Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys happy to reverse rule changes mid season if needed

“I’ve got a few reservations,” Roosters co-captain Jake Friend said. “I think the timing of the change is interesting, but as players I guess we’ll continue to go out there and put on a show. It seems what we have to do.

“I think it was there for everyone to see with the injuries [in 2020]. It was an interrupted season over the COVID break, but as players welfare has to be there.

“You want your best players on the paddock and if the game is going to create more and more injuries and your best talent is on the sidelines, then I don’t know if it’s worth the change.”

Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton has raised the players’ concerns with the NRL, which it will continue to consult in coming months.

A number of players said club coaches and sports science staff had tinkered with their pre-season programs to adapt to the rules, which will go under the microscope in the Melbourne-South Sydney season opener at AAMI Park.

Loading

“I just think in terms of the game itself, it’s important we have these conversations rather than the rules being put in there and we just go out and play them,” Hodgson said.

“At the end of the day the players, people on the Commission, NRL … we all want the best product on the field and the sport to be the biggest in the country. I think it’s a general consensus when you speak to most players, they ask, ‘Did any of the senior blokes have a say in these rules or did we just get told?’ At the end of the day we’re just getting told.

“I think it can only get so quick. I understand it needs to be appealing on the TV and keep the game evolving, but it can only get so fast. I don’t think we’re too far away from as fast as it can get. I wouldn’t want to see some of the bigger blokes who are amazing football players pushed out of the game because of the speed.”

Said Cherry-Evans: “It’s getting really quick. There has been a real effort from the administrators to make it exciting for the fans, but I think we’re getting close to the limit.

Loading

“Last year there was a lot of injuries across the competition and it that happens again we need to see if there is a correlation between the game and injuries. I have enjoyed the new changes because it’s a lot different, but we have to be very mindful we don’t have another big year of injuries.”

But one of the game’s biggest players, Tigers captain James Tamou, said he understood the appeal of ratcheting the speed up another notch.

Tamou had his first taste of the rules in the joint venture’s thumping trial win over Manly with V’landys excited about the possibilities of increased scrutiny on players breaking from scrums too early.

“I like to study the game and as a fan this will be pretty good,” Tamou said. “You’re going to see more attacking prowess and attacking players come into the game. In regards to injury you’re only as prone as how you train.”