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Opinion

The good and the bad of the NRL's rule changes

11th December, 2020
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Roar Guru
11th December, 2020
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1063 Reads

A number of changes in the game look set to be in place for the upcoming 2021 NRL season with different rules coming in.

I’ll go over each of these new rules, my opinion on the difference it could have, and whether or not I’m a fan.

Keep in mind I’m an each-to-their-own individual and not everyone will agree with me, which I’m fine with.

Two points for field goals outside of 40 metres
I actually like this one and I can see it being useful. However, I can also see this being a common trend in the game. You can ask Eric Simms about it.

Six again for ten-metre infringements
I don’t understand why this has come to be because there’s nothing wrong with the penalties. However, it will quicken the game but it can also be abused when defending inside the ten.

Ashley Klein

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Play-the-ball restart replacing scrums when the ball or player is taken into touch
Why not? It’s better than simply packing a scrum because the ball went out.

If a captain’s challenge is inconclusive when reviewed by the Bunker, the challenge will be retained
This one does make a lot of sense. The captain’s challenge has been very effective in the game and a total changer. If it’s hard to tell, of course the on-field decision will stand. I might add giving an extra five seconds to make a challenge.

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On try reviews, if the referee believes a try has been scored, he will award it and the Bunker will review in the background
This one here is understandable but rather trippy. Let’s say the ref does award the try when the player went into touch. The goal kicker converts the try quickly while under review and it turns out not to be a try. You can bet that could happen from time to time. The video ref isn’t broken so don’t fix it.

If a trainer asked the game to be stopped, that player must be interchanged or taken from the field for a period of two minutes
This one is a good one. I’ve seen players get back up and continue to play only to get hurt even more when they should have come off. I would actually even say five minutes instead of two.

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