Johnathan Thurston of the Indigenous All Stars. Photo: Getty Images
Sure, you may not be sweating on who wins or loses tonight’s NRL All Stars game on the Gold Coast. It’s bound to be a competitive match but the community and charity aspect of the game far outweighs its outcome.
What is intriguing is the raft of rule changes that are being placed on trial. For those going to the match, or anticipating an evening on the couch to watch league in February, here’s a cheat sheet of what is being put in place and what we think of the tinkering.
All Stars tweak number one – Wired for sound
In a very NFL-style manoeuvre, referees Ashley Klein, Jason Robinson, Phil Haines and Gerard Sutton will broadcast their calls through the Skilled Park loudspeakers, mostly to help explain to fans their policing of the new rules.
Do we like it? This should be a bit of fun, even if television audiences can generally already tune in to discussions between referees and players. It’s going to be interesting to see if the referee mics pick up any surrounding conversation, like players swearing like Marine drill sergeants when things don’t go their way. Take some earplugs for the youngsters. Apart from that, let’s give this one the tick of approval.
All Stars tweak number two – 20/50 kicks
The 40/20 is just soooo cliched these days. Time for a makeover. Plus, it’s difficult and risky, which is why few teams try it as a concerted tactic and it comes off on even rarer occasions. This change is aimed at helping teams get out of their own half and retain possession from a scrum feed, providing they kick from within their 20 metres and find touch with the 50-metre area of the defending side.
Do we like it? The hastily arranged jury is still out on this concept. Working the ball back out of your own half is part of the real test of rugby league and this potentially gives sides an easier out, especially when the kick only has to travel 30 metres upfield. On the other hand, both defensive wingers are bound to be patrolling the flanks at halfway to counteract this tactic, giving the attacking side more temptation to swing it wide near their own line. It’s just so crazy it might work.
All Stars tweak number three – ruck area penalties
For infringements in the ruck area by the defending team (eg holding down, leg pull, hand on ball, the Hoppa) which does not result
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