Will THIS fix the problem around the ruck? Thoughts?

Will THIS fix the problem around the ruck? Thoughts?

Probably end up like this..............

It's not a well written article - took three reads before being sifted. If Bongser's interpretation is correct, he welcomes all the changes but announcing them at this stage gives coaches nearly three months to come up with new ways to buck the system - "Same as it ever was" but feel sure that our Talking Heads will champion it!

So, will a penalty be given for holding down when you are in possession in your own 40? Or will it be if you're in the defending teams 40? whichever it is, then 6 again comes into play in the other 60.

I just got confused with this bit............

Rugby League Live can reveal that from next season, a team will concede a regulatory penalty, rather than a six again, for any offence that takes place in the opposition's own 40-metre area. As an example, if a defender is too slow at releasing a player when the attacking team is within 40 metres of their own try line, a penalty shall be called, rather than a six again, as has been the case in recent years. Set restarts will be given in the remaining area of the field.

Bongser's (right or wrong) Reading (with random teams playing to avoid undefined pronouns):

Cornwall kick downtown into Workington's defensive 40. Workington run it back but the Worky ball carrier is brought down, still within that 40. The Cornwall tacklers (in an attempt to give time for Cornwall to form a full defensive line) lie on in the tackle (or otherwise impede the ruck). Ref spots the infringement.

2023 Ruling: Ref waves 6 again,

2024 Ruling: Ref awards penalty against Cornwall, Worky kick to touch and then tap for the Cumbrian's new 6 goes.

Best Bongser can do.

Codicil: Ref (especially if from thereabouts) let's Wiggin get away with anything and everything and Wiggin's fans argue that that's only as it should be!!!

So after the penalty, you are likely to kick into touch, and tap outside your own 40 after the 1st or 2nd tackle, and then 6 again comes into play again. So basically, it's 6 again outside your own 40.

In favour of all rule changes. Only worry that Leigh often get pinged for incorrect play the balls, when you can fling the ball
through your legs and then step over it. God knows what disaster awaits when they need to put boot to ball.

Other issue is Edwin does not always watch the ball, he is too busy looking for gaps and in the defense.

Wigan and Saints move forward when ball carrier stands up not when the ball is played. More issues for the Moores and Kendall's of this world to get it wrong.

And that's the problem.

Also, the new 6 again rule is just a piggyback penalty to get you out of your own 40. Personally, I don't like it.

Here's another one to look at:

Markers must now stand directly opposite the attacker and the second marker must stand immediately behind the first marker, which will stop the second marker from defending from several steps behind.

This can be exploited by the player who is playing the ball, who then starts to move a little sideways just before playing the ball in order to make the markers look like they are not standing square.
It will be interesting to see how the refs interpret all of this.


I like this one if it's policed properly:

Another notable change, defenders must now immediately release the ball carrier once they are tackled and cannot be touched until the ball is in play. The rule has been implemented to stop additional defenders from entering the ruck once a player is on the floor. It is expected that as a result, there will be fewer arms in the ruck, again making it easier for the officials to have a clearer view.

Just watched the Leigh v Saints semi-final. If you apply the new rules to an old game, it is easy to see that the refs are going to be very busy until the players sort it out. St Helens are going to have to re-design the whole team strategy. Their dominance for 4 years was based on exploiting the rules.

These new rules have been in place before, standing square, playing with the foot, rolling away after the tackle. The faster we make the game, the players will find new ways to slow it down.