NRL’s Bold Move on Rule Changes: Concerns Over Dropping Standards

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After investigating the need for rules changes in 2025 the NRL has decided none are needed but a crackdown is coming on players milking for penalties and getting in the way around the ruck after a “drop” in standards in recent seasons.

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But the NRL will use the pre-season challenge to trial a new rule around sending players to the sin bin for illegal high tackles.

Players responsible for illegal high tackles will be sin-binned for 10 minutes if the tackle results in the opposing player being removed from the field as a Category 1 HIA or fails the Category 2 HIA assessment, regardless of whether play has subsequently resumed after the incident.

High tackles identified by match officials will continue to be penalised by the referee who will still retain the discretion to immediately send players from the field.

The NRL on Tuesday also confirmed there were areas of the game “where standards have started to drop” and others which needed more “clarity” but ruled out the need to make actual rule changes.

Instead clubs have been advised that key areas of the game including the play-the-ball and 10-metre compliance would be monitored closely with further clarity and guidelines provided for the handling of obstruction.

“All of the indicators we measure across the season show that our on-field product is in very good shape and that the rule changes introduced by the Commission in recent years are having the desired impact,‘’ NRL football boss Graham Annesley said.

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“There are some areas of the game where standards have started to drop and other areas that require additional clarity around the way the game is officiated.

“The play-the-ball by the attacking team was one area that we needed to address, as well as 10- metre compliance by the defending team.

“Last season we saw too many examples of players not making a genuine attempt to play-the-ball, so our match officials will be looking at that closely and we’ve also tweaked the way the referee will manage the 10 metres to ensure more consistency when defenders are allowed to advance.”

The updated guidelines have been communicated to the NRL clubs and coaches.