The NRL look set to change one major rule after a number of controversial moments in recent seasons.
A series of proposed changes have been put forward by Andrew Abdo in the build up to the 2026 NRL season. Most of those changes come on the field, with rules around six agains, seven tackle sets and kick-offs potentially set to change, while an increase in squad size has also been mooted.
One of the biggest changes is undoubtedly around kick-offs, with the proposed rule change allowing the non-scoring team to select whether they would like to kick-off or receive at the restart.
Other changes put forward include six agains being awarded instead of penalties from outside the 20-metre line of the attacking team and if an attacking player drops the ball in the act of trying to score a try, a seven tackle set will not be awarded.
The changes are controversial and are bound to divide opinion, but something that might be more popular is the rule change the NRL are looking to introduce around blue shirt trainers.
Latest NRL change put forward
As it stands, blue shirt trainers are allowed onto the field to convey messages from the coaching staff to players. However, according to the Daily Telegraph, the new rules would ban blue shirt trainers from the field during play, ensuring messages can only be passed on in such a manner after a try has been scored or a stoppage in play for a goal line drop out.
The change has been made to prevent blue shirt trainers from staying on the field too long and loitering.
It comes after Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys blue shirt trainers were spotted squirting water onto the ball during stoppages last season. They were both fined $10,000 and banned for one game.
There has been no changes made rules around yellow shirt trainers or orange shirt trainers.
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