Gus gets it right this time.

[BunniesMan]

Why would anyone stop using the second man play, by far the most common strategy for attack, when any attempt to mix it up a bit will see them probably give away a 7 tackle set.

Such a dumb f**king rule.

oh ffs the answer to mixing it up is not more kicking. that's the last thing we need. And 7 tackle sets are awesome because it gives teams tackles in the attacking half. And so we see less of the monotonous grind we see when they're in their own half.

 

[JamesBrandy]

I'm really loving the quick tap play on rule with 40/20s now.

 

[Parra]

The worst part of this is coaches and players in the juniors mimicking NRL plays & strategies. It is unnecessary, it stifles players and worse it encourages only players of certain body sizes and abilities to participate.

 

[davi]

I think Matthew Johns comments are interesting- which provides some insight why the game has become boring in terms of styles of play. I understand this article is about the controversial video obstruction ruling in 2013- but Johns comments are very relevant to this debate.

Referees boss Daniel Anderson has finally cracked under the pressure of criticism of the new interpretation of the obstruction rule - and looks ready to make a change so that a black-and-white rule has more scope for grey.

But while players and coaches have universally slammed the constant penalties for seemingly innocuous contact from decoy runners in the first four rounds of 2013, Matthew Johns has urged Anderson to stay strong.

Speaking on Monday Night with Matty Johns, the former Newcastle and Cronulla star called for teams to innovate and come up with more exciting attacking plays, rather than whingeing about what's changed.

"There's all sorts of things going around about how this is going to ruin the game," Johns said of the way obstruction is currently being adjudicated.

"This is my opinion: I think it's a godsend. What I think was ruining the game was that everybody was attacking the same way - it's just a watered down version of what Melbourne were doing."

"I think it's a great thing from Daniel Anderson, I think he's got to stay strong on it," Johns said.

"I'm in favour of this, this is short-term pain for long-term gain.

"Boys, just change the way you attack. Robbie Farah said after the game, 'It's like we can't use block shapes inside the attacking 20 (metre zone)'; well, it looks like you might not be able to.

"Let's go back to the days where Canberra played a certain way, the Broncos played a certain way, Parramatta, Penrith, Newcastle - everyone had their own style, instead of looking at the same thing over and over again."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...n-interpretation/story-fn2mcuj6-1226611014866

 

[eozsmiles]

Possession is precious in Rugby League. In soccer and AFL and Union there is a (perceived) contest for the ball almost constantly. In League it is only mistakes, kicks, or collisions which turn the ball over. So if you know your opponent is going to complete 32/36 sets, you can't be giving them the ball carelessly. What if the other team won't give it back?

And this attitude is amplified throughout the game. Coaches preach ball control, players do, and fans too. Plus the commentators. You watch a dour arm wrestle and Gus/Sterlo say it's real finals footy - a compliment. Clubs pass the ball around and get accused of playing too laterally and shirking the hard work in the middle.

Jarrod Mullen went for a "trick" play a couple of weeks ago. Just on halftime he chipped for his winger from his own 20m and put it out on the full. His coach, arguably the greatest ever, cooked him in the press conference. Jarrod won't be doing it again. Which is a shame, because it would have been cool if it came off, and led to a try for the opposition anyway. Exciting stuff. But unfortunately, a master coach like Wayne will kick your arse if you try it.

So I don't think coaching creativity into kids is the answer because they won't be allowed to chance their arm at the top level. Clubs won't take the initiative because they it's proven that conservative footy works - it wins comps. So if people want changes, it has to be via the rules.

 

[Parra]

Nothing perceived about it. Contesting possession is a key component of those codes. Maintaining possession is no more "precious" in league than other codes. It's just easier. So don't screw it up, because your opponents will be able to retain possession unless they make a mistake and there is nothing you can do about it.

 

[kbw]

Players are bigger, stronger, faster, and fitter today than they were in Gus' golden age.

Defensive structures are far more efficient.
.

These bits are the truth.
Recruiters are also looking at athletes as opposed to footballers.

Everything is structured, someone mentioned the old games, there much less flowing play, because its not only is it harder against better defense but its unstructured play which is against most coach's instructions

 

[Parra]

And no interchange. This one rule change has been more detrimental to league more than any other change.

 

[kbw]

And no interchange. This one rule change has been more detrimental to league more than any other change.

That would be great and would change the game substancially

 

[billypilgrimnz]

A three sub rule like in soccer would be an awesome experiment. I wonder how the game would change.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Interchange has to be lowered to 6 asap. Props should not look comfortable in the 40th minute. Too often they do.

Props will always look comfortable in the 40th minute cos its half time
u heard it here first

 

[lazza]

Whilst I agree the game needs balancing back to help the little guys, they need to be careful not to go too far - otherwise we will just be watching a bunch of spent players running around.

 

[lazza]

And gus is right about everyone playing the same. During world cup, it was really refreshing watching other nations play their brand of football.

 

[Blues Riff]

Props will always look comfortable in the 40th minute cos its half time
u heard it here first

Nah mate. the 40th minute is the one between 39.00 and half time.

 

[Nightward]

I would love this. The game favors big and bulky too much right now. The balance needs to be restored. I hate seeing props jogging off at half time.

Actually, all it would do is favour the 80-minute back-rowers that coaches like Gould, Griffin, and Stewart love so much.

Opening up the play again would require referees who can consistently and correctly police the 10-metre rule and eliminating the wrestling tactics that slow the play-the-ball down so much.

 

[gypsy]

The outrageous amount of stoppages in the game is a big contributor to this.
The NRL have attempted so much to speed up the game, yet the refs tolerate plodders milling over a scrum for 60 seconds, or call back a quick tap...for no reason. It might seem nothing, but a minute here and there is gold for recovery.
Tired players = more gaps, more attacking footy.

The overall solution?

Bring back the 5 metre rule. Teams block plays and percentage hitups would be less effective, we might even see halves be creative again. Imagine that...

 

[fourplay]

The outrageous amount of stoppages in the game is a big contributor to this.
The NRL have attempted so much to speed up the game, yet the refs tolerate plodders milling over a scrum for 60 seconds, or call back a quick tap...for no reason. It might seem nothing, but a minute here and there is gold for recovery.
Tired players = more gaps, more attacking footy.

The overall solution?

Bring back the 5 metre rule. Teams block plays and percentage hitups would be less effective, we might even see halves be creative again. Imagine that...

Hahahah.. can you imagine a game where the players only had to retreat 5m? The defensive line would be so set and organised before the man playing the ball was even on his feet.

They would SPRINT up so fast that they would completely cut off all play by the time the ball even reaches the half back. The players would likely get to the halfback faster than the dummy halves pass

Players are too fit aerobically now that they would never get tired with a 5m rule, and they would literally sprint up so damn quick since they only have to move a few metres to cut off play and then retreat a short distance too so they would never get caught out.

 

[Noname36]

The number of interchanges isn't the biggest issue, it's the ridiculous wrestling tactics that we've allowed take over the game. The days of creative play makers causing havoc against a retreating defensive line are pretty much dead because the wrestle allows for your team to be set in defence before the opposition can even get up to play the ball.

 

[gUt]

Wok always said 11 per side on the field and reduced interchange would be ideal.

 

[gUt]

Maybe someone who watches NFL can talk about how that game - with its shares possession and stoppages making it a sort of exaggerated version of RL (i know I know) - how that game generates its variety in attack.