NRL clubs adapt to crackdown, engage rugby sevens coaching experts

Several innovative NRL clubs have reportedly rushed rugby sevens coaches into their training sessions to prepare them to play with seven players on the field, after multiple players were marched during last weekend’s Magic Round.

The NRL’s severe and dramatic crackdown on forceful contact with the head resulted in spate of send-offs and sin-binnings. Each of St George Illawarra, the Broncos, the Raiders and the Wests Tigers were left with only 11 players for periods of their respective matches.

It now appears thought-leading coaches like Ricky Stuart and Anthony Griffin are preparing for even greater penalisation in the future.

One source close to the Dragons camp said Griffin wanted to prepare for the reality that his side might have up to six players in the bin or warming the timber in future games, bringing in experts to set up new seven-man attacking and defensive structures.

“Look, mate, it’s a smart move by ourselves. It’s much easier to adopt a new attacking and defensive pattern than to learn a whole new tacking technique overnight!” the source said.

“I mean, the big boys like Tyrell Fuimaono and Josh McGuire just found it hard to change the way they’ve played since under 6s.

“And despite their leather-patches, them sevens blokes have some good ideas that we can take on board for when the inevitable yellow and red tickets start to get issued.”

A secret observer of the Raiders training claimed he saw a drill where, one-by-one, the entire Raiders forward pack left the paddock to wait in a simulated sin-bin.

The witness claimed the drill started with Corey Horsburgh dropping off first, followed shortly by Iosia Soliola, big Josh Papalii, and then the rest of the big men while the seven backs ran around in special defensive patterns and attacking moves.

The innovation of bringing in sevens coaches is bound to be copied by other clubs once it becomes apparent what an advantage it will be.

One coaching assistant at the Wests Tigers said there were multiple benefits to the new innovations.

“Don’t quote me on this, but it’s going to be a huge help in managing the interchange. When the big boppers get tired, a spell in the naughty corner may be just what’s need to get some air back in the lungs.

“Being able to rest the entire forward pack could do wonders for their work rate when they’re all back on, assuming they didn’t get the full yellow!

“It’ll be sort of like a mini-halftime for them.”

When asked whether the crackdown ruined Magic Round, ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys was unapologetic.

“We’re ensuring the safety of our players, and as far as the entertainment factor goes, well, everyone knows sevens and nines tournaments are extremely entertaining spectacles.

“In fact, we were having trouble fitting the very popular Auckland Nines back into the rugby league calendar, and I think we may have just found a smart way to have a bit of sevens or nines every week!

“Every weekend will be a Magic Round!”