news-engine

‘Maybe they’re protesting’: History made in NRL kick-off trial... but ‘flaw’ already found The NRL’s experimental kick-off rule has already sparked plenty of debate after being tested for the first time in the clash between the Broncos and Melbourne Storm. Under the proposed change, the team conceding a try would get the choice of whether to receive the kick-off or kick it themselves. Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. As Luke Keary pointed out, there aren’t many situations where a team would actually choose to kick-off. “The conceding team get a choice on whether they want to receive the kick or kick off,” Keary said on Fox League’s Thursday Night Football. “There’s not many situations where you decide to kick off. (Maybe in the) last thirty seconds if they’re chasing. “Maybe you kick it deep into the team’s territory where they can get nowhere near your line or if you’re down by one point you keep them out of field goal territory. “I think you are receiving 98 per cent of the time.” The unusual decisions left Fox League’s Jake Duke questioning whether either side was particularly thrilled about being involved in the rule trial. “Maybe these two teams not happy to be playing in a rule-change game. Maybe they’re protesting, who knows?” Duke said. Speaking pre-match, Storm coach Craig Bellamy also admitted he was yet to be convinced by the concept. “It’s something that someone thinks might be a good idea,” Bellamy said. “I’ve got to see something happen before I can picture it but I suppose both teams can’t make the finals so it’s the game to do it.” Broncos coach Michael Maguire said post-match, “I’m not sure whether it’ll come in or not but we’ll work out that down the track.” “I do like the game the way it is. It’s a great game so you don’t need to tinker to far especially the way the game’s going at the moment.” Meanwhile, Storm skipper Harry Grant bluntly stated the kick-off rule does not to be changed. “Personally I love the game. I’ve loved the game for so many years since I was four years old,” Grant said. “I think it’s part of the fabric of the game and we don’t need to change it. We’re bringing in a rule to counteract the rules we’ve brought it. “Maybe we can have a deep hard look at going back on a few rules if that’s where we sit with it. “If it’s a draw and a team choose to kick-off or receive and then they go and kick the two points, your decision might be void. “There’s no real reward for it and I’m pretty strong on that. “I think they are a lot of people in the game strong on it and maybe it’s time to stay with what it is.” Cooper Cronk also raised concerns about the impact the rule could have on late-game momentum, particularly when a team is attempting to mount a comeback. “The argument against it is we wouldn’t have seen what Brisbane did in the run to the finals because they caught fire down 16 points, ten minutes to go,” Cronk said. “What Penrith would’ve done was, I want to receive the ball.” Commentator Andrew Voss, meanwhile, identified a potential flaw in the time of the decision the captain has to make, with the team required to communicate their choice immediately after a try rather than a conversion. “I think there’s a flaw already,” Voss said. “It’s our understanding after the try if scored you have to inform the referee what you’re doing not after the shot at goal. “That could have a bearing of whether you want the ball back.” The Storm eventually became the first team in history to choose to receive after conceding during the second half, trying to halt the Broncos’ momentum with Moses Leo in the sin bin at the time. “I don’t mind it … not really (worth it) with how good sides have got at the short kick-off,” Michael Ennis said on Fox League at the end of the game. The rule will only be trialled in dead rubbers this year meaning only Dragons-Eels next week could be a candidate.