I think we need to admit there is something wrong with league itself as a game if we can't fill these small grounds every week. All the other stuff are just excuses.
1. Any kick that goes over the dead ball line unassisted should be immediately returned to the kicker's position by the opposition for a tap and go. This punishes thoughtless last option kicks and sloppy kicks just to get out of defensive pressure.
2. If a defensive player charges down a kick with anything other than a open hand then it's not a knock on as there is no intent to catch and control, the intent is purely to diffuse to kick. The charge down should be a real defensive pressure option. Defusing the kicker by body contact is allowable as long as the kicker isn't brought down into a dangerous position and it's within 2-3 seconds of the kick itself. If a kicker is getting hit, let's face it, his team deserves it... stop wrapping them up in cotton wool.
3. Tackling a defensive player mid air if they have the ball is allowable as long as the player isn't brought down in a dangerous position. Stealing the ball mid air is allowable in a similar fashion. The high kick receive needs to be a proper contest.
4. Any kick from inside a team's own half that travels over 5 of the 10 metre lines (i.e. 40-50 metres), bounces in the opposition's half and then out - awards the attacking team posession at that line of the field (closest would be the opposition's 10 metre line). Because of this two defensive players are required to drop back when an attacking team is in their own half. This creates a 13 to 11 advantage to the attacking team in their own half and encourages attacking teams to throw the ball around more in their own half to exploit the advantage. Once the team crosses the 50, the distance between the defensive line and the covering defensive players is reduced and it becomes effectively 13 on 13 again.
5. 3 man tackles should not be dominant tackles. A 1 on 1 tackle should be a dominant tackle and give the defensive the longest to reset. Plus a 1 on 1 tackle should allow both a 1 on 1 strip and a 1 on 1 rake to be permissable to defence.
6. Use the new set of 6 penalty infringement rules similar to All Stars instead of kick for distance to encourage immediate play
7. Do something about the scrums. My suggestion is for the ball to already be on the ground with the referree between the two packs (forwards ONLY!), the referee withdraws, packs combine and it's proper contest. However this should only be used for cases where there is no clear cut penalty - for example a double knock on or a 40 metre kick advantage. In these case the scrum becomes a contest again. For other cases where a particular team deserves posession, just give them a turnover.
