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NRL rule changes to excite and enrage

Roar Guru
16th September, 2014
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Don't say no to Thursto! (Image: AAP)
Roar Guru
16th September, 2014
24

We love to hate rule changes, but in the competitive cauldron of world sport attracting viewership requires a certain willingness to adapt.

Here are three rule changes that would improve every single NRL game of 2015.

1. Get rid of stripping penalties
In situations where there is more than one defender, if the ball is deemed stripped it is given back to the tackled player for a play-the-ball to occur. One-on-one strips would still be allowed without punishment of the defender.

This simple change would make it easier for referees to make the call, because the punishment isn’t as harsh.

A penalty in the modern game is too much reward for the almost always divisive 50/50 call that is the current strip penalty.

2. Get rid of penalty kicks for touch
Who likes to see quick taps? Oh yeah, everyone. Bring them back.

The penalty kick is too much advantage. If you are kicking for touch, the opposition should get the scrum feed. Quick taps are the way to go.

It takes the emphasis off the referee, as six again is less likely to change the course of a game, but still provides a disincentive for committing illegal play.

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3. One marker
One marker means we won’t see two forwards lying all over a tackled player. What we will see is more one and two-man tackles because no front rower wants to make a tackle and then retreat 10 metres.

This allows more offloads, tackle busts, dummy-half runs, speedy rucks and most of all less wrestling. It will tire the big guys out more quickly and let the little men run riot.

Extra credit – stop the referee guessing game that has been implemented. If they are sending it upstairs, they don’t know. Why put them under that sort of pressure?

Have three video refs upstairs and majority rules. Benefit of the doubt goes to the most likely scenario.

So what do you think? Are there any rules changes you would prefer to see in 2015 or is rugby league perfect just the way it is?

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