NRL 2021: Cooper Cronk fears new rules slow game down as NRL says less scrums mean more action

While the NRL wants to ‘keep the ball in play as much as possible so fans see more action’, Cooper Cronk thinks they may have gone too far this time - and it all comes down to scrums.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 20: Blake Ferguson of the Indigenous All Stars knocks the ball into touch during the NRL All Stars game between the Indigenous and the Maori Men's at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on February 20, 2021 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The NRL will push ahead with the rule change designed to further reduce scrums despite criticism from Cooper Cronk that it also threatens to slow the game down.

After all the positive feedback the NRL received last year relating to the new six-again rule helping to stamp out ugly wrestling tactics, the season’s unofficial kick-off lasted just 20 minutes in Saturday night’s All Stars match before the highly regarded Cronk questioned the latest change.

Cronk’s issue relates to the fact there is now a handover of possession instead of a scrum when the ball goes into touch.

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It took just 20 minutes of the new season for the latest rule change was questioned.

“The Maori team has gone into touch three times down their left hand side (in the opening quarter) and the Indigenous team has chosen to do the play the ball instead of the scrum in the middle of the field,” Cronk told Fox League.

“Now for me that has slowed the game down because the referee has to get into position and move to the middle of the field and you are defending against 12 players.

“Whereas with the scrum, the previous rule, you at least had six in the scum and six defenders out and you could take like a one-on-one tackle and then get ruck speed and things like that.

“In the first 20 minutes the game hasn’t scored any points except for the penalty goal but the rule change is something that has stood out.”

Braith Anasta added it was actually a “disadvantage to the attacking side”.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley said the objective was to increase the time the ball was in play.

Blake Ferguson was pinged under the new turnover of possession ruling.

“It is an attempt to reduce the number of scrums and the time that we spend forming scrums,” Annesley explained.

“I mean, the whole objective of our approach over recent years has been to try and keep the ball in play as much as possible so fans see more action.

“Whether Cooper is right or not, time will tell.

“But when you look at historically there hasn’t been a lot of tries scored straight from the next tackle off a scrum.”

There was also controversy relating to the new turnover of possession if a player doesn’t make a genuine attempt to play the ball with his feet after Blake Ferguson was nabbed.

In fairness to Ferguson, he appeared to make a genuine attempt to play the ball with his foot.

Previously, it would have been a penalty if a referee called it back but in this instance it just appeared to be a bad call.

Cooper Cronk said one rule change really stood out for him.

Though Annesley said it was not an option to use the captain’s challenge because it was a decision based on a referee’s discretion.

“What we try to get in rugby league as opposed to some other sports where they are very technical is that we just try to get an acceptable presentation,” Annesley said.

“And it is not an acceptable presentation to just roll the ball between your legs.

“But I think it is an acceptable presentation to see someone get up and have a genuine attempt to play the ball back.”