the game for an injury, the injured player must be either interchanged or taken off the field for a period of two minutes of elapsed game time before he is permitted to resume his place on the field. This will reduce the number of stoppages for minor
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