With a win against the feed coming around about as often as Halley’s comet, the validity of the rugby league scrum has been argued for some time.
However, on the back of the Warriors’ surprise tactic of actually pushing, the scrum has seen something of a resurgence.
I’m all for contested scrums to be part of the game again, but there’s definite concern.
Watching the Saints versus Panthers match last weekend, the Dragons gave a surprise push which the Panthers pack were clearly not anticipating. The result was a downright dangerous collapse of bodies.
I have no issue with the Dragons making a play with a scrum push, but when it occurs unknowingly, the potential for serious injury arises. With 600-plus kilos pushing in a pack when the other six are off guard, a lot can go wrong.
In an age where player safety has become paramount, the NRL need to address just what role the scrum should play in the game. I’d love to see real scrums back in the game, but I’d also love to see more creative sweeping backline movements used off scrums too. Not giving the ball some air through the hands off the first play of the scrum defeats the purpose of the scrum with all the forwards out of the play.
But I digress..
If this trend continues, where only the odd scrum is contested and only one forward pack is expecting a push, then how long will it be before we see another tragic spinal injury?
The NRL has a choice of three outcomes to decide on.
(a) Abolish scrums altogether.
(b) Keep scrums non-contested (as they have been for years) but ban the unexpected pushing.
(c) Make all scrums contested.
The NRL needs to be proactive and make a decision. It would be criminal to only act in the wake of another tragic injury.
Come on NRL, sort out the scrum issue once and for all.
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