NRL 2021: Buzz Rothfield says rule change madness is damaging the game

Fans that arrived at Suncorp on Friday night for a festival of footy were as pumped up as you’ve seen. Hours later they walked out disillusioned with the game.

The NRL crackdown on foul play has come under fire.

The NRL needs to urgently introduce a new rule. It should state: ‘No new rule changes mid-season.’

Magic Round should have been a massive celebration of rugby league from the opening night with huge crowds at Suncorp Stadium and the most wonderful atmosphere as you walked in.

Instead Friday night became an absolute debacle with a sin-bin-athon and 24 penalties in the first two games.

Instead of talking about Tommy Turbo, the only conversations were around the referees, Peter V’landys and the complete overreaction to the Eels v Roosters game a week earlier.

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Jayden Brailey of the Knights talks to referee Grant Atkins during the Newcastle and Wests Tigers clash. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Referee Gerard Sutton makes another sin bin during the Broncos game. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The night referee Matt Cecchin and bunker official Steve Chiddy stuffed up by not sin-binning two Parramatta Eels players against the Roosters in the James Tedesco and Drew Hutchison incidents.

Seriously, you can’t go from one extreme to another.

The previous weekend the NRL took action by dropping both officials.

That was all that was required. It showed other match officials they too would lose their jobs if players were not sin-binned or sent-off for obvious foul play.

Instead we got another crackdown and the most ridiculous, over-the-top response.

Fans that arrived at Suncorp on Friday night for a festival of footy were as pumped up as you’ve seen. Hours later they walked out disillusioned with the game.

Commentators on Fox Sports, Channel Nine and social media went into meltdown.

What was supposed to be a celebration of having 272 players and 16 clubs in the one spot on the one weekend became a farce.

Stinging comments like: “Bring back rugby league! Because that’s not what we’re watching.”

The old: “I’m ripping up my membership.” “Might as well be oz tag or touch footy.”

“Our game has lost its fabric.” “Not much magic – eight sin bins, penalties all night.”

“If we keep moving the goalposts the game will be as bad as soccer & yawnion.”

V’landys however remains firm and unapologetic.

When we spoke on Saturday he declared: “The players will eventually get it. You’ve never been allowed to hit an opponent in the head or neck.

“One day we’re talking about all the HIA’s and concussions, next day we’re blowing up about addressing it. Our job is to protect the player.”

“I hate seeing players stumbling from a high shot. I hate seeing them lying on the ground with the pain on their faces. It didn’t have an effect on the results. That was the main thing.”

He speaks about the long-term effect, not just one weekend of football.

Peter V’landys has been unapologetic in his crackdown on head high shots. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“The dividends for the survival of the game long term will be immense,” V’landys said.

“It’s all about ensuring the game will last forever. We’re showing a signal to all the kids out there that they can participate in a safe game.”

Still the NRL administration stands accused of becoming too reactive.

Why wasn’t the crackdown communicated to the clubs during the off-season so they could prepare?

Any week you have the slightest drama and they try to combat it by changing the rules.

All the goodwill around the comeback from COVID last year is fast evaporating.

The game needs to take a chill pill.

Fans turn on the TV or attend games and are confused.

Parts of the game they don’t even understand because of the constant changes.

It has got to stop.

If you want to change the rules, test them out in meaningless games in the last couple of rounds when the scoreboard doesn’t matter.

It’s better than ruining Magic Round.