Ricky Stuart has added to the growing frustration around the NRL‘s controversial new six-again rules, which have led to player fatigue and blow-out scorelines. While Parramatta veteran Dylan Walker believes the changes – which have increased the speed of play – have also contributed to a spate of injuries at various clubs.
The NRL tweaked the six-again rule this year by extending the area where set restarts are awarded between the opposing 20-metre lines. League bosses say it helps the game flow and reduces the amount of stoppages, leading to a more entertaining product. But many coaches and players have slammed the change, pointing out that it allows teams to dominate off the back of consecutive sets.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has aired his frustrations with the NRL’s six-again rule tweak ahead of their NRL Round 7 clash with the Melbourne Storm. Pic: Getty
Stuart says the changes have destroyed “the fabric of the game” and suggested the interpretations around six-agains were too subjective. And the Canberra coach reckons many of the set restarts should actually be given as penalties after calling for greater repercussions against offending teams.
“We’ve lost the fabric of the game. The interpretation regarding six-agains is just given now willy nilly,” the Raiders coach said ahead of Friday night’s home game against the Melbourne Storm. “There’s no repercussions on the decision right at the time, where, for me, a six-again is something that you would have penalised. It’s got to be a penalty, and I don’t believe it is at the moment, and that’s why we’re getting so much criticism.”
Stuart insists speeding up the game does not equate to a better product for the viewer. He pointed to a number of recent contests where defence has gone out the window and both teams have piled on the points. And the veteran mentor says it’s taken away from one of fundamental aspects of the contest that fans love.
“Making the game faster doesn’t necessarily make it more attractive, because the score line is 50 to 30,” he added. “I don’t believe that is more attractive.” The Raiders are among the sides most affected by the rule tweak, having conceded more points (182) than any other side, bar Parramatta (226).
Stuart refused to weigh in on reports that several club bosses have urged the NRL to attend their next meeting to discuss frustrations around the set restarts. But he did accept that the Raiders – like many other teams – needed to adapt better to the faster-paced game and stop giving away cheap turnovers and six-agains.
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is not a fan of the NRL’s six-again rule tweak and reckons it has destroyed the fabric of the game. Pic: Getty
(Mark Nolan via Getty Images)Dylan Walker thinks greater fatigue is leading to more injuries
Eels veteran Walker said player welfare also needed to be taken into account, with injuries a natural consequence of fatigue brought about by a faster game. Parramatta are one of the clubs hardest hit by injuries, with Brisbane also missing 10 players for Saturday night’s game against the Tigers.
And Walker believes player fatigue is contributing to the problem at both ends of the field. “When things do start to speed up, and fatigue gets put in, decisions are made by the defender or attacker,” he said. “You can understand why things have happened because of how much (the game has sped up).”
with AAP