Adam Pengilly: Already during Magic Round we’ve had coaches claim rugby league is going to be a completely different game as a result of this crackdown, respected commentators have said this weekend has been an overreaction and players have taken to social media to voice their disapproval. How do you respond to that criticism?
Peter V’landys: Everyone is entitled to their views, however you shouldn’t exaggerate or manipulate the facts to get your view across. No one is trying to take away the physicality or toughness of the game. These are not new rules. You have always not been allowed contact above the shoulders or [to] commit an act of foul play. All we have done is vigorously enforce existing rules. We want to eliminate any contact above the shoulders. Players will need to adjust just as they did when shoulder chargers, crusher tackles and lifting of players in a wrong position amongst other changes were eliminated. You rarely see those transgressions now. We need the same for neck and head contact. Like it or not, the greatest challenge all contact sports have ever had other than COVID is concussion. We need to address it seriously now and into the future.
St George Illawarra’s Tyrell Fuimaono gets his marching orders on Sunday.Credit: Getty
AP: This crackdown has happened during Magic Round, the biggest weekend of the year during the regular season. Was it done for maximum exposure?
PV: No not at all. The Commission was clear on this policy from the start of the season. When we didn’t see the reduction in high shots, we again reminded everyone to adhere to the rules. The NRL communicated to the clubs on Wednesday 5 May and then again last week that we will take a tougher and focused approach. It wasn’t a surprise they had two weeks’ notice. In fact, the crackdown was intended for the previous week. There has been a lot of misreporting on this being something just sprung on the teams when it wasn’t.
AP: All clubs only got an email five hours before the start of the first game this weekend warning this crackdown was about to come. Tell me why you believe that’s enough notice for them to adjust.
An injured Ryan Papenhuyzen during Sunday’s Storm-Dragons clash.Credit: Getty
PV: This is simply not true. As I said above a memo was sent to all clubs on 5 May, which was before round nine, informing them that the Commission had instructed NRL management to ensure match officials focussed on a number of areas where the Commission believed clubs and players were not complying with the rules – one of those areas was ensuring a low tolerance approach to avoidable conduct to the head and neck and teams consistently giving away six-agains on the first tackle. A media release was issued at the same time indicating a harder approach. The Commission has been clear since the start of the season that we want to remove high tackles from the game and you have seen the Match Review Committee respond.
AP: Is the concussion issue the biggest danger to the future of the game? And if so, why?
PV: I believe it is and I’m not alone in this view. Most sports are taking concussion very seriously and have made major changes. Both rugby union and AFL in Australia are taking appropriate action to deal with it. I believe it’s the greatest challenge we have had to date and accordingly if the game doesn’t address it now it will have long-term consequences.
AP: Wayne Bennett said the NRL will face huge legal ramifications if we don’t do something about the amount of high contact in the game. How much is that threat motivating this crackdown?
Sitili Tupouniua was one of several players sent to the sin bin during Magic Round in Brisbane.Credit: Getty
PV: The main reason for me is to do the right thing for the players and their families. I want them to have quality of life when they leave our game and be able enjoy the remainder of they’re lives with their families. It’s also giving a signal to mothers that it’s a safe game to play.
AP: You’ve been unapologetic in saying the NRL has not done enough to increase junior participation and protect its image. What is the message you’re getting from mums and dads about foul play?
PV: The mums and dads are the ones who make a decision about what sport their child plays. I know when a parent prefers to send their children to play soccer its because they are worried about concussion in rugby league. That’s why we have to remove high tackles. There are schools that prefer their students to play Aussie Rules because they believe it’s safer. We have to change that mentality and the only way you do that is through your actions. We have to show that rugby league is not a high risk sport for children. All mothers want their children to be safe and their decision making on the sport they pick this is foremost in their mind. Parents are aware of the threat of concussion.
AP: Bennett also said rugby union and AFL have outlawed any contact with the head or neck for years and we’ve been too slow to follow. Do you fear we’ve lost kids to the other sports already because of it?
‘There has been no rule changes once the competition started this year. It’s an enforcement of existing rules.’
Peter V’landys
PV: We can’t change what has gone before us, we are interested in today and tomorrow. We are making changes today for the future. We won’t get the participants unless we do something about tackling above the shoulder, it’s as simple as that. The game must evolve or suffer severe consequences if it doesn’t.
AP: What is the message you’re getting from your fellow Commissioners about this stance?
PV: The Commission is unanimous in this policy. The Commission takes seriously its responsibility to ensure the game is safe to our players and that the game has a long-term future. It appreciates it needs to make tough decisions and understands change is always hard to accept. The Commission will always not matter the challenge in the best interests of the game ,even if it is unpopular with some stakeholders.
AP: If the game wants players to tackle lower, surely the NRL must start rewarding legs tackles by allowing the defender more time in the ruck rather than having to release the ball carrier quickly. Will you consider that change?
Josh Papalii was sent off for this tackle on Tuipulotu Katoa.Credit: Fox Sports
PV: We at all times look at all options to improve the game. This is not a consideration now, however. We don’t change rules mid-season. There is always an incentive to tackle lower and avoid penalties.The teams that adhere to the rules will have a competitive advantage. The smart coaches are adapting and won’t be affected as those that take a combative view.
AP: Since you started as chairman you’ve made no secret about listening to the fans. Many are frustrated with the amount of rule changes in the game over the last two years. Do you think the NRL is changing rules too often, particularly mid season? Why?
PV: Firstly, there has been no rule changes once the competition started this year. It’s an enforcement of existing rules. When the competition was suspended because of COVID last year we sought feedback from the fans and we also had to re-negotiate the broadcast deals. The feedback from all fans and broadcasters was that the game had become to slow and predictable. We hadn’t done enough to remove the wrestle from the game. So we did something about it and the brand of rugby league is more entertaining because of it. You no longer hear complaints about the wrestle. I’ve no doubt we made the right decision in implementing the new rules last year. Any successful business listens to its customers.
‘Any successful business listens to its customers’: fans during Magic Round on Sunday.Credit: Getty
Our customers are our fans – I will continue to listen to the fans and take on board their feedback and the Commission will be agile. There is only one rule that has had the significant impact and that is the six again. Firstly it was introduced last year to eliminate the wrestle. However, this created teams not standing back the 10 metres. So we also made it a six again when teams transgressed on the 10 metres. Even though the six again was expanded there has not been a change on the number of six-agains given in a game. The other rule changes have not had anywhere near the impact of the six-again however I believe they have improved the game.
AP: Should clubs and players be consulted more about potential rule changes?
PV: Our innovation committee which considers the rule changes has players and clubs represented. Two players and two coaches are on the committee which is chaired by Wayne Pearce . Sometimes, though, an organisation has to lead and an independent body is required to take all factors into account and act in the best long-term interests of the game as a whole.
AP: There’s a theory the speed of the game and fatigue players are being put under is leading to poor tackling techniques. Tell us if you believe that is true or not.
PV: We have always had too many high tackles. This is not a new development. We are not reacting to something that is increasing. We are trying to reduce something that has been there for a while so therefore there is no evidence to suggest that fatigue or rule changes have impacted on tackling techniques. We have seen no evidence of high tackles occurring late in the halves, they happen evenly which is a further proof point.
AP: I know you’ve got no plans to leave rugby league any time soon, but where do you think the game will be in relation to contact with the head or neck by the time you’ve finished in the game?
PV: I’ve got no doubt high tackles will be out of the game, it will soon be rare to see a high tackle. We’ve seen it with the shoulder charge, the spear tackle and punching. Tackles above the shoulder will be the same because our players adapt quickly. We want to have the best athletes in the world, playing the best rugby league competition in the world. There will always been accidental head knocks, but we want to reduce direct contact with the head as much as possible. We want a tough, entertaining and fair game that considers players’ welfare first and foremost.
AP: Thanks for your time, Peter.
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