NEWS Proposed 2026 rule changes

Foordy

Foordy

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The NRL are reportedly proposing ****ing with rules yet again. There are 4 changes that are being considered:

Abdo wrote the following in a leaked email:

“Due to the nature of the changes and in order to provide a level playing field,”. “We are sharing this with all club CEOs to provide any feedback on the proposed changes via the (club consultation) committee but also share the proposed amendments with coaching staff at the same time.”

1. Match day squads

The match day squads size will increase to 19. So, there will be benches of 6. However, only 4 players will be able to take the field under normal circumstances. Once a fourth player has been used either of the remaining two players may only be used should the circumstances arise from an 18th player to be activated

2. Kick-off

The non-scoring team will now have the option to kick-off or receive the ball to restart play.

“(This) introduces a new tactical element to the game where the captain can decide whether possession or field possession is more important based on game circumstances,” Abdo wrote.

3. Act of scoring

If an attacking player drops the ball in the act of attempting to score a try over the tryline they will not be penalised by a seven tackle set. Instead the defending team will receive the ball for an ordinary six-tackle set from the 20 metre mark to restart play.

4. Set restarts

Set restarts instead of penalties will be awarded from outside the 20-metre line of the attacking team. This is designed to speed play up. Full penalties will still be awarded inside the 20-metre mark.
 
Like 1 2 and 3 would have to think about 4 more.
 
****ing finally they are changing the 7 tackle rule for drops over the line.

I'm also ok with increasing the squads... I think that is a needed change because if a team loses an outside back or a half theyre basically done.

Kick offs I'm indifferent about, but it seems like theyre leaving it in the hands of the receiving team... trial it in lower grades and see what the trends are.

Any change to the restarts is ****ing stupid though.

2021 was the worst year of league ever and these ****ing morons think reverting rules back closer to that is a good thing.

Do they not ****ing remember why they had to introduce penalties inside the 40m... one of the main reasons was because teams (panthers) would give away blatant penalties on quick 20m taps to kill the momentum.

Whoever is trying to bring that rule back needs to be sacked and banished from league
 
Dexter said:
1 and 3 are fine , 2 and 4 are rubbish.
So a team down 2 scores with 5 minutes left scores and needs the ball back but the non scoring side gets to over rule that and get the ball without earning it.
Dumb IMO.
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I see 2 as a way for the short kickoff to be refined and perfected smart sides will figure it out.
 
Nashy said:
Short kickoffs suuuuuuuuck
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Idk i think you will see smarter sides not only find different ways to compete for the ball but also looking to find the sideline different ways,all for anything that promotes outside the box thinking.
 
I think its a manipulation of the sport for TV.
I'm not even totally on board with proposed rule 1.
Utility Players like Billy will be devalued.
Under current rules coaches have the option of carrying a back or utility they just choose to risk no injuries to backs.
It will to some extent stop the blockbuster games from being ruined early if a half or fullback goes down but injury and how a team overcomes it have always been part of the game.
It could also introduce more fatigue IMO.
If a team doesn't get any injury early will the coach use the 4th player or wait to see which of the 3 remaining subs to use depending on the situation ?
 
if we left the game alone we wouldn't have moved forward from unlimited tackles ect. that have changed over the years for the betterment of the game,need to be innovating or get left behind imo.
 
Xzei said:
if we left the game alone we wouldn't have moved forward from unlimited tackles ect. that have changed over the years for the betterment of the game,need to be innovating or get left behind imo.
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no ones saying that the rules shouldn't evolve or change.

but is changing them EVERY SINGLE ****ING YEAR necessary.

I can't even think of a single rule change that Vlandy's and his cronies have made that has made the game better. and he has made multiple rule changes every year since at least 2020
 
Foordy said:
no ones saying that the rules shouldn't evolve or change.

but is changing them EVERY SINGLE ****ING YEAR necessary.

I can't even think of a single rule change that Vlandy's and his cronies have made that has made the game better. and he has made multiple rule changes every year since at least 2020
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as far as i can see there was 1 in 2020 and 4 in 2021 other than that most was existing rule interpritations
 
Nrl is all about presenting an entertaining product. What is more entertaining than a team finishing fast and snagging a late try and needing to score in the next few tackles?

The nrl is going to take this situation away? ****ing idiots is all i have to say.

The greater nrl community has said how good the final series and broncos run was. This rule would have prevented that run.
 
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