NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:21 am  

In the NRL's February All Stars game the following rule changes will be trialled:

1. POWER PLAY - at a stoppage in each half, each team can call a Power Play, whereby the opposition must immediately drop 2 players for 5 minutes.

2. Ruck infringements which do not halt the play (eg holding down) will not be a penalty, but instead, an immediate wiping of the tackle count.

3. 40/20 rule to be extended to include 20/40

Would you like to see any of these introduced? I can see merit in 2 and 3, but the power play thing is to me a horrible gimmick, artificially altering the balance of play, and I just hate the idea.

Full rule changes:

Power play
- Each team will receive one (1) optional power play in each half of the match.
- Once a team captain nominates to the match referee that they wish to use their power play for the half at a stoppage in play (changeover, scrum etc.), the opposition team must immediately drop two (2) players from the field of play for a 5 minute period (11 players on the field of play).
- If the team who called the power play scores a try during this period, the power play will end immediately and the two players who left the field may return.
- Players returning to the field of play must do so under the supervision of the interchange official.
- The team defending the power play will make the decision which two players leave the field from their team during the power play.
- Once a power play has been called, the opposition team may not call their power play at the same time. If both teams call a power play at the same time, the team about to receive possession will be granted the power play.
- A second clock will appear on the scoreboard showing the time period for the power play.

Changes to penalties in the ruck area
- For infringements in the ruck area by the defending team (holding down, leg pull, hand on ball etc.) which does not result in the breakdown of play (i.e. drop ball), the referee will indicate the infringement followed by immediately restarting the tackle count at the point of the infringement with a zero tackle.
- There will be no kick for touch for these infringements. Play will continue immediately from the point of the infringement.
- Any foul play in the ruck area by the defending team will result in a traditional penalty.
- Any infringement by the attacking team in the ruck area will result in a traditional penalty.

20/40 kicks in play
- A team which kicks the ball from within their own 20m area and can successfully find touch within the 40m area of the defending team will receive the feed to the ensuing scrum.

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:27 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

I can see merit in 2 and 3, but the power play thing is to me a horrible gimmick, artificially altering the balance of play, and I just hate the idea.

Agreed.

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:34 am  

I like the rule 2 idea, but what does it extend to, hands on the ball etc?

Also how would it be communicated to fans effectively?

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:43 am  

Wilde 3 wrote:

I like the rule 2 idea, but what does it extend to, hands on the ball etc?

Also how would it be communicated to fans effectively?

Presumably the same gesture as for wiping the tackle count clean.

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:29 pm  

3 seems reasonable enough.

I'm not that keen on 2. At the moment the punishment for holding down at the ruck makes it really important to tow the line (not that everybody does). Under these proposed rules, if a team had their opposition camped in their own 20, they may be more inclined to try it on a bit if all that's at stake is defending a couple of extra tackles. Their opposition won't be able to do anything with the extra tackles anyway, if they're being held down at the play the ball. Similarly, after your opponents have made a half break it would make sense to just hold them down and face a full set with an organised defensive line.

1 is the most stupid idea I've ever heard.

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:33 pm  

1. stupid idea

2. Not a bad idea really but still think the system we currently have in place is better

3. Dont agree with this seems to punish the defensive efforts of a team, if you are able to restrict your opponents to 20 meters they shouldnt be able to put in a 50m kick and gain an advantage IMO.

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:36 pm  

Dux wrote:

3 seems reasonable enough.

I'm not that keen on 2. At the moment the punishment for holding down at the ruck makes it really important to tow the line (not that everybody does). Under these proposed rules, if a team had their opposition camped in their own 20, they may be more inclined to try it on a bit if all that's at stake is defending a couple of extra tackles. Their opposition won't be able to do anything with the extra tackles anyway, if they're being held down at the play the ball. Similarly, after your opponents have made a half break it would make sense to just hold them down and face a full set with an organised defensive line.

1 is the most stupid idea I've ever heard.

2. Ruck infringements which do not halt the play (eg holding down) will not be a penalty, but instead, an immediate wiping of the tackle count

I would count holding down as being something that halts play so may still be a penalty rather than the tackle count restarting

[PopTart]

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:41 pm  

livin_the _dream wrote:

1. stupid idea

2. Not a bad idea really but still think the system we currently have in place is better

3. Dont agree with this seems to punish the defensive efforts of a team, if you are able to restrict your opponents to 20 meters they shouldnt be able to put in a 50m kick and gain an advantage IMO.

I agree
1. absolute no go. Will delay play and is taking something from the integrity of the game
2. Ok, but hard to police.
3. As you say it rewards the big hail Mary kick when under pressure. And hard to police. Ref only needs to watch at 40, now needs to watch at 20....and why not a 30 30 if we are changing.

Just leave as is.

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:56 pm  

PopTart wrote:

I agree
1. absolute no go. Will delay play and is taking something from the integrity of the game
2. Ok, but hard to police.
3. As you say it rewards the big hail Mary kick when under pressure. And hard to police. Ref only needs to watch at 40, now needs to watch at 20....and why not a 30 30 if we are changing.

Just leave as is.

I think a 10/50 is the future!

Re: NRL trialling rule changes - any good? : Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:58 pm  

Wilde 3 wrote:

I think a 10/50 is the future!

I see a future rule of 0/0, which is an automatic try.