Offside being given a set restart instead of a penalty is really absurd. Why? If I'm a coach, I'm telling the team to be ultra aggressive in defence when the opposition is in their own 20m. A set restart is not a strong enough penalty when I could pin the opposition in their own zone.
Play the ball after a kick - I honestly don't care. I don't understand the obsession about getting rid of the scrum.
Change to the referral process - It's not really a change. It's just allowing the Bunker to intervene if something clear has been missed. To be honest, I don't see the purpose of even having the referees send anything up to the bunker if it's all reviewed.
Forwards only in scrums - Absolute trash. So unless we have players wear something to indicate they are a forward, we are now having referees and touch judges having to remember team lists, and remember who interchanged for who.
In addition to this, it also removes an additional tactic from the game. If the feeding team is packed with backs, then the defence can use a size advantage to push. Penrith can now no longer have Kikau out of the scrum and used as a decoy to suck in defenders. Why are we removing tactics from the game.
If you want to make scrums more competitive, make sure the half feeds the ball between the two props legs - I'm not talking right in the middle of the scrum, but at least ensure a decent enough contest.
I can't believe they've made this change because Steve Roach had a whinge.