A question

[Schooner]

If the ball crosses the 10m line in the air but bends back inside it when it hits the ground either side can grab it. That makes it a contestable ball. Lately refs seem to see more balls crossing the plane of the line and ruling play on.

[caz]

Contested Restarts


If a team kicks the ball out on the full over the touch line, or the ball fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in an attempt to contest a restart from the goal-line, 20m line, or half-way line, play will now restart with a play-the-ball 10 metres out from the line of the kick and 10 metres in from touch, rather than with a penalty kick. The change will give more incentive for teams to attempt short kick-offs or drop-outs.

from the nrl website. seems like there's a bit of confusion with the refs - atkins's initial decision was penalty to easts

[Carlos Parra]

It's a joke of a rule and yet another example of the ref being given a green light to put his own spin on things (to the detriment of Easts).

[Andrew Walker]

Contested Restarts


If a team kicks the ball out on the full over the touch line, or the ball fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in an attempt to contest a restart from the goal-line, 20m line, or half-way line, play will now restart with a play-the-ball 10 metres out from the line of the kick and 10 metres in from touch, rather than with a penalty kick. The change will give more incentive for teams to attempt short kick-offs or drop-outs.

from the nrl website. seems like there's a bit of confusion with the refs - atkins's initial decision was penalty to easts

By the looks of this the restart should have been at the halfway line Which is what I thought When it occurred