League legend Brad Fittler has cast doubt on Melbourne and Brisbane’s claims that the captain, and not coach, will decide whether to kick off or receive as the NRL trials a rule change on Thursday night.
The Storm and Broncos will be guinea pigs as the league trials a new rule which allows the team that concedes a try to decide whether they kick off, or receive the kick-off.
A proposed change to the kick-off rule will be trialled on Thursday night. Getty Images
The captain of the conceding team will have to inform the referee of their decision and both Melbourne and Brisbane plan to leave it in their hands, and not be influenced by the coaching staff.
“We will very much leave it to Harry [Grant] to make the call,” Storm director of football Frank Ponissi told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“The proposed way it’s going to be handled by the NRL – and we agree with this – the referee will immediately ask the captain what he would like to do. He won’t have any time to get any decision from the coaches via the trainer or any other way, it will be very similar to the captain’s challenge.
“If you’re protecting a lead with not long to go, sometimes territory is better than possession. You may as well kick it down [the field], especially with how teams are doing short kick-offs so well. You’d run the threat of losing the ball and giving very good attacking position to the opposition.”
Broncos football manager Troy Thomson echoed those sentiments.
“We’ll brief the players and the captain in particular, working through different scenarios,” Thompson said.
“If you get scored on, you probably want to get the footy back, particularly if you are chasing points as well. It will depend on the circumstances. If it’s the back end of the game, your tactics and strategy will be very different at the start of the game. It will be quite situational.”
But Fittler doubts the coaches will wash their hands of the responsibility, particularly if the rule gets implemented on a permanent basis next year.
The Penrith and Roosters legend is generally a fan of the idea, given it adds a new tactical element to the game and could potentially help limit the risk of blowout scorelines.
“I think it will bring in a tactical side, without a doubt,” Fittler said on Nine’s Freddy and The Eighth.
“You would have to make the decision after the goal kick because that will have a big bearing on your mindset, as in are you chasing points? Do you need to chase points?
“I read an article saying it’s going to be up to the captain… it will be the coach. They will be sending messages.
“But I think it brings in a nice tactical part to it. It will be clumsy early… but it could make a difference.”
Earlier this week, Phil Gould and Paul Gallen criticised the rule change idea and suggested legislators were messing with the game unnecessarily.
Intriguingly, Thursday night’s dead rubber game is between the two grand final teams from last year.