NRL 2024 rule change explained: New kick-off, drop-out law divides rugby league

As debate rages over the controversial rule change to kick restarts, one prominent NRL commentator believes it could be a ploy to minimise high-impact collisions. Have your say.

The new rules have been implemented to encourage more attacking football. Picture: NRL Imagery

Good for the game, bad for the game.

Debate is raging in rugby league circles over the NRL’s rule change surrounding kick restarts for the 2024 season.

As debate cranks up on the impact the change will have on the game as a spectacle, respected NRL Physio, Brien Seeney, has a different take.

He believes that it could be the first step in minimising high impact kick restart collisions.

“Could have my tin foil hat on here but wonder if this change, that encourages short kick offs, is in part a move to reduce the safety concerns around long kick offs. NFL had rule changes to minimise impact on kick offs, always had a feeling NRL may follow at some point,” Seeney tweeted.

“It’s very likely to be a move based on entertainment or speeding up the game somehow, but interesting considering the long kick off has a high concussion incidence rate. Could theoretically be a way to change the game indirectly in favour of player safety.”

The new rules have been implemented to encourage more attacking football. Picture: NRL Imagery

NRL General Manager of Football Graham Annesley explained on Wednesday that if a team kicks the ball out on the full, or the ball doesn’t go 10 metres forward from a kick restart, play will recommence with a play-the-ball 10 metres from the line of the kick and 10 metres in from touch, rather than a penalty being given.

The NRL believe the tweak will encourage more incentive to take short drop outs and kick offs.

Fox Sports Stats guru Aaron Wallace doesn’t like it.

“Still scratching my head at the new rule change. Surely receiving team SHOULD get restarts back - but kicking team can try for the ball...with RISK!” Wallace tweeted on Thursday.

“If teams aren’t smashing the ball low at the sideline 10m upfield they aren’t thinking... it’s a free hit with no downside.”

Dragons halfback Ben Hunt believes you should still be punished if you get a kick wrong.

“I don’t know (if it’s a good thing), I’m a bit undecided on that,” Hunt said.

“I like the fact that teams go for short dropouts, but I don’t think we needed to change the rule. There needs to be a penalty if you get your kick wrong.”

Broncos great Corey Parker is all for the change.

“I think it’s great. They’re always looking at ways to innovate and make it a spectacle for the punters in the stands,” Parker told Triple M Breakfast with Marto, Margaux & Dan

“It’s a 50-50 chance of getting the ball back, ala what we saw in the grand final last year with the Broncos when Adam Reynolds kicked it out and it was a penalty in front.

“Now (with the rule change), you’ll see pretty much every team go for a short drop out, which is what we sort of started to see at different stages throughout the back end of last year, but you might even start to see it now with kick-offs.

“We’ve got some wonderful athletes, the likes of Xavier Coates for example that jumps about eight foot in the air, I actually really like the rule it’s a great, innovative way to keep people watching the game.”

Teams won’t be penalised for restarts which go out on the full or fail to go ‘10’. Picture: NRL Imagery

Penrith’s 2003 grand final hero, Scott Sattler, is against the change.

“I don’t like it, I think it’s a negative play,” Sattler said on SEN 1170 Sportsday.

“Some people will think it means we’re going to see more attack and we possibly might see four points as opposed to two points.

“When you’re on the try line you don’t have to go back 10 metres, you have to go back two or three metres, so you don’t have to come up as far, I think it’s quite a negative play.

“I know what they’re trying to do, keep the ball in play more and (have) the possibility of four points but your really good defensive sides will defend that.”

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan isn’t a fan of the change.

“Sides are just going to have a crack at it now because there’s no penalty for not getting it right,” Flanagan said.

“There’ll be a lot of shorter, along the ground, powerful kicks trying to find the touchline because the refs aren’t going to march over and give you a penalty in front of the posts.

“I like a bit of tradition in the game, and that’s an art to do a short dropout.

“But in the back of your mind, you know that if you don’t get it to go 10 metres then you’re going to give the opposition two points.

“That’s not there anymore so it’s changed the game a little bit.

“Sometimes I’d want the two points. I don’t want the penalty 10 metres away over there. I still want the penalty.”