The state of rugby league since restart

[The Mad Hatter]

I find it interesting that a single rule change can have a dramatic two fold effect on the game. The fatigue factor in games has certainly come into play and the lack of stoppages has created a less Union style brand of football.

In saying that, it's still early days for the rule. And the coaches are ALWAYS looking for ways to exploit the rule. It will happen eventually. Maybe not this season, but it will happen.

I felt the Storm adapted in a week. Just concentrated their wrestle upstairs instead...around torso and arms. Ping that shit out of the game and it’s footy again.
But overall the game is better for the rule changes and more entertaining.

 

[Tommy Smith]

It's been awesome. Amazing how the game has never looked in better shape when not so long ago it was all doom and gloom.

God bless V'landys who has done more to improve rugby league in 4 months than Greenberg did in 4 years.

What it shows is that you don't need "think tanks" or any of that business speak that Todd lapped up; but rather a proactive free thinker, unencumbered with worries about how he's being perceived.

 

[Bronco18]

In saying that, it's still early days for the rule. And the coaches are ALWAYS looking for ways to exploit the rule. It will happen eventually. Maybe not this season, but it will happen.

I think the best that teams can do will be to feign injury to slow the play down. The Eels a couple of times last night tried it - when Gutho was pinged for taking out the fullback, he was suddenly sore. Likewise, Paulo needed the assistance of a trainer when it was time for an Eels dropout.

 

[Spot On]

Personally I hate the kick for touch penalty, it really does ruin the flow of a game.

The fact that teams will have to be fitter is great -

100%.

It's been awesome. Amazing how the game has never looked in better shape when not so long ago it was all doom and gloom.

God bless V'landys who has done more to improve rugby league in 4 months than Greenberg did in 4 years.

What it shows is that you don't need "think tanks" or any of that business speak that Todd lapped up; but rather a proactive free thinker, unencumbered with worries about how he's being perceived.

Yes, it is called a LEADER.

Embarrassing for anyone who ever supported Greenberg and the backwards thinking that went on at HQ the past 4 years.

Where's that goose that posts here that still isn't 'sold' on the 6 again rule. Some people must have had their eyes closed the last 20 yrs if they can't see how much better the product is now.

 

[dragon_around]

Quality of the game has gone up, while the quality of the Dragons has gone down. Feels bad man.

 

[siv]

Better teams have adjusted to not giving away 6 again while still doing their wrestle

What warrants a 6 again

Will grow and grow over the coming weeks as it is very subjective

First 2 rounds were like 2 weeks of trials where players play 20-40 to 40-60 minutes normally due to lack of 80 minutes of fitness

This weekend I feel will be the first true indication of the effect of the new rules in regards to fatigue

The revised draw have also introduced a increase in 5 day turnarounds, which will have its own effect on games in the back 20

But I am seeing mobile bigger men are flourishing more than the little men who are looking like they are getting hammered

 

[Tommy Smith]

But I am seeing mobile bigger men are flourishing more than the little men who are looking like they are getting hammered

Examples?

The little guys haven't had this much fun & involvement in years.

Quicker ruck speed, more tired & retreating defences, instinctive footy being rewarded...

 

[T-Boon]

It has been a success without doubt. Also the captains challenge has been a massive success. Gutherson used it successfully last night and I think it was use strategically well the other night by DCE.

 

[The Rosco]

I think the best that teams can do will be to feign injury to slow the play down. The Eels a couple of times last night tried it - when Gutho was pinged for taking out the fullback, he was suddenly sore. Likewise, Paulo needed the assistance of a trainer when it was time for an Eels dropout.

Yes . . . and real soon we will see defenders "tangling" in the arms and legs of the tackled player.
Because the refs yell out "tangled" instead of "6 again" when some merkin defender does it.
You heard it here first.

 

[Twizzle]

It was the best decision the NRL has made in years.

completely agree mate, although the NRL haven't exactly set the bar too high in recent years in decision making

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

completely agree mate, although the NRL haven't exactly set the bar too high in recent years in decision making

Good thing is if there's one person who can take on the club bosses( who over the years seem to find common ground when they don't like what is happening at HQ or decisions that might affect them) it's PVL .
It will come one day ..PVL v The club bosses .
My money is on Peter the Great .

 

[magpie_man]

I'm loving the new rules, and not just because we are playing well.

I thought tonight's game against Penrith was played with an Origin/Finals-like intensity for 80 minutes, and there was a very entertaining flow to the game.

It was the best decision the NRL has made in years.

Agreed, that game last night was a belter; Origin-esque.
I wonder if there has been an unwritten memorandum in recent years for the old balancing of the ledger when it comes to awarding penalties as a way of artificially creating close contests?
Whatever the case, that memo seems to have been thrown out the window this season as well.
Blowouts > Artifice.

 

[BadnMean]

It's good. I'm watching more "neutral" games as a result.

The speed of games is slightly quicker. Somewhere between "old" NRL & Superleague- and not all games are the same, but the spectrum has shifted up.

Teams will get fitter- lockdown was not ideal prep- and the "set again" will become just a little bit more defendable.

The blowouts... could probably be remedied somewhat by switching which team receives after points. Just to get the ball for a spell. Either Scorer kicks or alternate from the kick off. It's not a necessary change, just an idea.

Who gets the extra set & when is still a total mystery, not really consistent. I noticed the Eels constantly leaving a hand on the shoulder of the player getting up to play the ball- looks casual but just pushing him down to slow/tilt him off & allow them to crowd the ptb enough to ensure he has to do a really slow, careful placement of the ball or drop it.

 

[taipan]

I heard the doomsayers' every game will be a blowout".Well the manly v Donkeys wasn't ,the Eels v the Panthers wasn't.Sharks v Cows wasn't.
What I like about the whole deal, the wrestling/time wasting is being reduced ,watching a player lie over another as though he is having a bit of horizontal dancing ,was bleeding frustrating.

Back lines are getting more freedom to attack and create positions to attack.

The fact rugby union is now snitching some of the ideas, is flattering.

And the fact V'Landys helped push the game to make it more appealing, and got it up and running early ,gets under the skin of FitzSimons.That is something that warms the cockles of my heart.

 

[Knight Dragon]

Unfortunately as highlighted with this round, it’s only a matter of time before we go back to having all the major inconsistencies that have plagued the game for the best part of two decades.

 

[gerg]

So far so good. And credit to most of the refs for adapting too. All are going pretty well, with Klein and Cummins the slowest to adapt.

 

[roofromoz]

If it's anything like the Eels v Panthers match last night then it's going all right. Result aside it was a beauty.

 

[T-Boon]

I'd like to see nrl.tv do a breakdown of each 6 again. Once a week.

 

[Wizardman]

Examples?

The little guys haven't had this much fun & involvement in years.

Quicker ruck speed, more tired & retreating defences, instinctive footy being rewarded...

100% agree. Two generations of halves have been absolutely bashed out of the game. A guy like Thurston would have watched the last two weeks and thought "Why was league not like this in my day?". He'd have absolutely carved up in today's game. Even a bloke like Chris Sandow would have been a lot more effective.

 

[Perth Red]

Biggest difference I can see is the speeding up of the game has made defences go back to two man tackles, that has cleaned up the play of the ball no end. Much closer to watching a SL game now, more free flowing and if nothing else the 6 again has taken away the whinging of the commentators and replays of decisions. It’s also taken the pressure off the ref, where as there was a big focus on penalty counts I’m not hearing much comment on the 6 again totals during the game.
Hopefully the coaches don’t find a way of stinking it up!