20-40 kick: NRL coaches to consider trial for rule proposal

[jirskyr]

I don't rate the proposition because there's too much territory to aim for.

Arguably, any team under the pump that goes for a 20/40, would find it difficult to get such a kick away, under pressure.

However the key to the 40/20 is that you are shooting for a space 20m wide - undercook it and nothing happens, overcook it and it's a 7-tackle restart. And IMO that's the rule they should be looking at, removing the 7-tackle penalty for short kicks that don't quite pay off (make all kicks within 20m of the try line not count under the 7-tackle rule, because it was introduced to stop long kicks being put dead, not to penalise tactical short kicks).

But for a 20/40, it's a 40m sideline you are aiming for, not a 20m sideline and in that case it benefits ugly long kicks - the longer the better, assuming the FB is more up to the line.

I understand the theory but then why not make every 40m sideline finder a restart? Why just 40/20 and 20/40, what about 30/30? What about 10/50?

I personally think the 40/20 is a bit of a pointless rule anyway. And I agree with Geo, why give a team an out if they are being dominated in defence? Why allow someone with a long boot to gamble to undo a great kick followed by a strong set in defence?

On the first point: have you ever seen anybody overcook a 40:20 attempt and send it dead in goal? I haven't.

The reason for restricting it to 20:40 and not 30:30 etc. is so that there is certainty and the kicker has to make sure they are behind the 20\. If they allowed a 30:30 as well as a 20:40 then if the kicker overstepped they'd just have to hope it went a really long way and made it inside the 30.

While it does happen from time to time it's not that often that teams are so dominated that they make < 20 metres in a full set, so for the kicking team they're running the risk of giving away field position by kicking from inside the 20.

No I don't specifically recall a 40/20 attempt going dead, but I am sure it's happened. Been a long time since the regular season NRL was on TV. But the point still stands - the kickers have to aim for a very specific 20m of sideline and it compels a certain kicking angle and style.

But your last paragraph makes a point that I agree with, as to why it's a pointless rule. If teams are rarely stuck within their own 20m by tackle 5, why would they risk the early kick? And would the halfback have to race back, to get the ball and enable a kick attempt? Surely teams would only use this in the dying moments of games, like they do with touch-finding 20m taps?

Or let's just let them kick it over the sideline on the full and call it rugby.

 

[Harvey]

Give it a run in some trials. If it gets predictable with every club trying to kick their way out of trouble scrap it.

I can see a couple of benefits:
- wingers may need to drop back which will force the defence to spread, allowing more offloading and the potential to attack from your own half
- if you don’t find the sideline, the opposition is in your half attacking within a couple of tackles.

Mind you if the 10m was enforced at that end of the field as it is on the try line, that may also open the game up a bit.

Has the potential to encourage more stoppages and walks to the scrum. The kicking team should also get a quick tap restart

 

[The_Patriot]

Absolute rubbish rule.

Keep teams on side, like genuinely on side not just the unfavoured teams and then whatever happens after that is part of the game.

 

[Russell]

Like It.

 

[TheDaBoss]

Like It.

i dont mind, it, but i would prefer it if they tried it so we know what it looks like practically

 

[Tiger_Steve]

I’ve got a great idea for a new rule - when the refs call held, the players making the tackle immediately release the attacking player and clear the ruck area. I know it’s a brave new rule but surely with consistent and excellent refereeing, this rule could change the game.

Apparently it was trialled at a Storm training session and discarded because the players had no idea how to respond to such a huge change to the game

 

[happy_tiger]

it's like talking to yourself..

don't like why should you get relief if the defending team has you trapped through rock solid defence…oh Wests Tigers..

It has it pros and cons

Pros

If they become popular it will open up the game as teams will be forced to set a winger deep

If it doesn't work the opposition will be on the attack

Cons

It will start looking more like Union than league

As Geo said the rewards of a great kick and chase are negated

 

[sheer64]

The only thing more stupid than this concept is Waste Anasta's head!