Peter V'landys - New NRL/ARLC Chairman

[T-Boon]

That's because you keep stating that "more tries = good"

I don't deny that I do say that

Have a look at how many tries have been relatively "soft" due to just plain bad defence due to fatigue?

People do not want to watch glorified training run throughs as a match.

the amount of wrestling had become such that teams could barely score a try without hoisting a bomb. Fans were over that kind of try. It was all because with wrestling tactics - like 2 defenders holding a fella then a 3rd and 4th coming in to take him down just as held is about to be called and the refs turning a blind eye to how that resulted in what would have been penalties years ago but they just stopped penalising.

 

[T-Boon]

this is it, you can argue back and forth all you like about set restarts and if they are deserved or not but if most games are blowout, people will begin to switch it off..

The Eels just put on a great come back last weekend.
I think we need the PVL kick off rule brought in I'd bring it in for this weekend.

 

[Gobsmacked]

A lot of the people in this thread should just watch another sport, seriously. Round 2 for f**k sake.
If it upsets you so much, you're so easily put off... Just go watch something else and annoy them with your whinging.

 

[T-Boon]

Haha, is this some kind of a joke? The nfl refs and video refs are abominable.

They held tom brady's hand throughout his career. His team could do no wrong while the opposition were reffed harshly. As soon as he retired they turned their attention on mahommes.

Don't use nfl refs as some kind of beacon. They're the worst on the planet.

True but its not quite as big of a deal in American football because there is so much play making opportunity made/taken by the players - whereas in league the refs can become the sole opportunity makers - especially when defense is totally dominating.

 

[Barney Stubble]

The wooden spooners are currently 2-0 lol. I didn't expect that.

I think you feel that way because your team is struggling. I felt similar at times last year.

most of the moaning is coming from the fans of teams 0-2 & the 6 agains are a convenient excuse to paper over these teams short comings & lack of discipline

 

[Gobsmacked]

most of the moaning is coming from the fans of teams 0-2 & the 6 agains are a convenient excuse to paper over these teams short comings & lack of discipline

Funny part is the 2 teams conceeding the most 6 agains are Melbourne and Penrith..
But but but.. you can't defend 6 agains..

 

[Maximus]

A lot of the people in this thread should just watch another sport, seriously. Round 2 for f**k sake.
If it upsets you so much, you're so easily put off... Just go watch something else and annoy them with your whinging.

Real fans are the ones who see the negatives and want to fix them. That's not you, the guy who doesn't even talk about games.

 

[Canard]

The wooden spooners are currently 2-0 lol. I didn't expect that.

I think you feel that way because your team is struggling. I felt similar at times last year.

Nah, the Cowboys have been basically dogshit for most of the last 3 decades.

It's the neutral games, so many are dogshit, that wasn't the case in 2025.

FYI, I wouldn't crow to hard mate, you beaten a spastic and a cripple so far this season.

This will hurt the game

 

[Jetka100]

It felt like last year, any team, had a chance to win it every given week.

Now it feels like the competition is extremely lopsided, and most games are a boring flogathon.

An average winning margin of 20 points per game, isn't going to be a sustainable ratings and viewing sport.

I think it is a bit early to make that call. Maybe see where things are at after 5 or 6 rounds. Last year’s premiers haven’t won a match yet.

 

[Wb1234]

A lot of the people in this thread should just watch another sport, seriously. Round 2 for f**k sake.
If it upsets you so much, you're so easily put off... Just go watch something else and annoy them with your whinging.

When I see 30 points in a haIf ijust switch on Stargate on Netflix then come back for the final ten mins or not at all

Seeing that many points scored is a joke for what is supposed to be the elite level of a sport where they used to pride themselves on defence

 

[Canard]

When I see 30 points in a haIf ijust switch on Stargate on Netflix then come back for the final ten mins or not at all

Seeing that many points scored is a joke for what is supposed to be the elite level of a sport where they used to pride themselves on defence

For some reason people seem to just be ignoring this part.

 

[Canard]

I think it is a bit early to make that call. Maybe see where things are at after 5 or 6 rounds. Last year’s premiers haven’t won a match yet.

So, "Let's all just keep watching 50+ thrashing, because it might be better in a month or so?"

The tinkered one two many times, and they have f**ked the balance of the game.

 

[Canard]

It's also a pretty idiotic perspective to say 'well my team is winning, so who cares?"

 

[Colk]

Hands on the ball is now a penalty or 6 again, that is the big change

Simple don’t be preoccupied with it. Who cares? You could literally make a stand on anything. How many teams are regularly offside? How many of these set restarts are based on teams being offside - stats suggest very little.

I could argue, and be quite justified in arguing, that’s a much bigger problem/factor then some player having a hand on a ball for a second.

 

[Jetka100]

So, "Let's all just keep watching 50+ thrashing, because it might be better in a month or so?"

The tinkered one two many times, and they have f**ked the balance of the game.

You can watch whatever the hell you want. You just sound a bit unhinged claiming the whole game has been ruined after 2 rounds from some fairly minor rule changes. I’m a Cows fan as well, but they have bigger issues than the 6 again rule.

 

[Colk]

Soccer

It doesnt, because its rules and concepts are very basic. Coaches cannot really meddle with the game play that much.

American Football on the other hand is the best comparison to rugby league and it changes its rules all the time with the specific goal of keeping offense one step ahead of defense.

Managers don’t have much influence on how teams play in football?

You haven’t heard of Jose Mourinho and parking the bus? Or Pep Gaurdiola’s style which is continual short passing, . Or playing high (Gegenpressing)? Or the Spanish team of conservative high possession football?

Football teams are always assessed on a particular style of play - most managers are hand picked by clubs just for the style of play they coach.

Even if you don’t like the game, it’s constantly analysed vis-a-vis style of play.

 

[Colk]

Real fans are the ones who see the negatives and want to fix them. That's not you, the guy who doesn't even talk about games.

Criticism actually shows that you care in a lot of ways. If we didn’t care, then we wouldn’t criticise.

Even if you’re on the side of it’s an adjustment, nobody has provided a reason, even those most sympathetic to the changes, as to why it is being done (perhaps other than V’Landys is a genius and just trust it)? If the product was good, and nobody had any complaints, why is there a need to change it?

 

[Colk]

You can watch whatever the hell you want. You just sound a bit unhinged claiming the whole game has been ruined after 2 rounds from some fairly minor rule changes. I’m a Cows fan as well, but they have bigger issues than the 6 again rule.

The Cows are s### but these changes aren’t minor and the interpretation isn’t either. Minor would be they are blowing one more six game per game

 

[Colk]

I think this guy encapsulates everything wrong with the six agains and articulates very well what people are seeing.

The game isn’t becoming more skilful or more daring, it has just become quicker. Inversely it has become more conservative and less skillful

 

[mccarthyj367]

I think this guy encapsulates everything wrong with the six agains and articulates very well what people are seeing.

The game isn’t becoming more skilful or more daring, it has just become quicker. Inversely it has become more conservative and less skillful

Completely disagree. If that was the case then every set would just be one out drives or dummy half scoots. The tries are becoming more spectacular and more from long range. It's no coincidence that we have smaller players like Fuller, Walsh, Gray, Fai'alongo, Tuaupiki, Kini, Weekes etc. dominating from full back and being free to execute their skills. The Reece Walsh kick and gather last week was sublime. Athleticism and speed can equal more skill.