Legend calls for major NRL rule change

Rugby league legend Cameron Smith has called on the NRL to “scrap” the six-again rule just days after Raiders coach Ricky Stuart accused the referees of “guessing” when deciding when a team should receive a set restart.

The six-again rule had plenty of teething issues when it was first introduced in 2020, as the good teams were able to pick apart the struggling sides thanks to several sets of six in a row in attack.

That led to lopsided results and a lack of genuine competition at the time, but officials have found the right balance over the years.

However, there has been a 25 per cent increase in six agains in 2024, with Smith fed up with the rule that he says hurt the Maroons in their game 2 loss in Melbourne.

“I don’t particularly like them, if I’m being honest,” Smith told SENQ.

“Set restarts are all up to the interpretation of the referees.

“The consecutive set restarts that referee Ashley Klein gave in State of Origin game 2, if they didn’t have a direct defensive impact in that moment (to Queensland), then they will impact down the track.

“Queensland were forced to make an interchange because of the sheer amount of work they were made to do.

“They had 15 consecutive tackles on their own try line and no one knows (what the penalty is for), so there’s no accountability for the referee.

“You can’t tell me that in game 2 where there’s a ruck infringement or slow play the ball ruled by the ref in the first 15 minutes that there’s something similar that they let go after 60 minutes.”

The Blues received back-to-back set restarts in game 2 in the eighth and ninth minutes, with Liam Martin eventually crossing in the 11th minute on the back of a line dropout.

NSW didn’t receive another set restart, with the Maroons getting two after 52 and 68 minutes that both led to tries.

“It’s so crucial with the timings of when the refs give the set restart,” Smith said.

“We need to scrap them because then there’s an emphasis placed on refs giving a whistle on things that are blatant penalties.

“That way, everyone knows what is going on.”

Referees do announce what the restarts are for, with a graphic flashing on screen for viewers to let them know what’s happened, while there’s a voiceover at stadiums to tell the fans why the attacking team has been given an extra set.