Change to the kickoff rule 2026

[Yosemite Sam]

They may as well just get rid of the 7 tackle set rule completely. Another example of a stupid rule change that wasn't needed.

 

[Nutz]

Extended bench is a long overdue rule change. Will make a big difference.

Not a fan of messing around with the kick off. But making it optional is a tad better than just forcing the try scoring team to kick.

Any team who scores a try against the Tiges must sprint 360⁰ around the outside of the boundary lines and they are deducted a player for every second over 45 secs for 10mins of remaining game time.

 

[Fangs]

Any team who scores a try against the Tigers must sprint 360⁰ around the outside of the boundary lines and they are deducted a player for every second over 45 secs for 10mins of remaining game time.

I'm fine with this.

Also a designated club 'legend' of the Wests Tigers is to be strapped to a dunk tank machine for every home match. x2 machines required if playing at a more neutral ground e.g. Commbank.

 

[Nutz]

I'm fine with this.

Also a designated club 'legend' of the Wests Tigers is to be strapped to a dunk tank machine for every home match. x2 machines required if playing at a more neutral ground e.g. Commbank.

They got plenty of practice at doing this though in meetings, before they resorted to sacking board members.

 

[Fangs]

They got plenty of practice at doing this though in meetings, before they resorted to sacking board members.

Which is why the Tigers should heavily lobby the NRL for the rule to be in place for 2026. It would give them a distinct advantage over opposition teams.

 

[Nutz]

Which is why the Tigers should heavily lobby the NRL for the rule to be in place for 2026. It would give them a distinct advantage over opposition teams.

Are we talking about the same Tigers?

 

[siv]

Changing the 6 again zone to only be in the 20m rather than 40m is dumb, and will just return us to the previous farce

 

[Wb1234]

The extended bench is a brilliant one and over due. It will help clubs with HIAs/injuries etc. also becomes very tactical, a lot of clubs will have a small explosive style player like a Trai Fuller etc on there and can bring on if they’re chasing points. In the past you lose a half in the first 10 mins and it’s basically game over, now you can have cover for them.

Hate the kick off one. I get why they’re doing it. In a game against NQ last year I think we went 15 mins without touching the ball, really that’s on us to be better. How many exciting come backs have we seen where teams are 12 behind with 2 mins to go and score twice in 2 sets? It will effectively rule out come backs.

I like how it’s optional so captains / coaches can bring some strategy into it

Same with the extended bench good coaches will know how to exploit it better then others

Halfbacks / five eights will be even more wanted now especially guys like osullivan

 

[Valheru]

The kick off rule is neither here nor there for me, no strong feelings either way and I dont see it making any difference.

Extended bench long overdue but doesn't go far enough IMO. 8 on the bench with 8 interchange is where we need to get to.

Act of scoring is also long overdue, 7 tackles is a ridiculous penalty for that. It also doesn't go far enough IMO. That rule was designed to stop teams kicking dead on purpose. Just copy the union rule and have the restart from where the ball was kicked with the 20m line being the minimum and scrap 7 tackles altogether.

I hate the 6 again between the 20-40m line rule. That's a miss for me and just gives teams 20m more grace to give away penalties on purpose on 1st/2nd tackle to reset their line.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

• Extended bench: I don't mind it. If it gives young players who otherwise wouldn't get game time a chance to get out there then fair enough.
• No 7 tackle set for knocking on scoring a try: BIG tick, but just f**king scrap the shit entirely. The concept of tactical kicking from halves almost died with this garbage.
• 6 again rule: WHY take these careful tippy toe steps away from the original shit idea? IF IT'S SHIT, SCRAP IT.
• Kick-off rule change: Stupidly redundant. As if the team that conceded won't opt to have possession off the kick off 95% of the time.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

The proposed kick off rule is the dumbest idea ever

 

[Vic Mackey]

The proposed kick off rule is the dumbest idea ever

No

that was allowing souths back in

 

[colly]

The kick off rule is neither here nor there for me, no strong feelings either way and I dont see it making any difference.

Extended bench long overdue but doesn't go far enough IMO. 8 on the bench with 8 interchange is where we need to get to.

Act of scoring is also long overdue, 7 tackles is a ridiculous penalty for that. It also doesn't go far enough IMO. That rule was designed to stop teams kicking dead on purpose. Just copy the union rule and have the restart from where the ball was kicked with the 20m line being the minimum and scrap 7 tackles altogether.

I hate the 6 again between the 20-40m line rule. That's a miss for me and just gives teams 20m more grace to give away penalties on purpose on 1st/2nd tackle to reset their line.

Don't like it, for example someone on this forum said this, what if a team, slightly behind by say 10 points, and that team behind, scores with 50 seconds left. So under normal circumstances they would receive the ball and have one last chance to sore. As normally the just 'in front' team would not chance a 'short kick off' so would ( normally ie normal game kick long and defend. Its a cliffhanger game. But now the team in front decides it will receive he ball and play the game out. Bull shit! My idea that the losing team ( by points) gets to receive the ball ( only) in the second half would prevent the above circumstances happening.

 

[yobbo84]

No

that was allowing souths back in

 

[Timmah]

Extended bench great. Be interested to see what it means for squad naming/reduction/late mail.

20m restart change - doing just part of what they should do. Have it be ONLY kicks that go dead being 7 tackles. All other in-goal matters creating a 20m restart should be 6 tackle set.

Scoring team kickoff option sucks, seems universal.

Not sure on the own 40m penalties changing to own 20m. Hopefully it doesn't create a 2021-style set of blowouts.

 

[T to the T]

Only rule change I'm not sure on is the kick off, if anything I'd change it for the team who scored to kick possession away, like in gridiron. You'd have the jeopardy of the RL equivalent of NFL/NCAAF onside kicks then. This views seems against the consensus of the thread, so as a distant observer so why would an NRL team not want the ball kicked to them if they just conceded?

Extended bench I can live with if limited to 4 out of 6, acts a tactical element (this must not turn into a 'Bomb Squad' as seen in Rugby Union by South Africa of having a bench of 8 where all 8 can come on, killing the fatigue angle).

6 again from own 20 is creating more consistency across the pitch.

7 tackle sets are dumb and confusing to any new followers of the game so need binning in their entirety

 

[siv]

Wonder what will be the impact of taking another 2 players out of the State Cup games every weekend, as you now wont allow 18th and 19th men to play prior to NRL games any more

 

[Dogs Of War]

Extended bench long overdue but doesn't go far enough IMO. 8 on the bench with 8 interchange is where we need to get to.

I think the balance between ensuring players get game time is a delicate one. Especially with the demands of adding extra teams to the mix. Cause those fringe guys do need playing minutes to improve, and that's best done most of the time in reggies. Going to be plenty of backs who end up on a bench never to touch the ball.

Why you would want a 1 to 1 bench and replacement allocation is beyond me. Most coaches are going to rest a player or two and bring them back on. So this is the perfect balance that helps when concussions ruin your lineup.

4 forwards and 2 backs will be the standard with one of those backs being able to play halves unless they have a ready made option on the field they can shift around.

 

[Timmah]

As siv said, I think the biggest drawback of the bench idea is/could be players getting less minutes overall. Previously the 19th player (dropped on game day) often found himself playing NSW/QLD Cup so was still getting match fit. That seems less likely if a player needs to be sitting on the bench during a game.

 

[siv]

But now the team in front decides it will receive he ball and play the game out.

What you will now do is a short kick off