Leeds Rhinos • 2024 Rule Changes

This will change the way the game is played more than the 10m rule. There will be a lot of unintended consequences and it won't ever completely remove the risk. It will take some seasons for it to "bed in" while players, referees and coaches get used to it.

Some foreseeable effects will be the obvious increase in penalties to begin with. More players ducking to "milk" penalties. Lots of red cards for "instinctive" high tackles. Lots of injury and concussion for players trying and failing to get in the right body position to effect a lower tackle. Lots of players running in with knees up or shoulder charging the defender. Lots of frustration all round.

Longer term as players get used to it I can see a lot more offloading. I can also see smaller players becoming more common as there's less of a need to have huge bulk.

Hopefully it will make the game safer to play but it's not guaranteed - it could even make it more dangerous to begin with. Who'd be a referee?

Statistics: Posted by Bullseye — Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:18 am — Replies 60 — Views 6779

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