NRL set for incredibly controversial new rule that will turn rugby league on its head

[josie andrews]

The NRL will consider punishing teams who kick into touch by rewarding the opposing team with a seven-tackle set.

ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce said the rule change would be discussed at a meeting in the near future, with the potential for it to be trialled before the end of the season.

It would mean that every kick into touch – with the exception of the 40-20 and the much-lesser used 20-40 – would lead to a seven-tackle set for the opposition.

“At the moment, when a ball gets kicked into touch, there’s a turnover and the team can have it in the middle of the field or wherever they want to have it,” Pearce told the Sydney Morning Herald.

My view is that there’s a difference between a player running into touch – whether it be trying to score a try or whatever – and a player deliberately kicking into touch to slow the play down.

“Sometimes players can’t help going into touch or the ball getting passed into touch, but if the ball is deliberately kicked into touch, then there should be some sort of disincentive.

This is only my view – and I haven’t run it past the innovation committee yet – is that we would restart with a seven-tackle set.

“That then becomes consistent if you kick the ball dead-in-goal. So rather than dead-in-goal, the whole perimeter of the field – if the ball gets kicked out of bounds – then there’s a seven-tackle restart. It disincentivises some of the teams from kicking into touch and trying to get a slow restart.”

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/nrl-set- ... ead-42564/

[nathan_rugby]

Disgrace.

This is part and parcel of the game!

If are within your own half and try to kick for touch, you often cannot kick it as far and could be surrendering field possession at the expense of saving time / energy. (Risk taken by attacking team)

If you are further up the pitch and kick for touch, you are forgoing the opportunity to score a try, again a decision taken by the attacking team.

Surely with rules like the shot clock, how much time is really wasted?

[AndyNick]

Just going to throw this out there.

Just because the NRL decide to do something, it doesn't mean that Superleague has to follow suit! Although given the fact they've managed to cancel the world cup they know that they can literally do as they please now. 15 points if one of your props kicks a drop goal, Red Hall would lap it up!!

[Barney841]

The latrell hit on manu was bad, he should of gone.
Makes me laugh how klein has been a ref in Oz for a while now, he was shocking over here!

[Mike]

Sort of shows that we only think Aussie refs are better because we're not affected by them week to week. They'd be just as bad as the lot we've got if they were over here.

[moto748]

Sort of shows that we only think Aussie refs are better because we're not affected by them week to week. They'd be just as bad as the lot we've got if they were over here.

One poor decision on Latrell Mitchell doesn't 'prove' that Aussie refs are no better than ours.

[moto748]

Anyway, this is only a proposal, as I understand it. Plenty on Oz don't seem to like the idea, and I don't either. The benefit of kicking for touch out of defence has already been reduced a bit by a play-the-ball replacing a scrum, so that the team receiving position can restart faster (and without the small risk of losing possession at the scrum). There's absolutely no need to give seven tackles as well.

[Mike]

Sort of shows that we only think Aussie refs are better because we're not affected by them week to week. They'd be just as bad as the lot we've got if they were over here.

One poor decision on Latrell Mitchell doesn't 'prove' that Aussie refs are no better than ours.

Was talkng about the comments on Ashley Klein.

[Mike]

Anyway, this is only a proposal, as I understand it. Plenty on Oz don't seem to like the idea, and I don't either. The benefit of kicking for touch out of defence has already been reduced a bit by a play-the-ball replacing a scrum, so that the team receiving position can restart faster (and without the small risk of losing possession at the scrum). There's absolutely no need to give seven tackles as well.

Don't they still have scrums in Aus?

[moto748]

Don't they still have scrums in Aus?

Only for knock-ons, not when the ball is over the side-line.