The NRL’s six-again rule change tweak is under fire after a number of blowout games and momentum swings in Round 1, which saw the highest winning margin spread in 25 years.
The average winning margin of just over 20 points per game in Round 1 was the highest since 2002 (24.3).
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Ahead of the 2026 season the NRL tweaked the six-again rule in a bid to encourage more ball in play and cut down stoppages from full penalties.
Now six-agains apply from the 20-metre line for ruck breaches and defenders being off-side.
It was clear in Round 1 the effect of that rule change was massive.
There was a 35 per cent increase in set restarts in Round 1. The average set restarts in 2025 was (5.87) and in Round 1 2025 was (4.63).
That jumped to an average of (8.14) in Round 1 of the 2026 season.
The total margin spread in Round 1 was 160 points meaning the new rule changes are causing massive blowouts between teams. For comparison in 2023 the total margin between teams was 70.
Two games were decided by one point, while the Storm (52-4), Sharks (50-10), Panthers (26-0) and Warriors (42-18) had blowout wins, while the Raiders’ 29-28 win over the Sea Eagles and the Rabbitohs’ 40-30 victory over the Dolphins were both punctuated by massive momentum swings from both teams.
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Speaking on Sky Sports Radio, Laurie Daley noted the massive impact the six-again rule change has had on the spectacle of the game and believes it will continue until the players start to cop the tip.
“What about the momentum shifts during the first week of the competition and last year Round 1 set restarts were at four and a half and this year they were at eight,” Daley said on The big Sports Breakfast.
“We saw it in most games it was momentum shifts. It makes a bit of a difference.
“When you had momentum you looked good and when you didn’t have momentum you looked not so good and that is what we are seeing in the first week of the comp.
“I think we will see that in the next few weeks, while the referees adjust to six-agains and the players adjust to six-agains.
“I think this will happen until we all get a greater understanding of how it is going to be adopted and the players fit in to what the referees are doing and the referees find their way with it a little bit as well.
“I can see this continuing at least for the first month until everyone finds the flow of the game.”
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Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters put the onus back on the players to improve their discipline because the referees are going to continue to use the six-again penalty.
“They have extended the boundaries for the six-agains, so it does fatigue players in defence, particularly when the six-again is given,” Walters said.
“If it is given early in the tackle count it is not as bad, but when you get to four and five and last tackle and you get to the kick and all of a sudden you have got another set of six, it does change the way the game is played.
“Defensively it changes the way you defend as well, so we will see how that develops over the next couple of weeks, but it was a big thing of note in Round 1 and the importance it has on the game.
“I think players more than anything have got to keep their discipline and not give away those six-agains and rather than give away a six-again, give away an extra five or 10 metres in the next play-the-ball.”
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Momentum swings are here to stay in the game and Walters warned that referees will continue to use six-agains because it is the easier option for them, rather than opening themselves up to scrutiny with a full penalty.
“We have seen it often this year so far,” Walters said of momentum swings.
“We saw the Storm, Sharks, Raiders, Sea Eagles and Dolphins score a lot of points in a few minutes and most teams have the ability to do that.
“I’m not having a go at the referees, but it is hard when they are adjudicating some of those play-the-ball infringements. It is probably not a six-again, but it is easier to give a six-again than a penalty.
“I’m not having a crack at the referees, but it is an easier option for them than a penalty, so it is tough for the men in the middle. I certainly respect what they are doing for our game.
“Lets put the onus back on the players to get their game right and get their fundamentals right around the play-the-ball and knowing what you can and can’t get away with and problem solved.”
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Daley agreed with Walters that referees are taking the easier option of a six-again because the game moves on faster with less scrutiny on their decisions in real time.
“I agree with that and I think that is probably one of the reasons why we see more of them because the game moves on and no one scrutinises the six-again,” Daley said.
“I wouldn’t be worried about it, but it is something to be wary of and it will be interesting if it does trend down this path because it does change momentum for a team.
“If you get on a roll you can come back from 18 points so easily.”
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