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News 2021 NRL rule changes

League Unlimited News

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Staff member
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The NRL has announced several rule changes for the 2021 Telstra Premiership season to make the game "faster, more free-flowing, entertaining and unpredictable".

The changes are:

  • the introduction of a two-point field goal for kicks taken from more than 40 metres out;
  • six-again to be called for 10-metre infringements;
  • penalties for teams if they leave a scrum before a referee calls "break";
  • a play-the-ball restart if the ball or player with the ball goes over the sideline;
  • The Bunker will now review replays after an on-field referee awards a try but a conversion attempt will not be allowed until it gets the green light;
  • injured players will be interchanged if a trainer ask for play to be stopped;
  • when a captain's challenge is inconclusive a team will not be docked for an unsuccessful attempt;
  • and a handover will be ordered when a player does not make a genuine attempt to play the ball correctly with their foot.

The ARL Commission met on Friday morning to discuss recommendations put forward from Monday's meeting of the newly formed innovation committee.

Chaired by ARL Commission member Wayne Pearce, the committee was made up of chairman Peter V'landys, head of football Graham Annesley, veteran coaches Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart, referee Matt Cecchin, as well as current internationals Luke Keary and Damien Cook.

V'landys said these innovations would lead to "less stoppages, more unpredictability and increased excitement for our fans".

The increase of field goals to two points will be a major talking point for fans.

Field goals were worth two points up until 1971 when they were reduced to one in an attempt to reduce the proliferation of attempts from players such as legendary Rabbitohs fullback Eric Simms.

Under this new rule, a team trailing by two points could look to kick a long-range field goal to force extra time or potentially, if a side is down by one, a kicker could take a chance to go for the lead.

The rule changes

Two points for field goals outside the 40m line
To encourage more unstructured play and increase the chances of a result changing in the final moments of a game, a two-point field goal will be awarded for teams who kick a field goal from outside the 40m line.

The new rule will provide an incentive to seek an additional point scoring opportunity at critical times of a match, particularly with limited time remaining on the clock in each half.

Six Again for 10 metre infringements
To reduce stoppages in the game, 10 metre infringement penalties will be replaced with a “Six Again” ruling. Referees maintain the ability to blow a penalty and sin bin a player if a side has made repeated 10m infringements or in the case of professional fouls.

The “Six Again” rule provided a sufficient deterrent for teams who purposely sought a penalty to slow the game down during previous years. This rule was trialled in two games during round 20 of last season. This will result in a fast game, less stoppages and more free-flowing action for fans.

Scrums
The Commission determined scrums are part of the game’s DNA. To increase the integrity of scrums, the referee will call “BREAK” when he or she is satisfied the ball is out of a scrum.

Players will not be permitted to break from a scrum until the referee makes the call. Where players break before the call of “BREAK”, the referee will award a full penalty. The team receiving the penalty will also have the option of re-packing the scrum.

If the scrum is re-packed and players again break early a further penalty will be awarded and one of the offending players will be sent to the sin bin.Play the ball restart after ball or player finds touch. When the ball is kicked or carried into touch play will resume with a play the ball rather than a scrum.

This rule was trialled in two games during the final round of last season.

Handover for incorrect play the ball
A handover will be ordered where players do not make a genuine attempt to play the ball with their foot. This will ensure greater compliance to the rule and integrity around the play the ball, without increasing penalty stoppages.

Captain’s Challenge
In cases where a Captain’s Challenge review is inconclusive, the on-field decision will stand but the team will retain their challenge. Fans have expressed frustration with teams losing a challenge where replays prove inconclusive, this will ensure a greater opportunity for teams to have challenges available later in matches.


Bunker Reviews
Where the on-field referee believes a try is scored the referee will award a try and the bunker will review the decision in the background. A conversion attempt will not be permitted until the bunker is satisfied a try has been scored.

This will ensure even less stoppage time and ensure momentum in the game continues.

This rule was trialled in two games during the final round of last season.

Trainers
In 2021, where a trainer asks a match official to stop the game for an injury, the injured player must be either interchanged or taken off the field for a period of two minutes of elapsed game time before he is permitted to resume his place on the field. This will reduce the number of stoppages for minor injuries.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/12/11/nrl-announces-rule-changes-to-make-game-more-entertaining/
 

TheVelourFog

First Grade
Messages
5,061
"faster, more free-flowing, entertaining and unpredictable"

...for about 5 minutes until coaches start exploiting the changes, commentators complain, and half the rules are scrapped in August

look forward to the rule changes in 2022 to make the game faster, more free-flowing, entertaining and unpredictable

edit cause we arent in 2021 yet
 

Ruby Roundhouse

First Grade
Messages
7,915
  • the introduction of a two-point field goal for kicks taken from more than 40 metres out;
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LineBall

Juniors
Messages
1,719
Can't see too many field goals being done from 40 meters out. Half of these guys struggle to pot one when they are 20 meters out, straight in front.

They still haven't fixed what IMO is the worst rule in League, which is 6 again from a charge down.
 

moffla

Bench
Messages
3,215
I think Fatty once said it. How fast do we have to get this game before it is too fast? There is surely a happy medium...I kinda feel the rules we had this year were pretty good. Game was quicker but still had a defensive element to it.

As for the field goal one, don't get me started. I hope that doesn't change players mindset too much.
 

sempmrh

Juniors
Messages
1,194
What constitutes a ‘genuine attempt to play the ball with their foot’? So often you see players almost miming a play the ball. Expect this one to be penalised a lot in the opening couple of weeks, people will complain and then it won’t be enforced anymore.
 

The Marshall

Juniors
Messages
624
Doubt the 2 point field goal will happen too much with teams being too scared of giving away 7 tackle restarts. It might be a Hail Mary type play if you’re down by two late in the game or just before half time but I doubt it will be a regular thing for teams to take shots at it.
 

Vozzy

Juniors
Messages
1,689
Bunker reviews for every try is going to slow it down. So a try that's an overlap where the winger scores easily is going to have to be reviewed.

The 2 point field goals is going to make coaches try and poach union kickers now. They slot them from 50. The english/south Africans will be raided it's how half of their points are scored in Union. Next will be 3 point penalty kicks from outside the 40.
 

moffla

Bench
Messages
3,215
Bunker reviews for every try is going to slow it down. So a try that's an overlap where the winger scores easily is going to have to be reviewed.

The 2 point field goals is going to make coaches try and poach union kickers now. They slot them from 50. The english/south Africans will be raided it's how half of their points are scored in Union. Next will be 3 point penalty kicks from outside the 40.
I don;t think it'll be that bad, I think they trialled it in some games at the back end of the 2020 regular season didn't they?

Essentially for the most part its a quick check before the kicker lines up for the conversion and if anything is amiss they'll pull it up.

I could be wrong, though
 

Frailty

First Grade
Messages
9,299
I don;t think it'll be that bad, I think they trialled it in some games at the back end of the 2020 regular season didn't they?

Essentially for the most part its a quick check before the kicker lines up for the conversion and if anything is amiss they'll pull it up.

I could be wrong, though

Definitely trialled it later in the 2020 season. Remember a Cowboys long distance try being pulled up before the kick. The kicker was told to wait on that occassion. It's not a bad idea, but we will see if there is much delay - I suspect there might just so TV can squeeze an additional advertisement in.
 
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