More harebrained rule changes

[Headless Chook]

Not a fan of the 7 tackle set in the first place - brought in to stop teams deliberately kicking the ball dead so they can set their defence - how it came to 7 tackle restarts for ball carriers loosing the ball/knocking on etc in the in goal areas in attempting to score a try is beyond me as obviously it's not on purpose - neither is the grubber from 10 metres out that goes dead or the missed field goal.

If you kick the ball from or before half way that goes dead fair enough 7 tackles - beyond half way - 20 metre tap and 6 tackles same as for the grubber that goes dead or missed field goal.

How do they know it's on purpose though in kicking the ball into touch - i can imagine it being extended to passes going into touch or players being tackled over the side line as well.-Teams do that deliberately as well - not

Couldn't agree more King. If you're good enough to get in to the in goal but happen to lose the ball getting it down, why should your opponents be rewarded with an extra tackle? They already get a 20m head start up the field.

[BraveTheWorld]

Very, very stupid. That's a shocking rule change, and I kind of doubt it will go ahead.
Halves who are really good at game-managing and controlling the tempo (which already are few and far between) should not be punished.
Defensive and controlled Rugby League should also be an effective way to play the game.

Teams don't even abuse this. How many kicks into touch do you see teams do per game? I think most teams don't even do one of these per game on average.

[Johnny Brass]

Once again vlandys hasn't read the room in view of the numerous rule changes he has brought in to the detriment of the game for the fans.

[zac]

i don't think it's a big deal, but why the constant need to tinker? it will discourage the defending team from making a play at the ball - why catch it and play on when you can let it go over the line and get an extra tackle. it punishes 40/20 kicks that fall short - for what purpose? it will encourage kicks down the middle and i don't see what's so good about kicks down the middle

[zac]

it's as good an idea as taking players horse riding

[Salvatori Grubber]

This would stop people attempting genuine 40/20’s to boot, as the risk/reward will be too great.

Moreover, how many settlers into touch do you see in a game? 1? 2 max.

[Recky62]

The clubs need to band together and tell these dribbling idiots and their moronic f**king about with the rules that it needs to STOP ….here’s a thought , let’s wind the game back 10 or 15 years …that’d work

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Terrible idea. A well placed kick for touch on the end of some good play, or on the set after points, or even to give team a break if they've been defending, is a part of the game. Has Wayne Pearce ever had a good idea in his role.

[dice]

i don't think it's a big deal, but why the constant need to tinker? it will discourage the defending team from making a play at the ball - why catch it and play on when you can let it go over the line and get an extra tackle. it punishes 40/20 kicks that fall short - for what purpose? it will encourage kicks down the middle and i don't see what's so good about kicks down the middle

You sort of acknowledge the death of the 40/20. That also means wingers don't need to hang back to diffuse the 40/20, which also shuts down the attacking option of spreading the ball from inside your own half.

The Innovation Committee needs to go.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Very, very stupid. That's a shocking rule change, and I kind of doubt it will go ahead.
Halves who are really good at game-managing and controlling the tempo (which already are few and far between) should not be punished.
Defensive and controlled Rugby League should also be an effective way to play the game.

Teams don't even abuse this. How many kicks into touch do you see teams do per game? I think most teams don't even do one of these per game on average.

Couldn't agree more. And with the game getting faster as it has done, sometimes a scrum after a kick goes out is needed - just to give everyone a breather ffs.

[QWERTY]

the clubs need to band together and tell these dribbling idiots and their moronic f**king about with the rules that it needs to stop ….here’s a thought , let’s wind the game back 10 or 15 years …that’d work

yes!!!
Leave the game alone

[King Salvo]

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! This madness has to stop!

Robbo has already gone on record saying the existing 7-tackle rule is arbitrary and doesn't make sense. Another thing about that rule is that it was brought in with the old 'encouraging attacking play' justification. Yet an attacking team that drops the ball over the line whilst attempting to score from a non-kicking play STILL gives away a 7-tackle set from the 20 metre line!

You know what? The game could actually do with a bit of slowing down! Giving team adequate time to get onside is not unreasonable. There would also be less mistakes in the play-the-ball as big lumbering forwards try to become Olympic gymnasts and play the ball at the speed of light.

On second thoughts from my earlier post get rid of the 7 tackles all together - 20 metre re-start and 6 tackles - this will also make it easier for teams to attempt field goals without the penalty of a 7 tackle set if missed or the grubber kick close to the line going dead in goal and conceding a 7 tackle set.

1 set restart per set with the second one conceded a penalty - advantage for the first tackle of the set restart - if the team loses possession on the first tackle and no advantage taken it goes back to a penalty being awarded where the offence occured. A kind of free hit on the first tackle of the set restart.

[theGman]

Pretty savage, but deadly accurate, words from Christian Welch...

"Please just leave our game alone. The tension, grind, pressure & game management almost already gone. Would love the commission for less gimmicking with the rules & more focus on bigger picture strategy"

That's how most of us feel I reckon.

Welch is an educated and articulate character.
He's definitely an NRL or NRL club administrator of the future. I hope he doesn't get pinched by that other code where his team comes from!

[crikey chris]

What the phuck is going on. April Fools Day was months ago. Leave the rules alone. It's already semi touch footy. Ridiculous shit again from the NRL.

Destroying the greatest game of all

[roosterproud]

Fark me. Just watched the milk sponsored canberra milkers milk their way to cream. 3 sokka lay downs in the first half and the yoghurt swaller rapananana is the master at baiting the cream. We better turn the pretenders to sour cream and ice them