Thanks. Would make interesting reading after almost 5 rounds in.League live had the team stats last week. Financially he does but not on the field, leave that to the people who know what they’re doing.I thought the problem was that “the people who know what they’re doing” are the same people who convinced him to give the rule the green light.I thought the problem was that “the people who know what they’re doing” are the same people who convinced him to give the rule the green light. Occasionally they will show a graphic on screen during the game but never give a final tally.Almost makes you think the NRL are attempting to camouflage them, doesn't it ?What a stupid rule.
Most of these penalties last year would have been for ruck infringements, now largely punishable by the referee awarding repeat sets, on the run.With an average 3.2 less penalties per game, there are more play-the-balls and an additional two minutes and 16 seconds of action (54.16 minutes to 56.32).So, player workload increases as attackers run the ball more and defenders are forced to make more tackles.Champion Data report that the number of play-the-balls, tackles and run metres are “all escalating since resuming this season.”Bumps and bruises accrue as fatigued players put their heads in the wrong position or don’t properly brace for impact.Whereas the official injury list of a club once featured more misdirection than a David Copperfield show, coaches now identify the wounded at the post-match press conference.Storm coach Craig Bellamy likened his dressing room, post the Roosters match, to a casualty station from the TV series Both premiership coaches identified fatigue caused by the six-again rule as a culprit. The injury equation in the NRL is simple: more play-the-balls plus the ball in play for longer periods equals more running and tackling. Here’s the repeat set for Round 5: NRL Nail Game Delay We’ve got 800 players and staff, media, ground staff and hundreds of others involved in the day-to-day running of rugby league.
Coaches argue the injury toll would have been lower if the six-again rule had been introduced before a pre-season in a COVID-19-free environment.However, the NRL’s broadcasters used the lockdown period to argue the game has become too structured, too stereotyped.Enter the six-again rule, along with a single referee, which has resulted in an extra half a try per game, with an average 7.1 tries scored in each match.Furthermore, most fans enjoy the style of play, which is more innovative and ad-lib.When a strong team is awarded an avalanche of possession via six-again calls, a defensively poor opposition can’t stop blowouts, a turn-off for TV.
One tackle is a restart, the same tackle isn’t! This creates more collisions and compounds fatigue, resulting in more injuries.It’s not the new “six-again’’ rule in isolation which has caused the alarming injury toll across the NRL but its introduction in already stressed times.The knock-on effect of the six-again rule is 232 fewer penalties blown to the end of round 13 in 2020.
Furthermore, injuries to elite players rob the networks of stars.Games run the risk of being of the standard we see during State of Origin when the top talent is unavailable.However, this does not mean the six-again rule should be abandoned.The problem, as Bellamy warned during lockdown when Project Apollo was reported to be considering “experimentation”, is to mandate rule changes in an already disrupted year.Most rule changes are announced in November, allowing a coach a full pre-season to prepare his players.The six-again rule was decreed midway through a three-week pre-season, when training was restricted to groups of 10, all coming after five weeks when players were barred from any activity.Add the cancellation of the State Cup competitions, which means replacement players for those injured have had no game experience in 2020.The bye enjoyed by teams during State of Origin has also disappeared.Same-day travel by charter plane means players often don’t receive the necessary rehab post match.They are out on the field longer, too. The captains’ challenge has contributed to an additional average of 3.16 minutes to games, with the elapsed time now extending to 96.08 minutes.Other amendments, such as three settings for scrums and a ban on tackling the attacking player in the air, have made 2020 a year of unprecedented change in both the rule book and in restrictions on players’ preparation.So what is the ultimate lesson of this jolt of electricity the six again rule has given the NRL?A higher-voltage game for the most part but a severe shock to those teams with defensive weaknesses. NRL is planning to return on May 28 The NRL is planning to restart on May 28 and also intends to play a full three-game State of Origin series despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Penrith is now 9 for 28 against with two games having zero restarts!What a stupid rule. I can’t stand it, Vlandy‘s has no clue.
NRL game statistics update Hi there can you please look to include the set restart statistic for games when reporting in the full time stats summary under discipline?
10 mins: Wighton loses possession just before halfway, then Souths get a set restart on the 20m line. Source: NRL.com Stats, ABC analysis, minimum 200 play the balls When you look at the 121kg giant Matthew Lodge, speed demon doesn't spring to mind. Some refs seem to use it a lot, others don’t.