The NRL has decided to trial a controversial kick-off rule this week that was knocked back by clubs in the pre-season and it’s set to make the game even more unpredictable.
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In January, the NRL proposed introducing a rule in which the team who concedes points gets the option of either receiving the kick-off or taking the kick-off.
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It was hoped the rule would reduce blowout scores and make games more competitive.
Super coach Wayne Bennett has been the biggest supporter of the rule and when it was being discussed in the pre-season he told those against the rule change to “stop whingeing about it”.
With a number of teams now officially out of finals contention, the NRL will trial the rule in Thursday night’s Broncos-Storm game at Suncorp Stadium.
Speaking on NRL 360 on Monday night, journalist Brent Read said it was worth trialling while fellow reporter Dean Ritchie had doubts despite admitting it would further add to the randomness of a game.
“I don’t think the side that concedes points should be given an option,” Ritchie said.
“It depends on whether you value possession or field position, and that will depend on the circumstances of the game. It adds a layer of unpredictability, I guess.”
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NRL 360 host Braith Anasta outlined some of the strategies particular teams might employ as a plan and on the run.
“It will depend on quite a few things. Obviously, the momentum of the game, how you’re playing that day, whether you’re more effective in attack or defence,” Anasta said.
“I think you would also change (the decision) on who’s kicking the ball. If you’re playing against Mitch Moses, then you might make a different decision if you concede a try because he gets out of his own end quite easily with big kicks.”
Anasta also asked if the rule change would lead to more short kick-offs, likely by the team who just scored and has been forced to kick-off.
There will be a new rule involving the kick-off.Source: The Daily Telegraph
It would come with some risk, but getting the ball back would only continue the momentum for the previous scorer who would then get possession straight back in good field territory.
“That’s a really good point, Braith,” Gorden Tallis said.
“I think it’s where the scoreboard is at the time. If you want them to go 100m, kick it long, I think it’ll be the same as a drop-out. It’s how you’re feeling, what part of the game, whether you’ve got the momentum or not, so I don’t mind it.”
Tallis would know better than most how the rule could impact the game because he played in the 1997 Super League competition where the team who scored was forced to kick-off.
“I don’t think it changes too much,” Tallis said.
“If you’ve got momentum, and a new score, and you’ve got to kick off to them, you can pin them down in their own 20.
“I think it could be good for the game.”
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Ritchie asked why the rule couldn’t be trialled in a pre-season game rather than one where two competition points were up for grabs and Read said it was important to trial it in an official game.
“I think it’s important they try it in a game that actually means something because then you’ll see the offshoots of what the ripple effect is of it,” Read said.