Braith Anasta dives in for a try: Rugby League, NRL, Week Two of Finals Series, Roosters v Penrith Panthers at SFS, Saturday September 18th, 2010. Digital image by Colin Whelan © nrlphotos.com
It would seem we have to wait until the Independent Commission is in place before any type of changes are made to the NRL – and no doubt they will have a lot on their plate come first day of operation.
But there are some rules that continually bring the game down which need to be changed.
Commonsense rule changes include:
– The torso rule. Okay, under what universe was this considered okay, to allow a try by landing on it with your chest? Simply amazing this rule got through.
Solution: A try must be only awarded if it’s to controlled with your hand.
– Advantage rule. Another rule that it’s hard to believe is still in the rulebook. How many times in 2010 did we see players picking up from ball, running 5-8 meters and losing the ball, but the ref blows the whistle and says, “Back here for a scrum, he didn’t take the advantage.”
In other words, you could take the ball nine meters forward, go from the left wing to the right wing (without gaining one meter), go back to the center of the field (still without going over 10 meters), and if you lose the ball or throw a forward pass the ref will blow the whistle back to the original spot, which by now could be 20 meters across field.
Solution: Simple. If you pick up the ball and go forward/sideways one step, you are taking the advantage.
– Benefit of the doubt. One of the most talked about topics after the end of each weekend of footy.
Solution: It’s been said before and I agree; if after two looks it doesn’t look like a try, then it’s benefit of the doubt: to the defensive team.
– Holding formation of the scrum. When did this one sneak in? If a team, usually when games are close, and nearly the end of a half, they will rush in to form a scrum and the ref will then blow time-off, but the players cannot break the scrum otherwise time is waved back on. It’s a ludicrous rule.
Solution: If a team gets there first and forms a scrum, it’s time-off and they can break the scrum mold (but only players playing in the forwards and form the scrum as this will stop the scene of centers and wingers racing down to form the scrum).
– Video referee. Give them a 50-inch plasma TV so they can get the calls right.
Solution: Note to the Commission: JB Hi Fi has some top quality brands and low prices, go and buy 16 and get a deal!
These are just four rules changes, to which there are many, many more.
Corey
Guest
How bout changing the scrum rule which you talked about to if the ball is dead so is time. In other words stop the clock every time the ball is dead, this would stop time wasting tactics by the winning team and set up thrilling finishes even with a second on the clock. P.S. the dead ball rule would include knock ons, penalties, line drop outs, out of play, etc.
Andrew
Guest
The 40/20 could be improved by making it anytime you kick the ball and it goes 40 metres and out (eg from your 30 and into there 30), it would be consider a 40/20.
Andrew
Guest
You only have to look at other sports like the NFL that have even more eyes on the ball, and rules, to understand that it's all down to interpretations, which can vary quite wildly from person to person. There will always be dud calls (See Pittsburg vs Miami when the QB loses the ball and Miami recovers, yet it is ruled that the QB grounded the ball, rubbish call, and they have much better systems for dealing with these situations). I think just focusing on the rules which make the game better, something that limits the amount of dummy half running we see. Limit the video ref to a NFL type situation with 2 challenge calls a half to the captain of the team (keep your challenge if successful), so that refs now need to call the game as they see it (which in turn should lead to better refereeing). I am sure there are a few other easy wins that would make the spectacle much better.
rich1612
Guest
Changing the rule about kicking the ball dead (especially from long kicks). I don't see why a team gets such a territory advantage just because they can kick the ball a long way. Don't get me wrong I think the 40/20 rule is a good one because it combines, tactics and skill but the long kick that ends up over the dead ball line is generally a defensive play whereas the 40/20 is an attacking play. Rule change could be, the opposing team receives the ball from where the ball was kicked.
M1tch
Guest
Thats where a short am penalty would be good. Just a tap is allowed, no kick at goal or field position.. Everything except a high tackle is a short arm penalty
Betty b
Guest
yeah ok - but the one thing that gets up my nose is the value gained from a penalty. How often do we see tries scored off the back of a penalty? Often the penalty is dubious anyway, or barely worthy of a penalty. How often do we see several tries in the one game scored off the back of penalties? When the penalties themselves are not awarded consistently. One week, the refs clamp down on one thing, then forget it for the next month. I would like to see less advantage given for most penalties. Maybe a simple changeover for most, but only award a free kick and regain in the most adverse of penalties, say deliberate off-side or dangerous play. We'll never take the human factor out of the game; that would spoil the game anyway. But we can engineer some of these overly unfair advantates that teams gain from inconsistent rulings and little errors. And oh - I don't like the dropped ball rule either. When you see a player being tackled by three defenders and the ball comes flying out at a hundred miles an hour and the ref rules 'he dropped the ball. I mean - come on, a dropped ball drops. It doesn't fly faster than a speeding bullet, leaping tall buildings or anything like that. bring back the biff if you want - but clean up the penalties.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
Surely the one rule that must change is the knock on. Iit should be changed to 'fumble' or 'dropped ball'. As far as I can tell it doesn't matter whether or not a dropped ball goes forward, in most cases a 'knock on' is called regardless.
anopinion
Guest
The NFL requires perfect control of the ball and it does not need to be placed on the ground. How is this anything like the NFL?
lopati
Guest
Aw shucks, make the rules too straightforward and they would have too little to talk about in the Footy Show.
Hanzo
Guest
Mmmmmmm, common sense and the video ref in the same breath, surely your some kind of madman M1tch!!!!!! you might as well ask for world peace or end world hunger or even more fantastical (is that a word?) a competitive NZ cricket side.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Haha, hopefully the new brains of the IC are people who do actually watch the footy, because under current admin they cant really be watching if these rules are still in the book
M1tch
Roar Guru
The system works :P
Michael Hill
Guest
They already got rid of the advantage rule
Brett McKay
Guest
Mitch, you're making far too much sense here pal, therefore you're solutions are unusable. :( The NRL thanks you for playing...
M1tch
Roar Guru
I might have taken your comment as a code war starter, hard to gauge emotion in text
Jedda Baxter
Guest
Been down that road. Maybe the IC can revisit it? New Ref Blunder Busting Bunker http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/new-ref-blunder-busting-bunker/story-e6frexni-1225727650707 NRL bunkers down as critics take pot shots at video-ref plan http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-bunkers-down-as-critics-take-pot-shots-at-video-ref-plan/story-e6frf3ou-1225729719915
Jedda Baxter
Guest
Huh? I was merely pointing out that seemingly dumb rules are not just in rugby league. Perhaps you can explain why both codes have the same ridiculous rule? It would be nice to know.
Strucy
Guest
In this day and age, the video ref doesn't even need to be at the ground. Why not have the video ref stay at the IC HQ and only watch the replay when called upon.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Id agree with BOTD to either defensive or attacking, but it might cause issues with different refs interpretations..
M1tch
Roar Guru
Thanks mate, much appreciated