Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is concerned teams are targeting his team by slowing the play-the-ball down with set restarts early in tackle counts.
Cleary has gone to the NRL over fears the Panthers’ attack is at risk of being stifled by rivals deliberately infringing in the ruck early in sets.
Penrith carried on their winning ways on Thursday night against Newcastle, becoming the first side in eight years to go 7-0.
But Cleary isn’t all impressed.
He has voiced his fears to the NRL over teams deliberately slowing the play-the-ball, after Penrith received the third most set restarts per game.
Worrying Cleary in particular is that he believes the majority come early in sets, where minimal extra tackles are gained.
Under NRL rules, referees have the power to penalise and sin-bin players if they believe they have deliberately transgressed to give away the restarts.
But that has rarely happened, with warnings also barely issued.
“I’ve actually spoken to (referee’s boss) Jared (Maxwell) about,” Cleary said.
“We’re first in a lot of stats like tackle breaks and run metres and shifts and metres made.
“Yet we’re about ninth or tenth in play-the-ball less than four seconds.
“That doesn’t add up to me. I’ve seen a few other games too. Ball-in-play is longer, which is what we want, but the play-the-balls are slower.”
Cleary claimed Newcastle had used the tactic to extreme levels in Thursday night’s 24-6 win for the Panthers, with eight set restarts given.
Three of those from ruck infringements came on the first tackle, as well as two more for offsides.
“Tonight was another level again,” Cleary said afterwards.
“That’s clearly a tactic and I think that’s happening to us. The play-the-balls were so slow tonight.
“The ball in play was the most we’ve had in any game this year. Yet the game slowed down.
“That’s that’s frustrating, but that’s the way teams are attacking us.”
eels47
Roar Rookie
Yeah I didn't think you were. I just think Parra have been happy to give them away more than some others. Maybe that is just because I watch the games closer though
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think they all have, I wasn’t targeting Parra They were just game one...
eels47
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I actually think Parra have been one of the teams that have attempted to exploit this rule the most. If only there were stats on it.
Crow
Roar Pro
The speed of the game and clean play the ball is working very well for the Panthers. The team is young and athletic. They are in great physical shape and the six again suits their game plan superbly.
The Barry
Roar Guru
We’re also in a similar situation as we were before the new rules that teams know they can transgress every set and only get penalised one in every 10 The new rules have moved the transgression from the later tackles to the earlier ones...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yep, giving away six agains early in the tackle count started in the first game under the new rules last year, coincidentally by Parra...
I Am The Walrus
Roar Rookie
Simple fix. Instead of 6 more, a ruck infringement on first or second tackle in your own 30, you get +3 tackles on the end of the set. Also, a 5 minute sin bin for repeated offenders in the ruck / offside. 10 minutes in today’s game is an age, 5 minutes would be fair. Simples!
Emcie
Roar Guru
Maybe he's just upset he only got 3 against the Broncs last week
Emcie
Roar Guru
I dunno, maybe it's just the ones I remember but I've seen more then a couple guys lose the ball in a hitup a split second after the six again is called and plenty of other late calls with players apealing for a restart after the balls been played. Either way, play still comes to a jarring halt if first reciever has to go back to the mark to kick for touch. At least the traditional penalties came at natural stopages rather then having to rewind the game to get back to position. Lets be honest Mushi, the intent wasn't to clean up the game, it was to make it more "attractive" by the broadcasters standards with a dollop of taking attention off the refs on the side.
Nat
Roar Guru
This game and right back to the Bulldogs win are the only times that the opposition had a faster PTB than the Pennies. 2x in 7 rounds, he should be running to the refs boss...
mushi
Roar Guru
2018 was what I was thinking in terms of empowerment. Referees could have been giving out 10 in the bin for cynical fouls for a decade but the league won't support that. I'm also not sure how it's square 1. The whole thing in the past was the supposition that it was in the defences interest to give away the penalty. The point was to discourage slowing the ruck. Now we're saying it was actually the attacking team abusing it all along? I also really struggle to see how it would be termed abuse when you're the offended team. If it's such a massive advantage don't hold down at the start of a set, we used to be able to figure that out.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Ivan needs to look at his own backyard. Last night there were plenty of first tackles that took forever to get off - Capewell and Luai in particular.
Paul
Roar Guru
Out of curiosity, where do the Panthers rank in terms of giving away 6 agains for slowing down tackled players?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
10-15 seconds before half time last week, Canberra were defending on their line and deliberately gave away 6 again. The real penalty to Canberra would have been a penalty to Parra, who were leading 12-10 at the time and this was essentially the last play of the half. Half time should have been 14-10 The 6 again rule is a good idea that is flawed in its application
Sam
Guest
If teams want a penalty instead of six again all they have to do is drop the ball immediately when the bell rings to break down the play. I've seen it happen a few times, whether it was intentional or not I'm not sure
Rellum
Roar Guru
Yeah, disagree. They could have tried it in the great crack down of 2018(I hink it was 18) but it was to hard for them. You have to give them instances where they can bin players so I think the NRL needs to come out and make game situations like this a clear mandated professional foul. I get the idea behind the give the teams a chance to take a penalty on a 6 again, but it will be abused, teams will chose two points just to have a rest and we will be back to square one again. They value in game rest over anything else so they can focus on their defensive line and structures.
mushi
Roar Guru
If referee's were empowered to do that we'd never have the 6 again rule.
mushi
Roar Guru
We've got different memories of them being called. Mine has it typically being called during the paly of the ball so it doesn't get past the first receiver too often. If referees have to make a quicker call, I'm all for that - their instinct is likely more correct than delayed judgement. As for "either kills momentum or makes the intent of the six against redundant" Well you don't have momentum on tackle 1 or 2, which is why coaches have their teams do it. So then it comes down to intent, I thought the intention was to clean up the ruck and have faster play of the balls. If that was the intent, then I'd think dissuading tackle 1 and 2 ruck infringements would be consistent with that.
Joey
Guest
Teams are “giving away” set restarts on tackle 1 or 2 in the hope that the bell won’t ring again that set, giving the awarded team only 1 or 2 more tackles instead of a full set. Panthers might show as getting a lot of set restarts last night , but no doubt would have been camped down the Knights end even more under the old rules.
Rellum
Roar Guru
If teams are doing it on purpose, clearly then it is a professional foul. Just warn them then bin them.