NRL obstruction, play-the-ball crackdown: 17 clubs sent memo outlining areas under the microscope

The NRL will launch a crackdown on several controversial areas of the game, with the governing body warning players referees and the Bunker won’t tolerate players ‘diving’. See the full list of areas under the microscope.

Diving is for the Olympics, not the NRL.

The NRL will answer the prayers of fed-up fans by launching a crackdown on players taking ‘dives’ this season as three of the code’s most powerful coaches - including Wayne Bennett - led a push for Bunker reform.

Bennett, Ricky Stuart and Ivan Cleary were enlisted by the NRL to provide recommendations that will trigger a crackdown on messy play-the-balls, players standing offside and defenders being penalised for taking deliberate dives on controversial obstruction calls.

The renewed focus from match officials will begin with the official return of rugby league for 2025 via the pre-season challenge, which begins when the Sharks host the Warriors at Sharks Stadium on Friday night.

The pre-season trials will also include a new concussion rule that will see players retrospectively sent to the sin bin, up to 15 minutes after committing a high tackle that rules a rival player out of the game.

That rule will be pressure-tested only during the pre-season trial matches and won’t be implemented for the 2025 premiership.

NRL football boss Graham Annesley announced the game’s intentions ahead of the Pre-Season Challenge by sending a memo to all 17 clubs on Tuesday morning.

“There are a number of areas of existing on-field rules where improved standards of compliance will be required from players in 2025,’’ Annesley said.

“The play-the-ball by the attacking team was one area that we needed to address, as well as 10-metre compliance by the defending team.

“Last season we saw too many examples of players not making a genuine attempt to play-the-ball, so our match officials will be looking at that closely.

NRL to crackdown on diving.

“We’ve also tweaked the way the referee will manage the 10 metres to ensure more consistency when defenders are allowed to advance.”

While there will be no major shake-up to the game’s rules, one revised interpretation could have a seismic impact on the 2025 premiership.

This masthead can reveal South Sydney coach Bennett, Canberra’s Stuart and Penrith’s premiership mentor Cleary were pivotal to a critical change in how the Bunker rules on obstructions this season.

In recent years, the Bunker has disallowed tries when defenders were obstructed by the decoy runners of an attacking team.

But after input from Bennett, Stuart and Cleary, the Bunker will be given the power to reward the attacking team if it is deemed a defender tried to milk a penalty by taking a dive in the tryscoring process.

Incorrect play the balls under the microscope.

It has the potential to be a powderkeg debate - but Bennett, Stuart and Cleary argued too many defenders were exploiting the obstruction rule. They want well-constructed attack rewarded by the Bunker.

“Successful deception in an attacking play should be rewarded,’’ Annesley said.

“Poor defensive reads where defenders are attempting to milk penalties by simply running into a lead runner and falling over should not be rewarded.

“It doesn’t mean there won’t be penalties for obstruction, it just means that if players are not going to even attempt to chase and just fall over they won’t be rewarded for it.

“A try will be awarded if in the opinion of the match officials, if any contact between a lead runner and a defender would not have prevented the try being scored.’’

NRL head of football Graham Annesley lays down the law.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys lauded the input of Bennett, Cleary and Stuart. He rubbished suggestions the Bunker is failing the game, declaring the technology is here to stay.

“There is a fine balance with the Bunker,” he said.

“The key is that they get most of the decisions right.

“We consult different coaches every year and this year it’s been Wayne, Ricky and Ivan.

“A lot of people criticise the Bunker but what they don’t understand is they get 95 or 96 per cent correct.

“That’s not to say we can’t look to improve, but people who criticise the Bunker are a bit harsh.

“We would have seen complete robberies without the Bunker, so it’s been a great addition to the game.

“The rules haven’t changed, but we want to make sure the Bunker is consistent with interpretations and how it’s applied.”

Originally published as NRL obstruction, play-the-ball crackdown: 17 clubs sent memo outlining areas under the microscope