Plenty of NRL fans have agreed the state of the game in Australia is a much better product than that of the Super League with the ruck speed a major issue for fans in the Kangaroos’ 26-6 win at Wembley. Kevin Walters and the Aussies were aware the ruck speed would potentially be slowed down under head referee Liam Moore in the first Ashes Test with the Wembley game officiated with a Super League interpretation.
And that is exactly what happened with Shaun Wane’s side doing their best to slow down the play-the-ball so the Kangaroos couldn’t get quick ball to the likes of Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster. While the plan worked in the first-half after a lethargic start, the Aussies started to get a roll on with Reece Walsh the star as the Kangaroos powered over England.
Plenty of NRL fans agreed the ruck speed was an issue for the international game in the first Ashes Test with Grant Atkins taking over Game 2 in Liverpool. (Images: Channel Nine/Getty Images)
But the speed of the game was eye-opening for many fans who forgot just how slow it could be without the six-again rule. While Moore did a great job to keep the whistle away and let the game flow, the tempo was well below that of a NRL game.
Penrith great, turned commentator, Greg Alexander pointed out just how much more was going on in the ruck during the international. “Far more lenient at the play the ball. Far more lenient,” Alexander said of the officiating around the play-the-ball.
“The hands on the ball and the twisting of the players on the ground. Just slowing everything down.” And it reminded Aussie fans just how far the product has come in Australia.
There are plenty of fans who don’t like the six-again rule. Fans can become frustrated when team’s are repeatedly pinged with little information to why a six-again has been awarded when watching. However, the clash between the Kangaroos and England showed just how much better the NRL product is when the game is played at speed.
Fans were interested to see how the next international will look with Grant Atkins in charge next week. The referee for the potential decider has yet to be announced.
England sent warning over ruck speed
Australian grand final referee Atkins will take charge of the second Test in Liverpool and it could see another interpretation of the ruck speed. Phil Gould claimed this could be the case and it would most likely favour the Aussies in the next game.
“I think their will be a lot of different interpretations than we’ve seen tonight. He has been quite lenient with the English team holding down in the play-the-ball,” Gould said having claimed the speed of the game has been hampered.
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And Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss shared a similar sentiment. Voss claimed if the ruck is faster in Game 2, England are in for a long night. “The interpretation, you’d have to believe — with Atkins in charge, locked and loaded for next week — it will be different,” Voss said during commentary.
“And I don’t think it will be to the benefit of England. It may make their assignment harder, they have gotten away with a bit today. That’s not Australian bias, this is just calling what we see.” The likes of Harry Grant and Munster will most likely benefit from a quicker play-the-ball with the duo already causing havoc at Wembley against a shellshocked England side.
Reece Walsh (pictured) and the Australians will be hoping for a quicker ruck next week.