NRL warns of sin bin for crackdown on exploitation of set restart rule

The NRL has hit back against players and coaches exploiting set restarts in a change to the rules set to take effect this weekend.

Referee Ben Cummins signals during the round six NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Parramatta Eels at GIO Stadium on April 17, 2021, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

Players risk being penalised or sent to the sin bin for abusing set restarts after the NRL launched a crackdown of the controversial six-again rule.

In a bid to stop coaches and teams from engaging in exploitive tactics, the NRL has announced changes to its rules.

Starting from this weekend, referees will take stronger action for what the NRL described as “tactical breaches” regarding 10 metre or ruck infringements, especially for repeat or deliberate offences early in sets.

It comes as Fox Sports Lab revealed a whopping 63 per cent of all set restarts occur between tackles zero and two.

Referees like Grant Atkins will be encouraged to use the sin bin for six-again offenders.

Similarly, 35 per cent of restarts occur on the first two tackles of a set. As a result, teams can be dominated in the ruck and struggle to flip field position or momentum.

“It’s not a change, these rules have been place all year. It’s a reminder to clubs that referees have the backing of the NRL to ensure these rules are complied with as much as possible,” said NRL head of elite competitions Graham Annesley.

“It’s giving clubs notice that referees will take action if there’s continued noncompliance.

“The rules are not meant to be used tactically. They’re there to force compliance, to give both teams equal opportunity to try and win.”

The set restart rule has attracted controversy in recent weeks as clubs and players bend it to their advantage, especially early in the tackle count.

Many defending sides are willingly conceding a set restart on tackle one or two, sacrificing an extra play for the ability to slow down the play the ball.

This has been especially apparent when teams have been working the ball out of their own end, with the ability to control field position evidently worth the sacrifice.

Set restarts are down slightly on a per game basis to last year, dropping from 7.72 to 7.67 despite ten metre infringements being added to the mix this season.

There has also been concern of confusion as to what each specific restart is punishing, which the NRL plans to alleviate by announcing the nature of the breach via stadium PA systems and on the big screen.

Referee Ben Cummins has the backing of the NRL. Picture: Matt Blyth/Getty Images

Annesley stressed the reminder was aimed at ensuring games run smoothly with as little focus on the impact of referees as possible.

“It’s our job to ensure the rules are upheld as much as possible and we don’t want referees imposing themselves on games but in order for the referees to stay out of it the players have to play their role in complying with the laws,” Annesley said.

“The more they comply, the more referees will stay out of it.”

Referees will also be more vigilant in identifying players who break early from scrums and encourage officials to sin bin or send off players for players who make contact deemed careless or reckless and involving a significant degree of force around an opponents head or neck.