New rule set to be introduced for Super League 2025

[josie andrews]

ROBERT HICKS, the RFL’s director of operations and legal, has revealed that the Laws Committee will meet this Wednesday and is likely to make some significant changes to the way the game is officiated from next season onwards.

The main change that it is likely to support is the introduction of the Captain’s Challenge to Super League matches.

The Captain’s Challenge was a rule introduced by the NRL for the 2020 season. In doing so, the rule was designed to take some pressure away from referees and onto captains of a team if they strongly disagreed with a decision.

The rule was incorporated into the World Cup played in England in 2022 but has never been introduced into Super League.

“We have two key criteria when we consider law changes – safety and entertainment value,” Hicks told League Express.

“The Captain’s Challenge brings drama to the game and some supporters may be surprised to learn that the referees themselves would support its introduction, because they want decisions on the field to be the right ones.”

The Committee is expected to support its introduction this Wednesday, with the decision due to be rubber-stamped by the RFL directors.

It is also expected to discuss whether the referee’s live call in a try-scoring situation will remain when the decision goes to the video referee, with the likelihood that instead of giving his opinion on whether a try has been scored, the decision is left to both the referee and video referee working in tandem.

Other rules to be considered include the interpretation of offside following a kick downfield and the Committee will debate whether to introduce the NRL rule about short kick-offs and restarts, whereby a play-the-ball instead of a penalty is awarded for short kick-offs that don’t travel ten metres.

There will also be a discussion around tackle height and whether the improvements in technique shown in most matches this season mean that any more adjustments will be unnecessary.

We are supposed to be lowering the tackle height next year, but we are hoping we don’t have to do it,” admitted Hicks.

“We will also look at ways to discourage players from lying down when they are subject to foul play, with stricter enforcement of the green card policy.

“And we are also going to consider the removal of the double movement rule, either by totally changing it or changing the sanction.

“And we are considering whether to modify the rule about a player catching a ball that has been kicked. A penalty is given if such a player is tackled in the air, but the debate is about whether a player should be allowed to be tackled in the air if he’s an attacking player.”

We are looking at a longer-term view of the game as part of the reimagining of the sport.”

https://www.totalrl.com/new-rule-set-to ... ague-2025/

[moto748]

the Committee will debate whether to introduce the NRL rule about short kick-offs and restarts, whereby a play-the-ball instead of a penalty is awarded for short kick-offs that don’t travel ten metres.

I don't mind the rest, but for God's sake, don't let's have this bone-headed idea, which leaves things much worse than there was before. There was sufficient chance for the defending side to risk a short drop-out under the 'old' rules, depending on the match situation. So sometimes teams chanced their arm, and sometimes they won back possession. But no justification whatsoever for giving the defending side a 'get out of jail free' card.

[Mike]

That's a lot of areas. I wouldn't do them all at once. For me, it's the lying down to force a VR review that's the highest priority area, but given they mentioned it last it seems like it's the lowest priority for the refs.

[moto748]

Certainly agree with enforcing the green card rules, which just hasn't been done.

[WarriorWinger]

That's a lot of areas. I wouldn't do them all at once. For me, it's the lying down to force a VR review that's the highest priority area, but given they mentioned it last it seems like it's the lowest priority for the refs.

I suspect it is the hardest area to police though, how can you say if the player is actually injured or not, especially if there is some kind of contact to the head, easy if the replay shows no contact was made but if it shows some contact it would be difficult for the ref to say 'that didnt hurt', I would just scrap any kind of review if the ref/TJ did not have any suspicions in the first place

[moto748]

There's the 'independent doctor' system they have in the NRL.

[Mike]

That's a lot of areas. I wouldn't do them all at once. For me, it's the lying down to force a VR review that's the highest priority area, but given they mentioned it last it seems like it's the lowest priority for the refs.

I suspect it is the hardest area to police though, how can you say if the player is actually injured or not, especially if there is some kind of contact to the head, easy if the replay shows no contact was made but if it shows some contact it would be difficult for the ref to say 'that didnt hurt', I would just scrap any kind of review if the ref/TJ did not have any suspicions in the first place

Don't use green cards - just make it mandatory that if a player stays down because of head contact and receives medical assitance from the physios - then they have to go off for a HIA. I don't understand why they don't have to now TBH. If being knocked to the ground by head contact so serious you can't get up because you're dazed doesnt' lead to a HIA, then what does? Its a player safety issue IMO.

[southportcdm]

Totally agree with you Mike. If a player is hurt enough to stay down he has to have an HIA. This could also stop some of the faking that has started creeping into the game. Other high tackles such as a slap across the face should be a penalty but no HIA. On the original point of the captain's challenge, I'm a fan.

[moto748]

Anyone got any comments about the technical rule changes?

[buttmonkey2]

Don't use green cards - just make it mandatory that if a player stays down because of head contact and receives medical assitance from the physios - then they have to go off for a HIA.

So are you allowing a free interchange with that? Otherwise the team that has been subject to foul play will be penalised the same as the offending team!
And if you grant a free interchange, it won't stop players staying down. It's currently a "no win" situation.

Make sin bins 20 minutes and then you can have HIA