The NRL’s shot clock will get its first test in the top grade when it’s trialled on Sunday afternoon during the Parramatta-Canberra clash at Pirtek Stadium.
Having been experimented on in a number of under-20s matches over the past fortnight, next year’s rule change will be examined at NRL level before it gets introduced for the 2016 season.
The Eels-Raiders game was chosen because the result will have no ramifications on the finals series.
The governing body announced in July the introduction of a shot clock for next season to try to reduce time wasting on scrums and line dropouts.
NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said it was a chance for players and fans to see the initial impact of the innovation on NRL games.
“Both Parramatta and Canberra have agreed to allow us to use their game on Sunday to continue our trials of the shot clock technology and we certainly appreciate their support through this process,” Greenberg said.
“This is an opportunity not only to continue to trial the technology and finetune the rules attached to the shot clock, but also for fans to get their first look at what will be an important innovation for the game in 2016.”
As has been the case over the past two weeks, the Eels and Raiders will have 30 seconds for dropouts and 35 seconds for scrums.
However, the NRL will make a final decision on the timing of the shot clock at the end of its trial period.
From next season, the interchange will also drop from 10 to eight.
The NRL has previously stressed the rule changes are not an attempt to make the game faster, but more free-flowing.
“The shot clock is a significant step for the game and, in conjunction with the reduction in interchange, is designed to reward endurance and give our fans a more free-flowing, entertaining game,” Greenberg said.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Fair comment Baz. It will result in extending the game. By how much is debatable.I guess the NFL is a ridiculous extreme of this. I played AFL so I can see the value of stopping the clock to eliminate time wasting. The umpires in AFL tend to throw the ball up or in from the boundary line quickly to speed up the game. In NRL you are relying on the players to restart the game with a drop out, kick conversion or throwing the ball into the scrum. Perhaps a shot clock is the preferred option. I'll be interested to see how it works.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I hope they bring in the bunker system for video replays ASAP. Time wasting video replays(get to read War and Peace in the meantime),scrum sets (time for a fully catered lunch),and line drop outs(taking as long as finding Bill Poster). Once they sort that lot out,can we please send wrestling coaches back to their origins.Making it a little easier to police the 10 metres.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Because games would go for three hours...
Cugel
Roar Rookie
At least they haven't found yet another type of tackle to ban.
The Koomz
Guest
They should be making time limits for video refs to make decisions instead. The constant replays just put doubts on the ref's mind.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
LOL
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
I assumed they were running a clock to measure when the first person shot themselves rather than watch Parra v Canberra.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Why don't they just get the refs to signal time off when the decision is made for a line drop out and blow time on again just as they kick off? That way the defending side can waste as much time as they like before they kick off but it won't affect the time remaining in the game. I just don't understand why in NRL teams that are defending a lead are allowed to run time off the clock at every opportunity when nothing is actually happening in the game. I'd do the same with conversion kicks. From the moment that a try is awarded to the moment a conversion kick is struck the clock is frozen. You could do the same with scrums. Signal time off when a scrum penalty is awarded and wave time back on again when the ball goes into the scrum. This will make it harder for teams to defend a lead in the final few minutes but gives the team that needs to score more time to set up a play to win the game. Surely this has to make the game more interesting and rewards attacking rather than defensive play.
turbodewd
Guest
They would save more time if they jsut abolished scrums. They are ball-rolling ceremonies which take 4 seconds and where the lock never has his head in for more than 2 seconds.
E-Meter
Guest
That's what I'd like to know. What are the consequences?if the team to drop out misses the buzzer, it should be a 20 metre tap for the receiving side. For scrums, the side who doesn't pack in time, concedes a tap kick. There you go, all sorted.
fazed
Guest
Only disagreement is the 20 second rule should apply for kick outs from the posts & scrums. A scrum can be packed in less than the 20 seconds when the last couple of plays of the game may mean the team trailing or in a draw situation, & is getting the feed with the hope of a field goal or even a try if needed. Clock is currently stopped as the other side ambles up to the scrum, a joke. Likewise the kick out, amazing how often the kicker has to polish the ball, or undo his laces & tie them again. 20 seconds is more than enough, if over penalty to the attacking side 20 out in front of the posts.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Don't we have a preseason to trial these things? What's the rush?
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Yawn. another tweak of what was once a simple game of footy. When's Dave Smith leaving?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Good move but 35 seconds is still way too long to pack a scrum. Should be 20. A couple of questions: What happens if a team breaches the shot clock, is it a handover, a penalty or just time off. If it's the latter it's pointless. Why do they call it a shot clock? There's no shot. Maybe a stop clock.
Jay C
Roar Guru
This doesn't give my pecker rigor mortis as much as it does some of you. Pretty much every line drop out will be preceded by 4 minutes of slow mo action replays anyway. Oh good lets shave 8 seconds off the kick. That is going to make a huge difference.