During the first half of the Souths versus Parramatta game on Friday night there were a couple of periods where I noticed the players standing around not doing much. I started scribbling notes on the back of an envelope about breaks in play and how long they lasted.
I started when Chris Grevsmuhl knocked on over the line. The game time was 25:11.
In the 14 minutes and 49 seconds remaining in the first half, the ball was out of play for 6:16. By my calculations that means the ball was out of play with the clock ticking for 42 per cent of the time.
In the second half the ball was out of play 14:38 of the 40-minute game time or about 37 per cent of the time. In total the ball was out of play for 20:54 minutes of 54:49, or 38 per cent.
While a ‘study’ of less than a game and a half is hardly exhaustive research or a valid sample size, my gut feel is that this is pretty representative of most games at the moment.
This only includes time when the ball was out of play and the clock was counting down. I didn’t count breaks in play when the clock was stopped for injury or when the refs start calling time off later in the game.
Scrums take about 40 to 55 seconds to pack unless one team is racing towards the end of the game. Most of that time is spent with players standing around before they decide to pack.
Penalties take about 30-40 seconds from when the penalty is blown to when the tap is taken. Towards the end of the game, when Souths got a couple of penalties and were under time pressure, this time was reduced to less than 20 seconds.
It only takes about 8-10 seconds from when the ball is kicked to touch and when the tap is taken. This is really the only unavoidable delay in this process. It typically takes about 1:40 to 2:00 from when a try is awarded to the re-start of play.
Dropouts which were a big problem a couple of years ago for time wasting until the NRL cracked down and are now taken within 35 seconds. Twenty-metre restarts where the attacking team is rewarded for recommencing play quickly are taken within 10 seconds.
I draw a couple of conclusions from all this.
Firstly, 62 per cent of live play is nowhere near good enough. The focus should be on speeding these parts of the game up and not just blowing time off when the ball goes out of play. Games will end up going for over 110 minutes with no extra play.
Secondly, get rid of scrums. They offer nothing to the game other than an opportunity to waste time. When there’s a couple of mistakes back to back you have five-minute blocks of the game where the clock is ticking but there’s no play for 60 to 70 per cent of the time. I’ve always been a fan of keeping scrums but they’re the number one time waster.
Also, call time off after a try is scored. You can’t really speed this part of a game up and it leads to a situation where the more tries scored, the less game time we get. And make teams kick for touch within 5-10 seconds or they lose the right to and can only take a tap.
But most importantly, if we want fatigue back in the game, increase the gladiatorial aspect of the game. Reducing interchange may only be part of the solution. Players aren’t going to get tired if they’re getting a breather for close to 40 per cent of the game, regardless of how few interchanges there are.
Breeze101
Roar Rookie
Rugby Union scrums are fine it's not a PUSSY VERSION like LEAGUE it's actually CONTESTED!! The problem with scrums in Rugby Union is the actual time players take to reset is the only problem concerning scrums. Everyone is still puzzled on why league continues its Pussy Version of Scrums it's just the biggest waste of time & makes no sense!! League scrums should just be tap the ball & run seriously!! It's one hit ups off the league scrums 95% of time Anyways!!
Charles NSW
Guest
Good comment steveng! Too many people want to change the concept of Rugby League without thinking deeper into the results of doing so. Like wanting the halves on either side without understanding what the role of the 1/2 back and 5/8 means. Like trying to create front rowers from 2nd rowers or not understanding the function of a hookers role Change always needs to be understood of why we need to change and the consequences of doing so
steveng
Roar Rookie
The scrum as it used to be was a much better contest and served a purpose in the game. If the opposing team won the ball it added much more excitement especially when the opposing team was attacking. Yes sure there will be penalties but that also adds to the purpose of the scrum especially when the team is either attacking and/or defending. The old scrums also added an aspect that has been totally lost in RL and that is a backline play for that first play after the scrum was packed instead of how we have it now that ½’s or 5/8’s are packing into the scrum and taking the ball. It’s a pity that the old scrum was done with, the lock forward, second rowers, props and hookers packing into a scrum like in the old days and contesting the ball either defensively or in attack, as it really was another spectacle and contest that RL had. Under the 6 tackle rule and today its just forwards running it up on almost every tackle and the true backline plays are rarely applied or seen.
AJL.
Roar Pro
Glad to see abolition of scrums becoming popular. They are utterly useless in their current form, and the risks of restoring "real scrums" are too great to contemplate. And without wanting to start a code war, they are just about the worst aspect of RU. A handover when an error occurs is an obvious way to restart play.
Charles NSW
Guest
I have seen many good duels with the scrum over the years. The problem is people became lazy not forming the scrum properly so the referees also stop blowing the whistle. If the referees discipline according to the rules there is no reason why it should not continue. Too many changes that are destroying the game instead of improving it.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks for the link. He's an old fan of the scrum from his boots 'n' all days with Vossy. If he's advocating losing the scrums then they must be on the nose.
Rellum
Roar Guru
He basically talks about getting rid of the scrum http://www.watoday.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/removing-scrums-just-one-way-to-reduce-delays-and-make-nrl-more-entertaining-20150328-1m9vhd.html
Breeze101
Roar Rookie
For such a simple game like Rugby league how did it get so complicated???... When you break it down a game of league I hate to say it but it's basically Touch Tackle with Endless Replays & incompetent officials!!
The Barry
Roar Guru
I ended up missing Gus' article - what was the gist?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Just because I have a concern about one area of the game doesn't mean I don't see positives in league - that's a ridiculous comment. If you ordered a sandwich and 38% of it was missing you'd complain no matter how delicious the rest of the sandwich was. If you went to the movies and the film cut out 62% of the way through you'd complain no matter how thrilling and action packed the movie was. You'd actually be more likely to complain the MORE you were enjoying it. I never said I was going to start watching another code, but neither am I going to sit here satisfied when 30 minutes per game is wasted. To be honest I've got no idea what you're on about - why would you not want more footy per game?
Alvin Purple
Guest
No what I am complaining about is those like you that do not see the positives in the game. I watched both games on Friday and they were brilliant but what else but a whinge from someone. It is typical of RL supporters and I am over it. Yes it is important to consider other codes and the past. This is because your inference that RL will lose fans due to the downtime. If this is the case then they will come back pretty quickly if they try to watch a few of the other codes. Reply the Reds v Lions game you might get an idea of what I am talking about. It is also important to look at the past as in fact the modern game may have more play than was previously the case. This shows an improvement that can be worked on. I talk RL all weekend with people and I never heard one person say - geez the ball was out of play a lot in that Souths Parra game. Somehow you seem to think it is an issue so my advice is move and enjoy the games like the rest of us.
James
Guest
My pet hate is how trainers are on the field CONSTANTLY giving orders and water. That is a joke!
James
Guest
Not the worst idea Ive heard actually.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
I think you're onto something. Maybe 3 measures. Some of these may overlap yours 1 Reduce interchange, 2 concurrent video-replay's in ref's bunker to aid more instant decision (I detest waiting after a try is scored to celebrate; needs to be more like soccer/afl - instant), 3 Perhaps add 2-5 minutes injury time but don't stop clock; while also reducing useless stoppages and penalties for time wasting; maybe scrap scrums altogether, i dont see why forwards can't just stand on one side of the feild - its similar and will still promote passing as they move across to rejoin the defensive line. __ I also think that it doesn't require much tinkering, but I am near certain that the game-issues would be solved with such measures. They did a bit to improve ball in play time but seems the players/coaches are having a laugh. With injury time, much of the wasted time is just added back on at each half. So wasting it serves them no real purpose. Ive tried to make my solutions as simple as possible.
yo
Guest
Get rid of the conversion kick after a try. Total waste of time and makes no sense whatsoever. Just another excuse for overweight players to do nothing. Just kick off after a try is scored and keep going!
The Barry
Roar Guru
So what are you doing - whinging about a whinge. It's like Inception. Of course there's going to be down time but we're talking 38% of game time where literally NOTHING is happening and the clock is ticking down. People want to watch the game not blokes standing around drinking water or spraying grip on their hands. Comparing rugby league to other sports or 20 years ago is irrelevent. 30 minutes per game of NOTHING happening isn't good enough. I'm surprised that anyone thinks that's acceptable.
Birdy
Guest
Sleiman the beauty of moving the scrum back to the 10m line from touch is that it opens the whole field for a back line attack , the way to capitalise on this advantage is 2. Quick passes from the inside backs or a long cut out pass. One on one the attack should win every time in open ground. In the old days the defending forwards couldn't break the scrum until the ball cleared the scrum to shut down the inside backs other wise the attacking sides would score practically off every scrum . When the 6 man interchange comes in next year just watch the blind side plays come back into their own with fatigued defences and nippy little halves and clever locks . Unlimited inter change cut out fatigue thus stifling attack, one of the rediculous rules to help the attack was to set the scrum 20 from thouch. Creating 2 attacking fronts. Rubbish it just made the attack easier to read. The scrum, even though non competitive can still be a good attacking platform , therefore speeding up play, a full open field on 1 side with a very tempting blindside for a cheaky half on the other, Bring on 2016 or should I say let's go back to the future .
The Barry
Roar Guru
It hurts to say but I think the scrum is goneskis. It serves no practical purpose and is now detracting from the game. If we think there's a lot of stoppages now, wait until we start having to pack scrums two or three times and the penalties that come with feet acros and loose arms and second row feeds, etc.
Alvin Purple
Guest
Another day and whinge from a RL supporter - how different!! As an exercise why don't you look at other sports and see how RL compares to them and then go back 20 years to see if there is anything different. Regardless all sports have down time as it would be physically impossible not to. People talk about the issues taking away from the enjoyment of the game and to me the No.1 is the whinging supporters RL has.
Charles NSW
Guest
Good comments which shows there is much improvement needed in the game. I feel growing up since the early 60's that the game is losing its appeal in some areas. The scrum played as it should be is a great part of the game. However over the years it has lost its purpose. I personally would like it implemented to what it should be. I guess I am a traditionalist at heart! I enjoyed watching Parramatta play the other day where they were throwing the ball two or three deep and changing angles. Much better than the one up all the time.