The NRL has admitted match officials incorrectly applied the controversial disruptor tackle rule during two critical moments in matches last weekend, including the decision to deny Roosters star Rob Toia an important try.
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The governing body’s head of football, Graham Annesley, has addressed mounting criticism around the rule overnight, admitting the NRL had “set the bar too high”. Annesley has also moved to clarify what constitutes a disruptor tackle, confirming that there is no blanket ban on competing with only one hand in aerial contests.
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Annesley told NRL.com that match officials got it wrong on two occasions last weekend. One resulted in Roosters centre Robert Toia being denied a try, while in another instance Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater was penalised after attempting to diffuse a kick.
“The NRL believes that they were genuine contests for the ball and should have been permitted,” Annesley confirmed.
“What we’re trying to stop is players from either side not being given the opportunity to compete fairly for the ball. That’s the bottom line.”
The disruptor tackle ruling was originally introduced to allow a fair contest between a defending player attempting to field a kick and a chaser from the attacking team competing for the ball in the air.
For referees, adjudicating around the complex descriptions of the rule has proven tricky – leaving coaches and senior NRL figures within the game equally confused around how to approach it.
NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley added his name to the long list of senior NRL names grappling with the controversial ruling this season.
On Sky Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday, Daley said the NRL threatened to lose its advantage over other sporting codes with additional rules including the disruptor tackle.
“One of the advantages rugby league has had over other sports over the years, including rugby union, is that it hasn’t been over-adjudicated. All of a sudden, it is,” Daley said.
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“It has become very technical and people including myself, I don’t know. You get frustrated at watching the game. You go ‘that’s not a penalty, that’s not why it was brought in, that’s not how it should be interpreted’.
“They’re saying now that they’re not going to change the rule but they’re going to adjudicate it a little bit differently. Well, why didn’t they know that before they went down this path?
“You’re filthy and it costs people their livelihoods … you’re confident you know what’s going on then you just shake your head.”
Sky co-host Josh Reynolds added: “If our NSW Origin coach doesn’t know the rule, then that is scary for our game. The Toia ruling was disgusting. That is a really bad look for our game.”
On NRL 360, host Braith Anasta said the NRL lacked common sense in its on-field judgements.
“There needs to be some discretion from the referee. If he thinks there is a disruptor – the player intentionally getting in the way and disrupting a defender from catching a ball – it’s quite obvious, I believe that they’re doing it on purpose,” Anasta said.
“Just make the call. If not, leave it.”
Meanwhile, NRL 360 co-host Gordon Tallis implored the NRL to assemble a group of players – mostly veteran fullbacks and outside backs – to establish practical parameters that are fair to both sides.
Tallis identified QLD coach Billy Slater as an ideal candidate. Coincidentally, Slater has been critical on the disruptor ruling too. On his Wide World of Sport podcast, the former QLD and Test fullback said the NRL had become too technical for its own good.
“It’s hurting for the game right now,” Slater said. “I feel for the referees and match officials because it’s not their fault. They’re just trying to adjudicate on the descriptions they’ve been given.”
Roosters gun Rob Toia was penalised for this incident, costing his side a try.Source: FOX SPORTS
On Monday night, the NRL (via Annesley) reaffirmed the descriptions of the disruptor rule.
“To determine whether there has been interference of obstruction with a player attempting to catch the ball, match officials look for the following indicators: Players arriving early, players not having their eyes on the ball but purely on the man, and players who jump through a contest and throw an arm out,” the governing body said.
Annesley added: “they’re all indicators, but they don’t on their own necessarily mean that it’s a disruptor or not.
“It depends on the circumstances because if a player jumps through a contest, for example, and has no impact whatsoever on the catcher, then you’re going to play on. The only objective is to give both teams a fair opportunity.”
Annesley reiterated there was no blanket ban on one-handed bat-backs of a kick to a teammate, provided there was no interference with an opposition player attempting to catch the ball.
“That can be a bit of a skill in itself, but one of the indicators of disruption could be that a player uses one hand but literally swats at the ball, while making no genuine attempt to compete for it, and in doing so, just barrels into the catcher and takes the catcher out,” he said.
“Each case is going to be different, each case is going to require the judgement of the match officials, and there won’t be universal agreement on these things. Like all things that happen in our game there will be divided opinions, but what we want the match officials to do is to try and get the balance right.”