A new rule change is set to be introduced by the NRL in a major shake-up to prevent injuries occurring from the kick-off.
The league is aiming to make the change in response to a series of head injuries off the kick-off in recent years.
The rule is expected to see teams concede a seven-tackle set to the opposition, if their kick-off sails past their opponent’s 20-metre line on the full, according to Wide World of Sports.
This means teams are encouraged to perform a kick-off that bounces before the 20-metre line, resulting in the customary six-tackle set.
One of the most notable examples of a dangerous injury from the kick-off was when Dragons centre Moses Suli failed a head injury assessment (HIA) after copping a knock when attempting to tackle Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the first play of the game on ANZAC Day.
Waerea-Hargreaves was involved in another nasty incident in September during a finals clash with Manly, with young gun Tolutau Koula forced off in the opening seconds of their semi-final with the Roosters after sustaining a head knock while trying to bring down the prop.
The following week the kick return claimed another victim when Roosters prop Lindsay Collins was taken from the field after being caught high by Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona in a preliminary final.
Responding to the reported rule change on SEN 1170AM Sydney’s Breakfast with Vossy & Brandy on Tuesday, commentator and Penrith Panthers legend Greg Alexander said the collisions in kick-offs were “a problem”.
“I think we had four or five players knocked out early in the season, ” Alexander said.
“I think it’s inevitable that to try and reduce the amount of injuries from the kick-off, that they needed to bring in something that would make the teams kick short.”
Alexander’s co-host Andrew Voss suggested he didn’t think teams would stop kicking long despite the rule, as it forced the opposition to begin the set deep into their own half, and increased the chances of causing an error.
“My first reaction is I don’t think it’ll change the mentality. If you want to kick deep, you’ll do that because you might force an error,” he said.
“I think you’ll still see the deep kick-off, and (teams will) prepare to concede the seven-tackle set because you want the team running it off their line, to put pressure on them.”
Fans reacted on social media to reports of the rule change, with many divided over whether it will be an effective introduction.
“Okay, so tell me which coach won’t be telling their team to kick long & be prepared to cop making an extra tackle when their team is fresh for the opening kick-off of the game to try & get field position?” one asked on X.
“That’s crazy…But collisions are brutal so I sorta get it…” another said.
“If that’s the case the kick off should be from the 40 (metre line) and not halfway. There’s an instant territorial advantage,” a fan suggested.
