NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

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NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by josie andrews »

The NRL has announced a range of rule changes for the 2020 season relating to scrums, trainers and tackling players off the ground while also introducing a 20/40 kick.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley announced the changes on Friday after the moves were approved by the ARL Commission on Thursday.

The Commission also endorsed the introduction of a general-play "challenge" system and NRL management will work through all the operational details with a final report to be provided to the commission in February.

It is likely teams would receive one challenge per match – they would get another challenge if their first one was upheld but lose the option if it was unsuccessful.

The 20/40 kick will work in a similar fashion to the existing 40/20 rule.

A team in possession will earn another set via a tap-kick if they kick the ball from within their own 20-metre zone and find touch within the opposing team's 40-metre line.

Under the change to the scrum rule, the team feeding the ball will have the option of setting the scrum at three locations – 10 metres or 20 metres from the sideline or in the centre of the field, in alignment with the black dot on the crossbar.

Teams will be given five seconds to inform the referee of their choice of scrum position.

The NRL has announced a change to the "mutual infringement" rule regarding incidents when the ball strikes a trainer or the referee. Previously, the loose head and feed would be awarded to whichever team "the attacking team (i.e. with territorial advantage)".

Under the new rule, the referee will be able to replay the previous play-the-ball in the event of play being irregularly affected by circumstances out of the players' control.

The act of tackling a player in mid-air will be banned whether the player initiating contact is the attacking player or the defending player, in line with the current international laws of the game.

The Commission agreed that further limitations should be placed on the time orange and blue shirt trainers could spend on the field. The specific constraints will be finalised prior to the February Commission meeting.

Additionally, the Commission recommended a trial be undertaken in the second-tier competitions to assess the impact of teams being required to use six players in a scrum even when down to 12 players.

There will be no changes to the scoring system for wins in extra time, which was discussed in the lead-up to the Commission meeting.

The approved changes followed discussion by the NRL Competition Committee and the coaches last month.

Greenberg said ensuring the quality of the sport as a spectacle was paramount to the thinking behind the changes.

"We are constantly looking at ways to ensure the game is easier to officiate, and is also innovative and unpredictable," Greenberg said.

We are constantly looking at ways to ensure the game is easier to officiate.
Todd Greenberg
"We certainly feel these changes will have a positive impact on the sport."
Annesley said the NRL had "taken advice and feedback from the key stakeholders of the game in order to make these decisions".

"There has been significant engagement with our fans, the Competition Committee as well as through the NRL coaches, the clubs, and the RLPA.

"Over 20,000 fans responded to an end-of-season survey, more than tripling the response to the 2018 online survey.

"We are constantly looking to evolve, and we believe these changes will lead to a more entertaining game for fans.

"The Competition Committee and the coaches all had the game as a spectacle at the heart of their discussions, along with other key considerations including player wellbeing and the impact on the sport at all levels, and that clearly aligns with the Commission's overall vision for the sport."

https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2019/ ... 2040-kick/
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Mike
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by Mike »

Challenges eh? If only we could afford video replay at all matches, this would likely be a great addition to the game. IMO it would help set to rest the fans idea that the ref is deciding the game, because if they got it wrong in general play then the captain could challenge. If he doesn't challenge they are obviously not sure that the ref was wrong (or they are tactically saving the challenge for a more important decision). One challenge isn't going to be too disruptive and it will add to the interest to see whether it is used. I'll be interested to see how this actually functions in practice, because there are fewer stoppages in play in RL that in other sports with challenges, and the decision that you want to challenge could have been "play-on". I wonder what the rules will be and what the criteria will be to overturn an on field decision.

20/40 is also an interesting rule change. Lets see how that goes. I'm not 100% sure what the impact will be. Maybe teams will drive to the 30 and pass back to the 20 for their kicker. And then do the same at the 40 in the next set? WIngers having to drop back on 4th tackle on out-sets? Maybe more space for breaks from inside your own 20?
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shaunedwardsfanclub
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by shaunedwardsfanclub »

20/40, are the NRL trying to turn RL into RU?
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by moto748 »

shaunedwardsfanclub wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2019 5:14 pm 20/40, are the NRL trying to turn RL into RU?
Have to say i don't like the sound of it. If you are keeping a team pinned inside their own 20 for 5 tackles, why shouldn't you get the benefit? Seems to be offering defending sides an easy 'out'.
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by Richymac »

Must admit the 20/40 doesn’t seem fair on the defending team. But then again it is a risk to kick from your own 20 so will see how it goes. Love the challenge system being introduced but like has already been stated there needs to be some definition of the rule in regards to play-on rules as there aren’t as many natural stoppages in RL
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by fozzieskem »

Was the world crying out for a 20/40?
Wiganer Ted
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by Wiganer Ted »

No one wanted the golden point but they brought it in.
Interesting to see how long it takes SL to go along with all these rules changes.
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by shaunedwardsfanclub »

Wiganer Ted wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2019 9:00 pm No one wanted the golden point but they brought it in.
Interesting to see how long it takes SL to go along with all these rules changes.
We should be adopting the same rules across all levels of the game.
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fozzieskem
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by fozzieskem »

Wiganer Ted wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2019 9:00 pm No one wanted the golden point but they brought it in.
Interesting to see how long it takes SL to go along with all these rules changes.
They did and made the game worse in my opinion sometimes a draw is just a draw.
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Re: NRL announces rule changes for scrums, challenge system, trainers, 20/40 kick

Post by Firestarter »

moto748 wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2019 6:00 pm
shaunedwardsfanclub wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2019 5:14 pm 20/40, are the NRL trying to turn RL into RU?
Have to say i don't like the sound of it. If you are keeping a team pinned inside their own 20 for 5 tackles, why shouldn't you get the benefit? Seems to be offering defending sides an easy 'out'.
my thoughts exactly
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