The NRL is considering a radical change to 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 having high level discussions about taking drastic action.
Wide World of Sports has been told that the rule tweak being discussed would punish any team that starts play with a kick-off that goes beyond the opposition’s 20-metre line on the full by awarding a seven-tackle set.
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Moses Suli lays on the field after he was concussed off the opening kick-off. Getty
The change would alter the way teams start matches and restart play after points, with kickers set to either attempt to regain the ball through a short or high kick, or boot the ball softer so it bounces before the 20-metre line.
The move would be the latest step in the NRL’s attempts to reduce the spate of head injuries in the game.
In one of the year’s biggest games several months ago, the Anzac Day blockbuster, Dragons centre Moses Suli was concussed from a kick-off while attempting to tackle rampaging Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. He took no further part in the game.
Moses Suli was ruled out of this year’s Anzac Day match after this head clash with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves off the kick-off. Nine
That began the kick-off debate, with the NRL’s head of elite football, Graham Annesley, saying the next day that collisions “are a big part of our game” but that long kick-offs were not immune from change, despite their cherished place in Rugby league.
“Never say never about anything, because the game evolves, and the game is a different game now than what it was 20 years ago or 100 years ago,” he said.
“Player safety is a high priority for the [Australian Rugby League] Commission, it’s a high priority for the administration.”
The NRL changed the rule regarding line dropouts this season, with short dropouts no longer penalised if they don’t go the required 10-metre distance or fly out on the full.
But that was brought in to add variety, whereas this latest change would be certain to ignite fiery debate among purists.
