2025 Rule Changes

[rj90]

The NRL is set to radically change the game in 2025 by punishing teams for long kick-offs.

Following a spate of head injuries from collisions as players returned the kick-off in recent seasons, the league is set to take drastic action.

Wide World of Sports has been told that any team that starts play with a kick-off that goes beyond the opposition's 20-metre line on the full will concede a seven-tackle set.

'Radical' rule change to shake up NRL next year

League cracking down on injuries

www.nine.com.au

 

[Frogz]

The NRL is set to radically change the game in 2025 by punishing teams for long kick-offs.

Following a spate of head injuries from collisions as players returned the kick-off in recent seasons, the league is set to take drastic action.

Wide World of Sports has been told that any team that starts play with a kick-off that goes beyond the opposition's 20-metre line on the full will concede a seven-tackle set.

'Radical' rule change to shake up NRL next year

League cracking down on injuries

www.nine.com.au

They must be joking right.... is impact any greater on a running forward charging up over 30 m at top speed to running forward at top speed over 15 metres . My guess is No...... PVL and Abdo are kidding. Woke w@nkers

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

They must be joking right.... is impact any greater on a running forward charging up over 30 m at top speed to running forward at top speed over 15 metres . My guess is No...... PVL and Abdo are kidding. Woke w@nkers

They wouldn't run 15m. The defenders would arrive at the same time as the ball, so there'll be a scramble or leaping contest to get possession, similar to a bomb or short drop out now.
By the way, what has this got to do with woke wankers?

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

And don't worry there'll still be plenty of head injuries. Tolu was hurt from the kickoff but Jake went down from the next play, not a kick-off.

 

[Phobia]

This is absolutely stupid... So a team scores a try, and then they are basically given the next set starting at 35m? Are you kidding?

This will be worse than 2021's 6 agains. The momentum basically completely favours one side now.

 

[madmax]

So if the ball travels over the 20 meter line on the full, does play stop & a 7 tackle set tap given or does play continue & the team receives a 7 tackle set without stopping play or is a penalty given on the 20 m line?In that case what will stop the back fence runners doing what they do now? It’s still confusing? Will the teams kicking off take the risk for longer kickoffs anyway? Or will it turn into Yawnion with the receiving side getting the ball & kicking it immediately? I dunno Lolol….

 

[sheridanstand78]

I wish they would just leave the kickoff alone!! Maybe a compromise could be that you are only allowed 2 in the initial tackle.

The game is faster now, the bodies are bigger and we will continue to see collisions!

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

Maybe the ref could bounce the ball on the half-way line?

 

[The '47ers]

Just leave the farking game alone!

 

[Stewbojevic]

Maybe the ref could bounce the ball on the half-way line?

Or start with a lineout

 

[Fibro Eagle]

Rubbish idea
Teams will just kick off as normal and accept the 7 tackle , why kick short the first tackle will be on the 30 metre mark instead of the second or third tackle on the same spot or there abouts when kicking long , no idea these numbnuts

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

NRL crazy logic again.
So a kickoff going more than 30m is too much of a head risk, but catching and returning any other 30m+ kick is not?
Drop outs? Fifth tackle kicks? 20m drops after missed penalty goals?

 

[Frogz]

They wouldn't run 15m. The defenders would arrive at the same time as the ball, so there'll be a scramble or leaping contest to get possession, similar to a bomb or short drop out now.
By the way, what has this got to do with woke wankers?

Its pandering to a minority. When a practice is identified as “woke,” there is an implication that the non-woke practice is better.
There is no need to change the rules for something that occurred a few times over a season, and was only highlighted because to guys got ko'd in a final. How many other head injuries occurred from other practices throughout the season.???. Do we stop everyone running at each other "in case" they end up in a wheelchair? The short drop out is a w@nk and so is this stupid "woke" idea from a few deadbeat journos, who are attempting to pander to the minority.

 

[Dion Johnson]

The NRL is set to radically change the game in 2025 by punishing teams for long kick-offs.

Following a spate of head injuries from collisions as players returned the kick-off in recent seasons, the league is set to take drastic action.

Wide World of Sports has been told that any team that starts play with a kick-off that goes beyond the opposition's 20-metre line on the full will concede a seven-tackle set.

'Radical' rule change to shake up NRL next year

League cracking down on injuries

www.nine.com.au

I guess that the team getting the 7 tackle set would start this on their 20 meter line.

No doubt the NRL have been strongly advised by legal professionals to take action in trying to lessen the amount of concussions, I don’t think the kick off is the lone answer and even though the risk is perceived to be higher from the kickoff.

The kick off is an easy target I feel as it’s one where you get the data very easily, any potential challenges from legal representatives they can pull this data quickly with the supporting details.

There are many times during games where players get hit by the defender at the same speed and force.

Looking at the kick offs, the highest percentage of players returning the ball are front row forwards, could be anyone defending, the latest article I read on this was Garry Schofield and his current situation with early dementia, I wouldn’t think that he did many kick returns during his career similar to Wally.

The game is a gladiators game and the risk of concussion will always be there like there is in many other hazardous professions (mining, diving, offshore oil and gas etc) by implementing a rule change won’t stop concussions but in the legal system it gets them being proactive and trying to eradicate the risk.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Every kickoff will be short and contested now. On the plus side maybe we will finally start training to contest short kickoffs/dropouts. I feel like we have been the worst at this in the NRL for 15+ years

 

[Uk eagle]

It will probably lead to more variety of kick offs as each team tries to work out what best suits their own game. I've often wondered why we very rarely see a hard and low kick off, especially in wet weather.
It's all probably just a combination of the concussion issue and the NRL patting themselves on the back over the contested drop outs and wanting to make every restart a contest (except for scrums)

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Its pandering to a minority. When a practice is identified as “woke,” there is an implication that the non-woke practice is better.
There is no need to change the rules for something that occurred a few times over a season, and was only highlighted because to guys got ko'd in a final. How many other head injuries occurred form other practices throughout the season.???. Do we stop everyone running at each other "in case" they end up in a wheelchair? The short drop out is a w@nk and so is this stupid "woke" idea from a few deadbeat journos, who are attempting to pander to the minority.

Well that’s telling them 👏👏👏👏

 

[TokyoEagle]

The NRL is set to radically change the game in 2025 by punishing teams for long kick-offs.

Following a spate of head injuries from collisions as players returned the kick-off in recent seasons, the league is set to take drastic action.

Wide World of Sports has been told that any team that starts play with a kick-off that goes beyond the opposition's 20-metre line on the full will concede a seven-tackle set.

'Radical' rule change to shake up NRL next year

League cracking down on injuries

www.nine.com.au

If the rule is to stop the initial collision of the front rowers against a wall of bodies, one option is to give the attacking team the ball on the 20 to start their set if the ball goes over the 20 on the full. Give them six tackles from there. Too many seven tackle sets.

Pet hate: A ball over the dead ball line from a short attacking kick or knock on should not be seven tackles. The rule was initially brought in to stop teams going down town from the half way line and then setting their defence. Teams trying to score should not be penalised in the same way.

Under the projected rule: The grubber kick off. Aim for the sideline at the opposition 10m line. You know it's a winner.

 

[Pete W]

They must be joking right.... is impact any greater on a running forward charging up over 30 m at top speed to running forward at top speed over 15 metres . My guess is No...... PVL and Abdo are kidding. Woke w@nkers

Rabs' bellow of "Webcke!" as the big man hurtled himself into the Blues' line at first kick off during Origin was always a favourite memory of mine. The raw and gladiatorial nature of the game, which really set it apart from almost every other team sport in the world, is being eroded away bit by bit.

League fans love the collision.

At the same time, I'm sure numbers have been crunched, and statistically, it is found that more concussions per situation occur during these long range kick offs.

But all workplaces come with their own risks relatively speaking, so unless this has been a request from the players themselves, RLPA, then yet another example of corporate meddling - cleaning things up for the kiddies for woke companies' advertising revenue.

Could this lead to higher junior enrolment? I doubt it. But even if this did, we must ask ourselves, do we love the game because it is the most popular sport in the world? Or do we love it for its brutality?

 

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

NRL rule out changes in 2025​

Christian Nicolussi
The ARL Commission is unlikely to make any rule changes for the 2025 season and want to give referees the chance to “come up for air” after five years and 20 different amendments and innovations.

Reports on Tuesday suggested the NRL were considering introducing a seven-tackle set when a team received a kick-off inside their own 20m, in an attempt to reduce the number of concussions from players running the ball back from long kick-offs.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said the rule had been mentioned briefly, but the game wanted to soldier ahead with no changes.

“Our preference is not to have any changes for next year, and after a year of record ratings and record crowds there’s no real need to make any changes – the game is better than ever,” V’landys said.
“We only made the one change last year, where there were tap restarts rather than penalties for short drop-outs. That rule actually made things more entertaining, with teams trying to get the ball back.
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“But we’ve made enough changes. We want referees to come up for air and focus on interpretations of the current rules.
“I’ve heard of the proposal about seven-tackle sets for long kick-offs, but it never progressed anywhere. I could see merit in it, but it would be yet another rule for the referees to learn.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s tackle on Lindsay Collins.CREDIT: NINE

“The game has already been completely proactive when it comes to head knocks and concussion. We review our systems every year, and we think we have struck the right balance as rugby league is a contact sport.”
Debate about banning the long kick-off to reduce concussions has bubbled away all season, with the Sydney Roosters losing Lindsay Collins with the opening hit-up of the preliminary final against the Melbourne Storm.

St George Illawarra lost Moses Suli when he knocked himself out trying to stop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the first play of the game on Anzac Day, which later prompted coach Shane Flanagan to admit: “Short kick-offs take out big collisions, but they bring in other issues, like people jumping and landing on their heads.”
The 20-40 rule and captains’ challenges were brought in for the start of the 2020 season, while the following season featured two-point field-goals and six-agains for 10m ruck infringements, which has arguably had the biggest impact on the modern game.
Meanwhile, the NRL is moving closer to finalising its 2025 draw, with club bosses informed they can expect a final draft by the end of next week.
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