- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The seven-tackle restart rule must be reconsidered, or perhaps even abolished if there are too many grey areas.
I understand this rule was implemented to discourage the ball being kicked dead deliberately so that a team may avoid a potential scintillating kick return (which is one of the most exciting aspects of rugby league) as well as allowing a team to get their defensive line in order.
With many NRL teams built around defence I get that implementing this rule may have seemed like a no-brainer at the time.
To be totally honest I don’t even remember thinking it was such a big problem in the first place. I don’t always watch as much NRL as I would like, but I only seem to remember Jamie Soward purposefully kicking the ball dead on two occasions in the same match.
As much as it pains me I still recall that amazing try Nathan Gardner scored against the Roosters from a kick return, and who could forget the Josh Morris try against the Storm set up by Ben Barba’s tremendous run.
There are quite a few others as well which I can’t remember off the top of my head, but these occurred prior to the seven-tackle restart rule being applied.
My issue with this rule is the disadvantage given to the team who was just on the attack. It seems unfair that an attacking team, which may end up knocking the ball dead from a mid-air contest or fails to regather a grubber by mere centimetres, has to defend against a seven-tackle set.
Even in instances when a well weighted kick by a team attempting to gain good field position and the ball barely goes over the dead-ball line does it not seem right, let alone during a field goal attempt.
I do my best not to criticise without offering any resolutions, so here goes. If a team kicks inside the opposition twenty and the ball goes dead then the next set is for six tackles. Same when a field goal is attempted.
Ideally, even when a team is trying to improve field position, should the ball go dead it should again be a six-tackle set, but I understand trying to discern whether it is a genuine attempt or kicked dead purposefully is near impossible and would only add pressure on the referees when they are under enough as it is.
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.