Well the two ref system combined with some terrible interpretations and rules that favor sloppy attack mean that the game is often end to end penalties, and defense just can't keep teams pinned very often (bar SOO III...).
I think the league likes this in an effort to keep the scoring opportunities up, but I loved the 80's and 90's grinds in the middle of the field- the 90's was a great mix of open play and grinding.
Some teams managed to keep good field position before the two refs, but now (apart from Origin when you could have 10 referees and they'd still be reluctant to blow a penalty unless for a strip ball :roll: ) it just doesn't happen (well it does, but a team stays up their attacking end due to penalties, like in the WCC, rather than keeping the opponents' up that end when they are defending). I don't like it, but I guess many fans do. Most games it seems now the scoring comes after a penalty. I think it takes out many fine aspects of the game, but it does mean one side or the other is often on the attack.
In theory, I guess making "minor" infringements a tap or a set metres penalty would help "fix" this, if you wanted it fixed. Others have pointed out that this would allow defenses to really go for strip balls and other momentum shifting plays in the first tackle. It is these "ruck" penalties that are the most frustrating parts of the game, but not so much because they are attempts to slow the game (a slower game is fine IMHO), but because they are often 50/50 and can be big momentum shifters (the most annoying thing to see as a fan is a player from the opposition losing control of the ball and gaining 40+ metres and six more tackles, and often then a try, from their poor play). Dangerous play is much rarer nowadays, and is penalised well in the NRL (as it should be) and has been a very successful area of refereeing in the last decade (other than the cannonball, which now has to go).
The best solution though would be to stop making the league so damn hard to referee, reducing the 50/50 calls, momentum shifting calls, and lamenting of the officials' performances at the end of an otherwise good match.
Rather than penalties all over the place in the ruck, I'd just like to see "play on" for anything but a blatant infringement. And really don't penalize "strips" unless the ball carrier is absolutely pinned and several players are reefing at the ball (none of this "hand on the ball" means a penalty crap). If the attacking team is slowed a bit because they can't get up and play it securely, then tough luck for them. Give forwards a job again, rather than barging at the try line after the first play after a penalty as a "settler".
Tackles should have a uniform count of time after the held call before a penalty is blown (referees could carry a timer), an extra official can monitor just the offsides, tracking technology can be used for forward passes and knock ons. Referees would have less to do, and could focus on getting it right. Players would have to concentrate on keeping possession and playing quickly but safely, and following the rules rather than trying to fool the over burdened referees.
Then we just need to eliminate the farce that is scrums and the game is near perfect!
