{"id":870908,"date":"2026-08-28T01:50:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T01:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/870908\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T01:50:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T01:50:14","slug":"nrl-world-fumes-over-new-kick-off-rule-as-broncos-v-storm-game-used-to-test-controversial-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/870908\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL world fumes over new kick off rule as Broncos v Storm game used to test controversial change"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NRL world has been left scratching its head after the controversial kick off rule change was tested for the first time during the Broncos and Storm match on Thursday night. <\/p>\n

Under the proposed change, the team conceding a try got the choice of whether to receive the kick-off or kick it themselves.<\/p>\n

During the Round 26 clash the decision to \u2018receive\u2019 – which aims to prevent blowout scores – was only chosen three times as the Storm smashed the Broncos 46-20.<\/p>\n

In the first half the teams appeared to boycott the rule entirely, despite Melbourne blowing Brisbane away 28-10 in the opening 40 minutes. <\/p>\n

With the game all-but-over the decision was made twice more and it left Fox League\u2019s Jake Duke questioning whether either side wanted it to work.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe these two teams (are) not happy to be playing in a rule-change game. Maybe they\u2019re protesting, who knows?\u201d Duke said at half-time.<\/p>\n

But after Broncos half Ben Hunt crossed in the 50th-minute, history was made when the Storm opted to receive the ball.<\/p>\n

Neither coach was particularly thrilled by being guinea pigs either. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something that someone thinks might be a good idea,\u201d Bellamy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got to see something happen before I can picture it but I suppose both teams can\u2019t make the finals so it\u2019s the game to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Broncos coach Michael Maguire also didn\u2019t want to see it introduced.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do like the game the way it is. It\u2019s a great game so you don\u2019t need to tinker to far especially the way the game\u2019s going at the moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While Storm captain Harry Grant bluntly called for the NRL not to change the kick off or any core rules.<\/p>\n

\u201cPersonally I love the game. I\u2019ve loved the game for so many years since I was four years old,\u201d Grant said.<\/p>\n

\"Jimmy<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s part of the fabric of the game and we don\u2019t need to change it. We\u2019re bringing in a rule to counteract the rules we\u2019ve brought it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we can have a deep hard look at going back on a few rules if that\u2019s where we sit with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s a draw and a team choose to kick-off or receive and then they go and kick the two points, your decision might be void.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no real reward for it and I\u2019m pretty strong on that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they are a lot of people in the game strong on it and maybe it\u2019s time to stay with what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

He then doubled down back in the sheds talking to Nine\u2019s Cameron Smith. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf we need a rule to counteract a rule, maybe we should look at going back on that rule.\u201d<\/p>\n

His teammate Cameron Munster echoed a similar message.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a fan, to be fair,\u201d Munster told Nine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what they\u2019re trying to do with the game, but it\u2019s not going to stop those momentum swings.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes you need to talk to the players as well, we\u2019re not robots. We\u2019re all about growing the game and developing it, but it would be nice if we sometimes talk to the players\u2019 association.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe in trials next year you could experiment with it. It hurts and it stings a little bit because we\u2019re not playing finals, we\u2019re pretty much [lab] rats tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Jahrome Hughes added: \u201cI like our game the way it is at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Post-match Cooper Cronk said the change would also make it harder for NRL games to have the type of epic comebacks that rugby league fans love. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe argument against it is we wouldn\u2019t have seen what Brisbane did in the run to the finals because they caught fire down 16 points, ten minutes to go,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Penrith would\u2019ve done was, I want to receive the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans also were overwhelmingly against the rule change, if comments on the NRL\u2019s video of the new trial kick off rule being used for the first time and the announcement of the rule being used on Thursday night, is anything to go by. <\/p>\n

While commentator Andrew Voss noted that the fact you have to make the decision before the kick for goal is flawed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s a flaw already,\u201d Voss said on Fox League.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s our understanding after the try if scored you have to inform the referee what you\u2019re doing not after the shot at goal.<\/p>\n

\"Jimmy<\/p>\n

\u201cThat could have a bearing of whether you want the ball back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The kick-off rule change will also be trialled when the Dragons take on the Eels next week.<\/p>\n

And the NRL hasn\u2019t ruled out doing so in any other \u201cdead rubber\u201d game that emerges before the end of the regular season.<\/p>\n

Like with any change, new rules take time to get used to and it could grow on the NRL world. <\/p>\n

But the NRL faces an uphill battle to get fans, pundits and players on board if Thursday night is anything to go by. <\/p>\n

Originally published as NRL world fumes over new kick off rule as Broncos v Storm match used to test controversial change<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NRL world has been left scratching its head after the controversial kick off rule change was 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