Broncos coach Michael Maguire has hailed the proposed NRL rule changes as “interesting” but says he’ll simply have to deal with them if the controversial adjustments are brought in for the 2026 season.
While it’s hard to argue with extended match day squads that would allow six players on the bench or changes to 20m restarts in the act of scoring, the NRL is receiving plenty of pushback with its other proposed rule tweaks.
The biggest issue so far has been with the proposed kick-off change where the team that has been scored against has the choice to receive or kick off.
As it stands, the team that concedes points restarts play with a kick-off, but that could change in 2026 in a bid to reduce the momentum swings in games.
Clubs are pushing back as the NRL tries to make changes to the kick-off rule. Picture: NRL Photos
The clubs are vehemently against it, especially when you consider teams can opt for a short kick-off to contest the restart in a bid to win back possession anyway.
“The kick-off rule will be an interesting one,” Maguire said on SEN radio.
“You look at that and think how you can challenge that as a coach or use that to your advantage.
“People talk about momentum, but then you’re going to look at the short kick-off and things like that if you need to get the ball back.
“You’ve just got to work with the rules.”
Maguire mastered the 2025 rules as he led the Brisbane Broncos to premiership glory, and he’s willing to accept whatever the NRL throws his way this season.
That includes a major change to ruck penalties where set restarts would be awarded instead for infringements outside the attacking team’s 20m zone compared with outside the 40m area in 2025.
Michael Maguire will accept whatever changes are brought in as he hopes to lead the Broncos to another title. Picture: Adam Head
That would lead to frenetic attacking play that would exhaust bigger bodies and ill-disciplined teams as we saw during the Covid years when the good sides would run up cricket scores.
The trials start next weekend, so it’s vital for the NRL to make a call on these rules in the coming days to give teams enough time to adjust for the new season.
Brisbane will again be one of the favourites, with Maguire dismissing concerns over travel to the UK when his side takes on Hull KR in the World Club Challenge on February 20 (AEDT).
“That one is probably going to be an interesting one with our big men and the speed of the game,” Maguire replied when asked about the ruck interpretations.
The NRL is considering making changes to the set restart rule. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images
“They (the NRL) like to keep the ball in play, and I can sort of understand what the game is doing because they’re trying to improve the game.
“But for me, I just go ‘whatever they give us, we’ve got to deal with it’.
“We’ve had rule changes over the last few years. I’m a traditionalist at times and I look back (in the past) and I’m not sure about that rule change, but the game is flying with the number of people watching it.
“It will be interesting, and for the big man it’ll be a challenge if we have a few more six-agains.
“Penalties in between the 20m line and the 40m line have been a bit grey because that’s where refs are scrutinised, so they’re looking at it and going ‘why don’t we move the game a bit quicker so we’ve got things going’.”