‘Doing my head in’: Matty Johns fumes at NRL joke

Matty Johns has leapt to the defence of one divisive rule after criticism from across the game, warning we could see “30 penalties a game”.

Matty Johns has leapt to the defence of the six-again rule after some recent criticism from across the game, warning removing it will result in “30 penalties a game”.

The rule, which awards a set restart to attacking teams over minor ruck infringements, was introduced midway through the 2020 season in a bid to speed up the game and discourage cynical ruck penalties.

There has been a 25 per cent increase in six-agains in 2024, with Melbourne Storm legend and current Queensland Maroons assistant Cameron Smith last month calling for the scrapping of a rule he says hurt the Maroons in their game 2 loss in Melbourne.

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“I don’t particularly like them, if I’m being honest,” Smith told SENQ.

“Set restarts are all up to the interpretation of the referees.

“... It’s so crucial with the timings of when the refs give the set restart.

“We need to scrap them because then there’s an emphasis placed on refs giving a whistle on things that are blatant penalties.

“That way, everyone knows what is going on.”

Smith’s comments came just days after Raiders coach Ricky Stuart accused the referees of “guessing” when deciding when a team should receive a set restart.

Phil Gould has also been critical of what he says is a six-again “blitz” while former player turned pundit Mark Riddell has also called for the rule to be scrapped altogether.

Matty Johns defends the six-again rule

Johns, though, says the onus should be on teams to be better disciplined.

“All this talk at the moment, it’s doing my head in, and coaches included, about scrapping the six-again rule,” he said on Thursday’s Late Show with Matty Johns.

“In my opinion the game has never been better and a major contributor has been the six-again rule.

“There’s coaches out there saying scrap it, there’s too many six-agains. Well, you know what? Get your side onside, get their arms out of the ruck ... because I tell you what if you get red of the six-again rule the way teams are defending in the ruck, you’ll have 30 penalties again.”

Johns also argued against calls for more explanation of six-again calls, saying it would only slow the game down, while he couldn’t resist a light-hearted pot shot at the legendary Smith, who has led the chorus of criticism.

“Cam Smith came out and said ‘I think they should get rid of it’. Well part of the reason they did it was because of Cam - remember they’d get a penalty and Cameron would walk up and have a smoke and have a little discussion. Just keep the game moving!”.

Originally published as ‘Doing my head in’: Matty Johns fumes at NRL joke