The NRL has given the bunker the power to step in and rule on any field goal this season, with a stricter position to be taken on kick blockers.
AAP has been told that field-goal attempts will be treated in the same way as tries in 2024, with every shot to be reviewed by the bunker before play restarts.
It means that when an on-field referee awards a field goal, the bunker will automatically begin reviewing the play and have the power to overturn the call.
Included in the bunker’s remit will be to see if the ball went between the posts, if the kick was taken from outside the 40-metre line, and if defenders were obstructed.
If a field-goal attempt misses but the ball goes dead, the bunker will also be able to check for foul play and if the markers were square when pressuring the kicker.
If bunker officials find any potential illegal play, they will tell on-field referees to delay the restart until a formal decision is made.
There is no option to check if the defensive line were offside, or if they left early.
It is the potential to rule on kick blockers that could have the most significant impact on games and lead to multiple field goals being denied.
The NRL has warned it will place a particular emphasis on attackers loitering around the ruck who act to block defenders from putting pressure on kickers.
In a video compiled last week by the NRL, head of football Graham Annesley pointed to multiple examples of field goals that would be denied in 2024.
Included in those were when attackers stood next to or near the play-the-ball, forcing defenders to run around them to get to the kicker.
“This is something that has got progressively worse over time, and one where we need to enforce the existing rule,” Annesley said in the video.
“Players don’t have to be a certain number of metres behind the ruck.
“But there is also a rule which talks about deliberately obstructing another player not in possession of the ball.
“If the players are forming that kind of blocking action … the referee … and the bunker can determine that is an obstruction, and penalise for that.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/b5YiA1–9W0?si=PVysby12GlFQgc0R
Annesley said penalties would only be called if kick blockers had got in the way of chasers.
On-field referees will also be able to send field-goal reviews upstairs, before they make any decision.
Amid other considerations for 2024, the bunker will still have no power to rule on forward passes.
There were calls last year for video officials to be able to review passes, but an off-season review determined it remained too difficult.
Meanwhile, the NRL has also confirmed a penalty will still be awarded for kick-offs that go out on the full behind the dead-ball line.
New rules brought in for this season for play-the-balls for incorrect restarts will only be applied for kicks that were intended to be contested by both teams.
And the league has received good news on the bunker for the Las Vegas season opener, with technical checks clearing the one in Sydney to be used for the March 2 double-header.
Stuart fires up over All Stars ban
Ricky Stuart has fired up at the NRL judiciary over their decision to wipe Seb Kris out of the All Stars clash at the weekend.
Kris was suspended following his send off against Cronulla late last year and had been allowed to count potential Kiwi appearances against his ban, but was not allowed to do the same for the All Stars, where he could have represented the Indigenous team.
Jacob Gagai, the Souths reserve grader, had been suspended in the NSW Cup last year but was allowed to use the game – though neither he nor Kris had played it in before – as part of his ban, and is now a chance to debut in Vegas.
Kris misses both the All Stars match and Round 1 for the Raiders as a result of the ruling.
“I just hope I can get a proper justification on the inconsistency and not some feeble response,” the coach told the Daily Telegraph.
“I have a proud Torres Strait Island boy wanting to know why the All Stars game is not deemed important enough to serve part of his suspension as it has for other individuals,” Stuart said.
“He has missed a semi-final and three international games for his country and All Stars game, which he was desperately keen to play in.
“We will go through the right channels on Monday with the NRL to ask where the consistency is.”
Thompson out of Penrith clash
Prop Luke Thompson will miss the World Club Challenge against Penrith after suffering a concussion in Wigan’s first game of the Super League season.
Wigan’s 32-4 defeat of Castleford on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) was Lancashire-born Thompson’s first regular-season match since returning home from an injury-plagued four years with Canterbury in the NRL.
The prop failed a head injury assessment after coming off in the opening 20 minutes and will be unavailable for February 24’s annual match between the NRL and Super League premiers.
“It’s a blow,” Wigan coach Matt Peet said in his post-match press conference.
“The way he started the game and in pre-season, he was looking excellent.
“But his health has to come first. He’s taken a whack on the head.
“It’s the right thing for the player (to miss the game).”
Ex-NRL prop Kaide Ellis and halfback Harry Smith are also in doubt after being penalised for a high tackle and dangerous throw respectively against Castleford.
The pair are set to learn their fate from the match review panel on Monday local time.
Thompson’s concussion comes as the Warriors hatch plans to neutralise the NRL’s best middle forward rotation at their DW Stadium, which kicks off at 7am on Sunday AEDT.
The prop forward played the Panthers three times across his 42 appearances for the Bulldogs.
Three-time reigning premiers Penrith arrived in England last week and are preparing to chase the only major trophy that has eluded them.
After COVID-19 complications led the 2022 edition to be cancelled, the Panthers lost last year’s World Club Challenge against St Helens.
Neither the 1991 nor 2003 premiership sides won the clash with their English counterparts.
With AAP
Robbo
Roar Rookie
It doesn't - I was responding to Ken in regards to general use of technology.
mushi
Roar Guru
It's not that they can't be, it's that they've said they're being scrutinised for intent rather than action because, as they point out there's no requirement to clear out. Also not sure how ball gps determines the intent of a player without the ball?
Robbo
Roar Rookie
In cricket the outcome can be 'ref's call'. I'm happy with technology showing a player 2mm offside or a ball thrown 2mm forward. It means the player has erred and the other team should rightfully gain possession. No tolerance. The player needs to work out how to get their timing right. It's part of the challenge
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I dont see why all of those calls can't be scrutinised. It doesn't mean that play and televising has to become delayed to do so. It just might mean that within reason, play goes back to an infringement. The faster the game becomes, the harder it is to referee, and tech will be needed more and more. The ball will have a GPS in it soon and play will be stopped to bring it back - as it should.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Not comparing apples with apples ..... and you did say tolerance of half a metre
KenW
Roar Rookie
I'm fine with the idea that offside is offside. My suggestion of tolerance was just in the use of the technology, video replays showing 2mm offside isn't going to go down well. Having the technology there to clear up the worst examples would get the refs to stop ignoring it, and the players to start paying more attention. I was reading the other day about the ball tracker in cricket. These days they are confident in the technology to a tiny tolerance, but they don't use it to that level because it's unfair to the umpires and might cause them to 2nd guess themselves. At it's current level I think it shows just how good the umpires usually are.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I dont care if someone is a cm offside. They can be as far behind the line as they choose but not 1 inch in front. You can't give tolerance and make that a judgement call - way too much room for error. If players want to chance their am to the millisecond then call it offside if the refthinks it is. While they are at it - how about a penalty when the defence is on the try line but standing with both feet in front. What is the touchie seeing? Offside is offside.....
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I would hope that Souths wouldn’t have to tap the development well if their game was being played in Australia or New Zealand and a replacement would not have to travel for over 18 hours to play. If Clive Palmer was involved, based on his ‘work’ at Gold Coast United, there’d be a lot of cost cutting… I can’t wait for the rest of Australia to realize that just because a person has enough money to have others dig holes for them, that doesn’t automatically make them a genius.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I'm not sure if they are the right parameters, but they look reasonable. At the very least, they'd be a definitive criteria to use as a starting point. I don't mind if rules are changed if they're considered flawed in whatever way -we should never accept something inferior purely on precedent - but there needs to be fixed rules in place so everyone knows where they stand and what need to be addressed.
Blink
Roar Rookie
What is the pay rise for incorporating all these extra duties? No response I bet from fat, party boys controlling the $. But they do die earlier.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Its as easy as ranking game levels and banning serving suspensions at a lower grade. Sanctioned Internationals, Origin & NRL = Level one, all suspensions served at this level Qld Cup & NSW Cup, City Country = Level two, all suspensions served at this level or above Allstars, Koori Preseason = Level three, all suspensions served at this level or above Thoughts ? Game one and Souths have already applying to bring in a player from outside their top 30. Who is managing their salary cap and recruitment ? Clive Palmer ?
KenW
Roar Rookie
Exactly. They lack the courage to act as they should due to this fear. In good spirits I have to point out that you've disagreed with me that it's timidity, and then exactly described timidity.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
You may be right, but we're dealing with semantics. Regardless of who is responsible, the criteria should be cohesive, clear, and available to all on the NRL website. The fact that it isn't begs the question of if it even exists.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I'm hoping this year he goes after the lactose-intolerant, given the historic Milk sponsorships of the Raiders. And I hope said attacks are in the form of slam poetry (obviously whilst wearing a beret).
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Is this a rule change, or a regulation change, ie going to the bunker to check for obstructions after a field goal attempt? The other obstructions are in the rules already - I think.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Not sure it's the judiciary process, Tim. I understand their only role is to determine of someone's done something illegal, how severe the issue is and what level of penalty should be applied if they're guilty. I don't think they decide which games, trials etc count as matches a player should miss.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
We'll get to hear a lot more of Ricky's rants if the Raiders do slide. Hopefully he has some new material this year.
mushi
Roar Guru
Well it's possible to be a proud TI kid and perhaps resent Australia the modern day nation.
mushi
Roar Guru
So blocking for a field goal will be completely different to blocking a kick chaser? It's just on the feel of it? And that "feel" will be freeze frame decided? And we'll all blame the refs for not being able yo be consistent when the management of the game is hell bent on turning it into some reality TV show.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I don't think it is a case of the referees being too timid but more that they don't want to appear to be affecting the result but inb not playing to the rules, they are affecting the result. Ideally, if referees and touchies just did their jobs as per the rule book and not on what the NRL or bunker want.