Kangaroos Kevin Walters has revealed the tweaks his side have been forced to make when it comes to how the Ashes will be officiated, with one controversial rule set to be scrapped.<\/p>\n
Australian officials reportedly reached out to England\u2019s governing body, the Rugby Football League, earlier this week to clarify several rule interpretations ahead of the first Ashes Test.<\/p>\n
Several rules differ between the Super League and the NRL and the first Test is set to be refereed by Englishman Liam Moore before grand final whistleblower Grant Atkins rules over the second.<\/p>\n
Watch the 2025 Rugby League Ashes LIVE with no ad-breaks in play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n According to Walters, the RFL has outlined how specific rules will be officiated on.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a couple of rules that the RFL use that we don\u2019t use in our game in the NRL, one of them is the play-the-ball situation,\u201d Walters said on the Big Sports Breakfast.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir ruck speed and their rucks, they allow a lot more time for players in tackles to remove themselves from tackles. So we have done a lot of work in that space.<\/p>\n \u201cThe other one is the downtown rule, in the NRL if you\u2019re in front of the kicker when he kicks the ball it\u2019s an automatic penalty.<\/p>\n \u201cWhereas over here, as I understand it, you can be in front of the kicker but you just can\u2019t get inside that 10 metre boundary… if you\u2019re in front of him, that\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can get down the ground, but you must give the player that\u2019s catching the ball at least 10 metres to make his decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Walters prepared for Ashes hostility | 01:19<\/p>\n Another interpretation, that has the potential to catch Australian players out, could see offside penalties and six-agains be awarded due to a technicality.<\/p>\n \u201cThe other one… you can\u2019t be in front of the referee, in the NRL your back foot can be in line with the referee and your front foot can be half a metre, or a metre in front of him,\u201d Walters explained.<\/p>\n \u201cOver here, both feet have got to be behind the referee. That might cause, not some problems, but make us make sure we are onside all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n It was also initially feared the Kangaroos would get their first taste of the controversial green card rule.<\/p>\n If handed a green card, a player is sent for a two-minute stint on the sidelines if they fake an injury in order to milk a penalty.<\/p>\n Teams can use an interchange to allow the player to remain on the field for the two minutes they were marched for.<\/p>\n However, that green card won\u2019t be used during this Ashes series, and Walters couldn\u2019t help but sledge a handful of his players who were \u201chappy\u201d it was scrapped.<\/p>\n Kangaroos training Kevin Walters and Willie Peters.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n \u201cThey are not using the green card, we have a few boys happy they are not using the green card, you know who they are boys,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s a very strange rule that the RFL use over here, trying to call someone out for faking it.<\/p>\n \u201cFortunately, that rule has been removed from the conversations, and that\u2019s good news from the Aussies, because we have got a couple in there… no, I am not going to say that.<\/p>\n \u201cOur players are very fair, above the board.\u201d<\/p>\n WANE AND WOODS\u2019 WAR OF WORDS<\/p>\n England coach Shaun Wane has slammed Aaron Woods, igniting the upcoming Ashes series after the former Kangaroos player lit the fuse with an early sledge.<\/p>\n Speaking in Triple M, Woods delivered criticism after listening to one of Wane\u2019s team talks, suggesting he was boring his players only days before the Ashes kick off on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cFair dinkum, can you wake me up?\u201d Woods said.<\/p>\n