Rule Change - Try Scoring Team to Kick Off!

[mightyrooster]

I'm celebrating with curry sausages and something potato on the BBQ

You make me sound like a bogan cook. Ah well….

[David Sutherland]

I don't think it's the end of that proposed rule change for kick off's though. The NRL will eventually get their way - ABC News are reporting that it will be trialled at the end of the season in matches "with no bearing on the finals".

The ARLC announced on Wednesday the rule tweak would be trialled at the end of the season in matches "with no bearing on the finals".

"The consultation process was thorough and constructive, and while there was initial support for the kick-off proposal, stakeholders raised legitimate concerns," ARLC chairman Peter V'landys said.

"After weighing that feedback carefully, the Commission determined that it was not in the best interests of the game to proceed with that particular change at this time." - mmm at this time


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-...rial/106303402

["gaz"]

Looking forward to see how Robbo uses the 6 man interchange rule, considering he is big on players playing more than one position.
Does the Utility role become redundant?
How do the two players that don't get used get game time,will the squad rotate?
The 6 man bench could be handy for resting a star player if the game is under control
It will be interesting to see

["gaz"]

Does anyone know if the 6 man interchange apply to all grades?

[David Sutherland]

I assume the rule changes are only for the NRL - Not sure if also for NRLW.

[Andrew Walker]

I assume the rule changes are only for the NRL - Not sure if also for NRLW.

Consideringng they dont have 6 again You would assume so

[caz]

not convinced about the 6 man bench. if reserve grade is playing before first grade you're going to have a few players missing out on game time.
the change to no 7 tackle restart from a knock on over the line is good. don't know why they didn't include kicks from inside the 20 that go dead.

[David Sutherland]

The 6-player bench is okay in giving the coach options, but the problem is only being allowed to use 4 of the 6 for the 8 interchanges.

Not sure why it wasn't considered that all of the 6 interchange players could be used for the 8 interchanges.

If 2 players are ruled out of a game with non-concussion injuries, then you have only 2 players on the bench and then either player 18 or 19 can only be activated under the HIA Concussion rule.

Surely players 18 and 19 should be able to be used, so you still have a 4-player bench.

NRL are hell-bent on making the game faster but without player welfare in mind.

Player welfare should be paramount as it should be for any employer/employee in any workplace.

The RLPA is failing in it's duty of care.

[ism22]

Sounds like this was just a smokescreen while they shovelled through a heaps of other random changes, while laundering the narrative that change is inevitable... with uncontested scrums and 6 tackle sets being controversial back in the day.

Zzzz... sack V'landys already.