Rugby League Coaching Manuals

By Gary Roberts RLCM - Experimental new rules featured in the All Stars game on Saturday night on the Gold Coast. One rule was the reduction of the opposition numbers to 11 men, once in each half. Another rule, a 20/50 kick, was not witnessed so a judgment could not be made. The most contentious rule was the continuation of play after an infringement or an error by the opposition has occurred. 

It took a while for both teams to work into this rule, but after it was experienced by both teams, the effect it can have on a game was revealed.

Remember this rule was an experiment for this game only. Many who witnessed the game were impressed.

Benji Marshall said, "I didn't mind the ‘six to go' call, but I do think it happened a bit too often. Sometimes it was an easy way out. Instead of blowing a penalty, they said ‘six again'.

"It is something that should be thought about, but not something that they get carried away with too much. I think it could become law in the future.

"We had four ‘Sets' in a row back to back and that will hurt teams.

"But if it is going to clean up the ruck area, why not bring it in?"

Wayne Bennett concurred, "I agree with Benji. It will clean up the ruck area. That is one of the things that I like. It will stop a lot of rubbish that goes on in there.

"The referees are in a tough place with this and I think it is a way out for them. If they gave all the penalties they should in a game, the media would beat them to death and that is not going to happen. It is a way out for them and gives the game great continuity and still puts a lot of pressure on defences.

"I think it is a way for the future."

Chris Close said, "I am a fan of the differential penalty in the ruck rule. I think it made an open game of it. It really cleaned up a lot of the issues where it is ‘stop-start'.

"Our game needs to be very fast and very modern and the wrestle is an enormous black spot on the game. Some clubs are taking advantage of that.

"If it becomes law, the whole process will eliminate the wrestle and all clubs will be on even playing terms again.

Indigenous All Stars captain and North Queensland superstar Johnathan Thurston - was less convinced.

"The refs saw infringements... but whether they were penalties, would have they have blown the whistle if it was a proper game?' he asked.

"You just don't know what the infringement is for. You just look at the ref and you see him waving 'six to go' and you're thinking, 'what was it for?"

"It was a lot faster out there because of that. When they're blowing the penalty you get a break to regain a bit of breath but if they're waving 'six to go', it's like boom, here we go again." 

This new law will be researched and could possibly become ratified in 2013. If it does become law, it will change the game of rugby league as it is played today.

The rule is outlined below:

Changes to Penalties in the Ruck Area
- For infringements in the ruck area by the defending team (holding down, leg pull, hand on ball etc.) which does not result in the breakdown of play (i.e. drop ball), the referee will indicate the infringement followed by immediately restarting the tackle count at the point of the infringement with a zero tackle.

- There will be no kick for touch for these infringements. Play will continue immediately from the point of the infringement.

- Any foul play in the ruck area by the defending team will result in a traditional penalty.

- Any infringement by the attacking team in the ruck area will result in a traditional penalty.