NRL makes divisive 'six-again' rule change ahead of 2022 season

The NRL has made a tweak to the 'six-again' rule and will revert back to giving penalties for ruck infringements and offsides when teams are coming out of their own end in a number of changes for the 2022 season.

Last year, a number of teams conceded penalties and attempted to slow down the ruck so they could reset their line.

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The NRL has reviewed the issue and made a tweak to allow any infringements given away in a team's 40-metre zone to result in a penalty.

League officials confirmed another three changes on Wednesday — to injury stoppages, free interchanges from foul play and team list protocols.

The NRL said the six-again rule will now deter deliberate set restarts and hand teams a heavier penalty for slowing the game down.

"This will provide an additional deterrence to defending teams who are willing to concede set restarts to gain a tactical advantage," the NRL said in a statement.

"It will also provide more opportunities for teams receiving the penalty to attack from a better field position."

The rule change sparked a mix reaction from fans.

NRL changes trainer rule

Meanwhile the NRL has stripped away the right for trainers to stop play in the event of a player being injured, with the exception of head knocks.

It means only the referee, touch judge or bunker will be able to order for play to be stopped in the event of a serious injury of any kind with the exception of concussions.

It comes after Penrith had a physio banned from last year's preliminary final and decider after play was stopped for injured hooker Mitch Kenny in the semi-final win over Parramatta.

At the time, the Eels had possession of the ball and were firmly on the attack while down 8-6 in the dying minutes.

Penrith were fined $25,000 over the incident, with the NRL claiming physio Pete Green had not assessed the extent of Kenny's ankle issue first.

The Panthers denied the accusation, but regardless the incident was a flashpoint after several similar matters across a raft of clubs during the season amid complaints the stoppages had been used to slow momentum.

"Trainers will retain the ability to stop play where a head injury has occurred," the NRL statement said.

"Medical trainers will continue to have unlimited access to the field at any time to treat an injured player."

Another change will result in teams only given a free interchange when a player is the victim of foul play that results in a sin bin or send off.

Teams had previously been given a free interchange when players were put on report, resulting in the number of actual changes in a game going well beyond the eight normally allowed.

Clubs had also found a loophole in the rule in 2021, bringing off the player fouled for a fresh forward, before putting that player immediately back on as a replacement for a more fatigued forward.

Finally, the NRL will extend the weekly game squad to 22 players on a Tuesday, to allow for the addition of the 18th man which was introduced early last season.

with AAP

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