The NRL has announced several rule changes for the 2021 Telstra Premiership season to make the game “faster, more free-flowing, entertaining and unpredictable”.
The changes are:
- the introduction of a two-point field goal for kicks taken from more than 40 metres out;
- six-again to be called for 10-metre infringements;
- penalties for teams if they leave a scrum before a referee calls “break”;
- a play-the-ball restart if the ball or player with the ball goes over the sideline;
- The Bunker will now review replays after an on-field referee awards a try but a conversion attempt will not be allowed until it gets the green light;
- injured players will be interchanged if a trainer ask for play to be stopped;
- when a captain’s challenge is inconclusive a team will not be docked for an unsuccessful attempt;
- and a handover will be ordered when a player does not make a genuine attempt to play the ball correctly with their foot.
The ARL Commission met on Friday morning to discuss recommendations put forward from Monday’s meeting of the newly formed innovation committee.
Chaired by ARL Commission member Wayne Pearce, the committee was made up of chairman Peter V’landys, head of football Graham Annesley, veteran coaches Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart, referee Matt Cecchin, as well as current internationals Luke Keary and Damien Cook.
V’landys said these innovations would lead to “less stoppages, more unpredictability and increased excitement for our fans”.
Source: NRL.com