Are we actually watching 80 minutes of football in 2013? Can the NRL start looking at the time it takes for teams to pack and feed the scrum?
In round two, we averaged 14 scrums per game, most scrums were taking 45 seconds to pack and feed. Some went beyond a minute.
You do this 14 times throughout a game and all of a sudden it adds up to seven minutes of game time lost.
Maybe the referees need to start blowing penalties for deliberate ploys to waste time.
What happened to the goal kicking timer? Again, I will revert to round two.
On average we had six tries scored per game. We generally lose 90 seconds between the time they award the try and blow the whistle for the restart.
Seriously, stop the clock from the time they award the try and restart the game.
I understand this all sounds trivial. But over 80 minutes of footy when you take into account the above two examples, we are losing close to 10-12 minutes of game time per game.
This doesn’t even take into account the 40 seconds for drop outs.
Do other fans feel troubled by the lack of actual game time?
meme
Guest
The reason why the AFL gets people to the games is because of the length of the product no action no time. Why make the effort to go to a NRL game when you are getting 55 -57 minutes of actual play. When the ball goes out of action - no time on clock. Will make the product worth going to.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Simple analysis Sluggers but bloody spot on! Hopefully something will be done about it because I too hate the time wasting that occurs. We do not want to become like rugby union in which 30-40 minutes are played in a full 80. The numbers for the past world cup were pathetic in which the ball was only in play for roughly 36-38 minutes. I would walk away from league if it continued this trend.
Boz
Guest
The other positive about having the clock automatically stop for "dead ball' situations, would be that it would be applied consistently throughout the match. We won't have refs feeling pressured to call time off for time wasting with only 3 minutes to go in a close match - for something that wouldn't get called for at any other time during the game.
Gareth
Roar Pro
It's something that's exascerbated at this time of year. It takes a while for players to get their match fitness back, and in a lot of cases, the heat is stifling. I wouldn't be busting my arse to get to a scrum in 35 degree heat. There's certainly some merit to the idea of clock stoppages whenever the ball is out of play though. It would have some interesting effects on the state of the game. Longer telecasts should translate into higher TV revenue, and a longer playing time would see more scoring opportunities as the big blokes get tired. But really, it's a question of player welfare. It's already very taxing on players under the current system, and a longer playing time might mean longer recovery periods between games.
turbodewd
Guest
I agree 1000% Years ago I took out a stopwatch on a game or 2 and worked out we only get 55-57min of actual football. So why doesnt the NRL make the game 2x30 minute halves and STOP the clock at relevant moments. We would actually end up with a game a smidge longer which is great for all concerned. Also, the ref would not have to manage the gameclock, that would come off his shoulders. Fans would never need to howl about time wasting before dropouts. Its unprofessional to have an unmanaged clock.
Chris Wright
Guest
I have always said we need to stop the clock for any dead ball situations. The game should be reduced to 30 minutes a half. When the ball goes out of play the clock stops. When a player knocks on and recovers forcing a scrum the clock stops. When a try is scored the clock stops until the kick off. To me this is the simple solution.
danpen
Guest
Easily fixed, the clock should stop when the ball is not in play. The games need to be extended, an hour and a half is not long enough. It usually takes longer to get too and from a game than actual game time.
Matt
Guest
Maloney should have been penalised. WELL over 40 seconds for the dropout, and he also took forever with a scrum. So much for no shoulder charges, have seen dozens already with no penalty, guess it's not dead after all!
oikee
Guest
You are onto something here, which can increase ad time for channel 9 and game time for veiwers. The refs are always trying to speed the play up, he is rushing players to pack scrums, and the goal kicking and line dropouts are taking forever to restart. Maloney from the Roosters is wasting that much time i can order a pizza and pop down and pick it up before he kicks. This is time wasting and the game will eventually stop time at these stoppages, why have they not introduced it already. This is another negative aspect of the game. Again we are slow off the mark. It took 3 years for someone like Anderson to fix the video replay and B.O.D, the corner post, 3 years, now it will be 3 years before time is stopped at breakdowns. This is the problem with rugby league, you have indentified the issue, now it will take 3 years of whinging to fix the issue. Good luck with it, i have given up.
Vivalasvegan
Guest
Totally agree. I would like a clock on packing the scrum second. Attacking team packs down, ref blows time off, then as the big boys dawdle back the other team need to remain packed. It makes no sense. Give them 30 seconds then blow a penalty. Drop outs kill me too. All these elements should be timed and penalised. And, drop the ref coaching the players too!