- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Saturday night’s semi-final between the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles had it all. Great tries, biffs, dramatic field goals and a loud and enthusiastic crowd.
Even the strangest rule in rugby league managed to rear it’s indifferent head.
Of course the rule I am referring to regards what happens when the ball hits the referee directly from the restart.
CATCH UP ON THE LATEST NRL HIGHLIGHTS
For those who didn’t know, and to be honest it’s something most people wouldn’t know, if the ball strikes a referee the team enjoying territorial position restarts the game with a scrum and a fresh set of six tackles.
On Saturday night the Bulldogs were correctly given a fresh set upon the ball hitting the referee from what looked almost like a deliberate ploy.
Upon being reminded of the rule, I am surprised that more teams don’t aim for the referee if nothing else is on. Given the skill levels of kickers these days, surely it’s not out of the question to hit the man in pink from 10 or so metres away.
Being an ideas man, I’d like to see the referee treated just like a goal post in this situation. It’s play on if the ball hits the referee, and the quickest to react gains possession.
If the attacking team hit the referee on the fifth tackle and regather the ball, they simply plan on. If the defending team reacts first, it’s tackle zero, just as if the ball had hit the goal post.
I’ve been watching rugby league for 25 or so years and I honestly can’t remember the last time a referee deliberately ran into the path of the ball.
In the past few seasons I can faintly remember maybe three occasions where this rule came into effect, but to award the team with territorial advantage a fresh set seems like a massive leg up.
If this rule stays, surely players could just see there was nothing to come from the last tackle and simply grubber a kick into the referee’s legs. They’d obtain a fresh set of six if they chose to do so. It’s a cheap tactic, but the rules allow for it.
I can’t think of a stranger rule in the NRL playbook. If you know of one, I’d sure love to hear it shared below.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.