The NRL have made a law change concerning contested restarts in a bid to encourage teams to take risks to regain possession and add to the unpredictability of the game in 2024.
“The change is designed to incentivise more contests for the ball from set restarts,” the NRL said in a statement on Wednesday, announcing the move which the league believes will give teams “more incentive” to attempt short kick-offs or drop-outs.
So what is the change?
Watch sport this summer live with no ad breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
Titans tipping Brimson to star in 2024 | 00:58
Well, the NRL said that as of next season, if a team kicks the ball out on the full over the touch line, or the ball fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in an attempt to contest a restart from the goal-line, 20m line, or half-way line, play will now restart with a play-the-ball 10 metres out from the line of the kick and 10 metres in from touch, rather than with a penalty kick.
“While relatively minor, this change will add to the unpredictability of the game,” Graham Annesley said.
MORE NRL NEWS
WHISPERS: Bulldogs’ bid to poach Roosters enforcer on multi-year deal
NEW ERA: Inside Panthers’ halves battle and how Luai call changes everything
STAT RANKINGS: We crunched the numbers over past two seasons in all key stats
TRANSFER CENTRE: Tigers land International star in player swap with Storm
“Teams will no longer risk conceding significant territory as well as a penalty for attempting to regain possession from restarts of play.
“We undertook a thorough review of the 2023 season, including consultation with the NRL Clubs, the RLPA and other stakeholders, and while there was a strong desire to keep changes to a minimum, this minor change will incentivise short kick-offs and drop-outs.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
“This will strongly accompany the Commission’s direction to enhance the existing rules, leading to a faster, more free-flowing and unpredictable game.”
The change has been approved by the Commission and was communicated today to the NRL Clubs and Coaches.
Discussion about this post